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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ISAAC MARTIN, an energetic citizen, a stone-mason by trade, and an excellent workman, having for many years devoted himself to that occupation, has of late given his attention to the tilling of the soil, and resides upon a valuable farm of one hundred acres, located about two and a half miles south of Three Oaks, Berrien County, Mich. Our subject, born January 30, 1825, is a native of New Jersey. His paternal grandfather, Isaac W. Martin, was a native of New Jersey and was born June 14, 1771. Reared in his birthplace, the grandfather attained to manhood and was married to Miss Alice Adams, and with his wife removed to Oxford, Ohio, some years later, settling in the Buckeye State in 1838. He died in Ohio the following year, October 3, 1839. By trade a shoe-maker, Isaac Martin did not amass a competence, but, a thoroughly honest and sincere man, he enjoyed the confidence of many friends. His good wife, who was also a native of New Jersey, survived his death many years and passed to her rest in Berrien County, October 8, 1871, aged ninety-one years. This venerable lady was a daughter of Matthew Adams, who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Early in life Grandmother and Grandfather Martin were both members of the Presbyterian Church, but later the grandfather joined the Baptist Church and his excellent wife became a Methodist.

Isaac and Alice (Adams) Martin were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters: Abraham, Matthew, Isaac W., Phoebe, Mary, Paul A., Sophia, William, Jacob, Sherwood and John. Abraham, the father of our subject, was the eldest son and combined the occupations of a farmer and a shoemaker. He was born in the old New Jersey home October 24, 1800. Attaining to manhood, he married Miss Lydia Cumback, a native of New Jersey, born in 1802, the daughter of Peter Cumback, and an aunt of the celebrated lecturer. Will Cumback, of Indiana. After many years of usefulness the father died on the farm adjoining where our subject now resides, November 4, 1860. He had emigrated from the East to Indiana in a very early day, and from Indiana journeying to Michigan, settled in Berrien County in 1847. The mother survived until October 20, 1862. Unto the parents were born ten children, six of whom are yet living. Isaac, the eldest, is our subject; Elsie is the wife of John Smith and resides in Oregon; John S. is the third; Mary is the wife of Calita Preston; Martha is the widow of David Pen well; and Eliza is the youngest.

Until thirteen years of age our subject remained in his early home, but at that period of his life his parents removed from New Jersey to Franklin County, Ind., where he received the most of his education. He was trained up to industrious habits, and decided to learn a trade, finally choosing that of a stone-mason. At twenty-one years of age he began the struggle of daily labor upon his own account, and has followed his trade most of the time since. In 1845 Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Gavin, who was born in Indiana and departed this life in 1854. The union was blessed by the birth of two sons, James and John. Our subject entered into a second marriage April 29, 1860, and was then wedded to Miss Martha Jane Jeffries, of Indiana, who has had four children: Nellie (deceased), Edith, Clarence and Clifford. Our subject and his estimable wife are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as were the parents of Mr. Martin. Politically, our subject is a strong Democrat and cast his first vote for Lewis Cass. He takes an active interest in local and national issues and has held with efficiency the office of Highway Commissioner. During forty-six years of intimate association with the community where he now resides. Mr. Martin has been an important factor in the growth of local enterprise and improvements, and fully possesses the esteem of a wide circle of old friends and fellow-townsmen.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Berrien County, Michigan family biographies here: Berrien County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Berrien County, Michigan here: Berrien County Michigan Map

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