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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Randolph County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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Martin Brothers compose a general mercantile firm at Reyno, Ark., and have been well and favorably known to the people of this community since 1875. They do an annual business of $24,000, besides which they own 10,000 acres of land, and are engaged in successfully conducting 400 acres that are under cultivation, and which they devote mainly to the raising of cotton. Their father, James Martin, was born in Richmond, Va., in 1808, and was one of the pioneer citizens of Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., but in 1833 came to Pocahontas, Randolph County. Ark., and established a store on his farm just north of where the town now is. He cleared and improved a large area of land, and made this place his home throughout the remainder of his days. He served as judge of the county a number of terms, and was a man noted for his interest in public affairs, and for his liberal contributions to every charitable purpose. In the positions of honor and trust which he filled, the interests of those whom he served were always considered, and he thus gained the esteem and approbation of his constituents. Although not a member of any church, he was always strictly moral, and his honor throughout life was unimpeachable. He died, in 1863, at the age of fifty-four years. His widow is residing in Reyno, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was twice married, but only one of the children borne him by his first wife is now living: V. Ellen, the wife of Capt. Webb Conner, a prominent resident of Pocahontas. James T. was a major in the Confederate army during the late war, and at the time of his death, in 1876, was a successful lawyer of Pocahontas. Joseph P., another son, was a captain in the Rebel army, and was killed at Helena, Ark. To Mr. Martin’s last union the following children have been born: Henry, who died in St. Louis in 1864, while a student; Tina A., the deceased wife of A. M. Kerr, of Virginia; Julia, who died in childhood, and Andrew, Joseph, John F. and James, all members of the firm of Martin Brothers, at Reyno. Joseph was married, February 9, 1888, to Anne E. Reynolds, a daughter of D. W. Reynolds, of Reyno, whose sketch appears in this work.

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This family biography is one of 110 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Randolph County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Randolph County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Randolph County, Arkansas family biographies here: Randolph County, Arkansas Biographies

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