In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1827, Richland County
From History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885), History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906)
JOHN MARTIN, dealer in saddles and harness, Lima, Ohio, was born December 19, 1827, in Richland County, Ohio, son of Charles and Christiena {nee Menchey) Martin, the former a native of Germany, the latter of New York State. Charles Martin came to Ohio in 1820, settling in Richland County where he remained for a few years; thence removed to Crawford County, subsequently sold his estate there, and went into Huron County, Ohio, and there remained until his death. Mrs. Christiena Martin was twice married, and by her first husband (Mr. Houser) had five children: William, Anthony, Michael, George and Lydia; by her second husband she had five children: Henry, John, Mary, George and Samuel. George was killed in California. Our subject was educated in Huron and Crawford Counties, and began his trade in Huron County, in 1845. He was married to Lucy K., daughter of A. F. Parker, of Hancock County, by whom he has four children: Charles F., Samuel H. (married to Miss Minerva I. Bently), Harry H. and Eva M. Our subject came to Lima in 1878, where he opened a shop and is keeping a complete stock of goods in the saddlery line. He is enjoying a fine trade.
As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Charles Martin, father of our subject, was born in Germany and in 1820 became one of the early settlers of Richland County, Ohio, where he remained until after the birth of his son John, removing then to Crawford County. Some years later he located in Huron County, where he lived until his death, which occurred about 1875. He reared a family of five children, namely: Henry, John, Mary, George and Samuel.
John Martin obtained his education in the district schools of Crawford and Huron counties and assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until 1845, when he commenced to learn the saddle and harnessmaker’s trade at Savannah, Ashland County, which was then in Huron County. He finished his apprenticeship and became a journeyman 3t Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio. Later he settled at Tiffin, Seneca County, this State, where he engaged in business. In 1876 he came to Lima and established himself at his present business site, No. 144 South Main street, which is also his residence. Mr. Martin has seen Lima expand from a town into a city, and in every legitimate enterprise has assisted in its development. During all the years of his business life he has enjoyed a satisfactory
Digitized I - r.ooQie amount of patronage, since he has retained his customers through honorable and intelligent dealings. It has been a matter of pride with Mr. Martin to keep a complete stock of goods, standard in every way, and to continue to conduct his business in the same honorable way in which it was started. His stock is valued at $3,000. He has survived many of the old business firms.
At Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio, Mr. Martin married Lucy K. Parker, who was born in Hancock County, Ohio. Her father, who was a native of New York State, was a farmer in the years of his early manhood, later becoming an attorney. Mrs. Martin’s mother was a native of Pennsylvania. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, of whom three reached maturity, namely; C. F., born in Pleasant township, Hancock County, Ohio, September 29, 1854, who is a resident of Ottawa, Ohio; Samuel H., born in McComb, Ohio, February 10, 1857; Harry H., born August 2, 1863, and who died May 23, 1896, and Eva May, born August 8, 1866, who is the wife of Wallace Landis, of Lima. Mr. Martin is a Republican.
As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Wallace Landis (b. 1862)
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.