WILLIAM MARTIN, a prosperous farmer and substantial citizen of Smith township, is of Irish descent. James Martin, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, where he was married, afterward coming to America, and locating permanently in Jefferson township, Allegheny Co., Penn., where they lived to an advanced age. The children born to this pioneer couple were: James (who was a shoemaker of Holmes county, Ohio), John (a former resident of Ohio), Robert (who lived in Ohio), Ann (first married to David Canada, then became Mrs. Deerfield, and resided in southern Indiana) and William. All of this family are now deceased, there having been thirteen children, of whom those named lived to a mature age. William Martin was born July 4, 1802, in Jefferson township, Allegheny Co., Penn., and received a common-school education. He learned the carpenter's trade, passing his earlier life in the pursuit of that vocation, and assisting with the farm duties during the busy season. On March 9, 1826, he was united in marriage with Jane Walker, who was born October 6, 1800, in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, but came when a small child with her parents to Washington county. The children of William and Jane (Walker) Martin were as follows: Nancy, born March 5, 1827 (first married to William Figley, now the wife of Robert Deerfield, of Nebraska); Margaret, born September 6, 1829, (Mrs. James Arbuckle, of Pine Run, Jefferson township, Allegheny Co., Penn.); John, born December 19,1831 (deceased September 13, 1851); William (mentioned below), born September 24, 1833; Morgan, born March 28, 1835 (drowned July 11,1848); Eliza J., born March 4, 1837 (deceased October 17, 1870); Prudence Ann, born May 30, 1840 (Mrs. Joseph Castor., of Union township, Washington county); Robert J., born November 19, 1843 (deceased January 12, 1864), and Perry A., born September 11,1846 (a carpenter of Union township, this county). After his marriage the father of this family first settled near Finleyville, Washington county, and followed the carpenter's trade, also making grain cradles. In 1855 he located in Jefferson township, Allegheny county, where he died March 11, 1874, and October 1, 1884, his wife was laid to rest beside him. In politics he was a life-long Democrat, although politicians of other parties made frequent attempts to change his views. He and his wife were highly respected members of the community.
William Martin was born in Union township, this county, was reared on his father's farm, and educated in the country schools. On September 4, 1862, he was united in marriage with Kate, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Bebhanna) Shepler, born November 8, 1835, in Snowden township, Allegheny Co., Penn. The children born to William and Kate Martin are as follows: John A., born September 3, 1863 (living on a farm near Oakdale, Allegheny Co., Penn.); Sarah, born March 14,1865 (Mrs. William Snyder, of Snowden township, Allegheny county); Mary (Mrs. S. H. Watters, a farmer near Oakdale, Allegheny county); James S., born July 2, 1869 (living at home); William, born February 9,1871 (living with his parents); Jane, born March 20, 1874 (deceased August 15, 1877), and Thomas S., born July 26,1878 (deceased June 4, 1879). Mr. and Mrs. Martin first settled in Jefferson township, Allegheny county, then moved to Snowden township, same county, remaining there some time. In 1881 he located near Finleyville, Union township, this county, and in 1886 settled on a part of the old "Phillis tract," one of the oldest farms in the county, lying about one and a half miles west of Bulger, in Smith township. It was the first piece of land in the county for which a genuine title was made out. Mr. Martin is a successful farmer and gives considerable attention to dairying, and by industry combined with careful management, has amassed a competence. He began life with little capital save the valuable inheritance of good principle instilled by his father, but since his marriage has had the assistance of a good business manager in the person of his wife, who superintends her household with careful economy. Politically William Martin has always been a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown.
Text taken from page 405 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed August 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project.
Published August 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]