WILLIAM H. MARTIN, a leading farmer and breeder of fine cattle and sheep, of South Strabane township, was born September 9, 1842, on the farm where he now resides. Peter Martin, grandfather of subject, was born in 1759, in York county, Penn. He was a son of Samuel Martin, who emigrated from Scotland along with his son James, and was the first of the family to settle in York county, where he followed farming and died. He had five daughters and two sons. Peter Martin, Sr., purchased a farm of Jacob Shively (the original patent for which, written on sheepskin, is now in the possession of his grandsons). Peter Martin, who had been a farmer all his days, died May 12, 1843, aged eighty-four years, a member of the old Seceder Church. He had four children, and among the younger members of the family was James Martin, who was born in York county, Penn., May 12, 1792. He was but a child when his parents came to Washington county, and purchased the farm in South Strabane township. James Martin was married, April 19, 1821, in Washington county, to Miss Mary White, who was born April 19, 1800,on her father's farm in North Strabane township, not far from Canonsburg. He was a farmer, and he and wife were members first of the Seceder Church, then of the United Presbyterian. Their children were as follows: Peter, born February 4, 1822, married to Mary J. Clokey, died December 23, 1862; Samuel, born January 24, 1824, married to Sarah Herron; James, born December 12, 1825, married to Elizabeth Clokey; John W., born January 11, 1828, married to Elizabeth Allison; Matthew A., born December 7, 1829, unmarried; Mary J., born September 21,1832, died September 13, 1855, unmarried; Ebenezer H., born June 21, 1834, died unmarried(was a soldier in the Civil war and drowned in the Appomattox, June 23, 1864, while serving in the signal service corps); Ann E., born November 2, 1837, died September 5, 1838; William H.our subject, and Thomas Jefferson, unmarried. William H. Martin was educated in the common schools of his township, and was united in marriage January 17, 1867, with Miss Anna M. Thome, who was born in North Strabane township, a daughter of James Thome. They have two children, Abbie E., wife of Rev. W. A. Jones, of Knoxville, Pittsburgh, Penn., and Willis J. William H. Martin and his brother inherited the old homestead farm of their father and grandfather. They now own 325 acres in South Strabane township, most of which is under cultivation. They raise grain, but pay chief attention to the raising and breeding of fine cattle and sheep. William H. Martin is one of the board of directors of the Western Pennsylvania Fair Association. He has held various local offices of trust, and is now a school director, having held that office for a number of years. He and his wife are members of the U.P. Church, and he is an elder in the church at Pigeon Creek. In politics he has always supported the Republican party.

Text taken from page 328 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Patti Godesky of Pittsburgh, PA as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]