My Genealogy Hound

W. H. Martin, a farmer of Blue Cane Township, was born in Caldwell County, N. C., in 1832, and is the son of William R. and Anna (Hood) Martin, who were of English and Scotch ancestry respectively, and were natives and farmers of the “Old North State.” W. H. Martin resided in his native State until sixteen years of age, when he left home and went to Union County, Ill., where he engaged in the sawmill business as a hand sawyer. He was married there in 1856 to Mary Jane Hartline, a daughter of John and Margaret (Rendelman) Hartline, who were among the pioneer settlers of that county and State, from North Carolina. The father was a farmer by occupation and died some years ago. The mother is still living. Mr. Martin remained in Illinois until 1866, when he went to Texas, where he purchased an improved farm and remained until the fall of 1869. Selling his property, he came to Greene County, purchasing an improved farm on Crowley’s Ridge. Here his wife died in 1880, having borne a family of six children, three of whom survive: Willis A., Walter L., and Eliza Jane. The latter is the wife of C. L. Sides, and resides on Crowley’s Ridge. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Martin married Mrs. J. F. Lewis, a widow of Jacob Lewis, of Stoddard County, Mo.; he was reared in Illinois, where he resided on a farm until 1869, when he came to Greene County, Ark., and bought eighty acres of land, which he improved and added to. He was conservative in politics. He died in 1879 and left his widow with two children to care for: William Franklin and Myrtle May. Mr. Martin owns lands to the amount of 480 acres, 200 being under cultivation, and has taken an interest in fruit culture, having on his home farm a fine orchard. He raises and buys considerable stock, and is one of the successful farmers of the county. He votes with the Democratic party, and has been a member of the school board ever since his residence in Arkansas. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Danley Lodge No. 3, and is a member of the Knights of Honor, at Rector. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are the parents of one child: Edgar C. Mr. Martin has seen many changes in the growth and prosperity of the county since coming here; he often went to Cape Girardeau, a distance of 125 miles, to do his marketing, when now it is only necessary to go a very few miles to obtain all the articles one desires.