My Genealogy Hound

Prof. William H. Martin, a prominent educator of Franklin County, Ark., was born in Floyd County, Ga., September 2, 1836, being a son of Hiram and Katie (Mackey) Martin, who were of Scotch-Irish and Irish descent, respectively. They were born in Surrey County, N. C., and the father died in Houston County, Ga., in 1872, at the age of sixty-three years. The mother was born in 1810 and died in Floyd County, Ga., in 1876. They were married in their native State, removing soon after to Floyd County, Ga., where they resided from 1835 to 1858, and at the latter date took up their abode in Houston County, Ga., where they spent most of the remainder of their days. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a Democrat and a successful farmer. He assisted in removing the Indians from their reservations in Tennessee and Georgia to the Indian Territory, and throughout his entire career was noted for his benevolence, kindness and integrity. Prof. William H. Martin is the third born of eight children, five of whom are now living: John C., who is a farmer of Floyd County, Ga.; Elizabeth, wife of John O. Henderson, a farmer of Franklin County, Ark.; Nancy J., widow of Robert N. Leazer; Anna, wife of John Wells, a farmer of Yell County, Ark., and Prof. William H. The latter received a very liberal education at the Cedartown Academy, in his native State, and after graduating from that institution taught his first term of school in Floyd County, Ga., in 1857. Here he remained several years engaged in teaching, then went to Alabama, thence to Mississippi, and then to Texas. In 1870 he came to Franklin County, Ark., locating at Ozark, where he was engaged in teaching for twelve years, acting as principal of the Ozark schools for some time. The two following years he taught in the rural districts, and then engaged in farming as a recreation. This work became so congenial to his tastes that he adopted it as a calling, and has become one of the thrifty farmers of the country. In 1873 he was appointed superintendent of public instruction, which position he filled for two years. Martha E. Pierce, a daughter of Benjamin Pierce, became his wife November 29, 1866. She was born in Alabama September 30, 1850, and has borne a family of eight children, the following of whom are living: Ira B., Nellie G., Mary Maud, Nora May, Willie G., Grover J., George R., and Mattie A., who died when an infant. Mr. Martin is a member of the Democratic party, and as an educator and officer has gained an enviable reputation.