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Below is a family biography included in The History of Barry County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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William L. Martin, collector of Barry County, Mo., is a native of Lancaster County, Ohio, born in 1834. He is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Martin) Martin. Jonathan Martin was born of English and Irish parents, in Monroe County, Mich., in 1808. His father, William Martin, was a native of Canada, and served in the Revolutionary War. When about eight years of age Jonathan Martin went with his parents to Lancaster County, Ohio. He learned the saddler’s trade in Detroit, Mich., and in 1836 removed to Carroll County, Ind., locating at Camden, after which he laid out a portion of the town. He died in March, 1857. His wife was born in Lancaster County, Ohio, in 1807. She was a daughter of William Martin, a native of Pennsylvania, who served in the War of 1812. The latter’s father was a native of Ireland. Mrs. Martin died in 1860. She was the mother of eight children, five of whom she reared to maturity. Those living are Peninah E. (wife of Samuel M. Gordon), William L., Benjamin W. (a saddler, of Columbus, Kas.) and Henry T. (a photographer, of Topeka, Kas.). When his parents removed to Indiana William L. was but two years of age, and his education was secured in that State. He worked as an apprentice at the saddler’s trade in LaFayette, Ind., for two years, after which he worked as a journeyman in various States for three years. In1858 he wedded Louise Lennon, a daughter of John Lennon, and a native of Carroll County, Ind., born in 1836. To them have been born five children, viz.: Charles C. (general agent for the Home Insurance Company, with headquarters at Peirce City), Henry A. (an engineer on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway in Arizona), Florence L. (her father’s deputy collector), William H. (a saddler, who now has charge of his father’s shop in Cassville; he is a graduate of a commercial college of Topeka, Kas.) and a son, who died in infancy. After his marriage Mr. Martin located in Camden, and began working at his trade on his own responsibility. In January, 1861, he abandoned his trade because of ill health, and purchased a tan-yard, which he operated for the next five years. From 1866 till 1872 he was engaged in farming in Cherokee County, Kas. Thence he removed to Cassville, and for a few months was engaged in saw-milling, at the end of which time he established a harness shop, with which he has since been connected. In 1880 he was elected, by the Democratic party, treasurer of the county, and in 1886 was elected to his present position. He is not a candidate for re-election, and at the expiration of his present term will devote his entire attention to his trade. His public as well as his private life is without a stain, and he enjoys the confidence of the entire county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F No. 238 of Cassville.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in The History of Barry County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Barry County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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