My Genealogy Hound

William H. Martin, M. D., was born in Iowa in 1837, and came to Missouri with his parents when only two years of age. He worked at gunsmithing principally in early life, and at the age of seventeen began the study of medicine. In 1860-61 he attended the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, after which he practiced until 1867, when he entered the same institution, and graduated in the spring of 1868. He then located in Kahoka, where his practice has been successful, large and remunerative. In September, 1862, he married Miss Mary E. Wilson, a native of Missouri, born in 1844, and the daughter of Joseph G. and Sophia (Weber) Wilson. Of the four children born to this union two are deceased. The two living are Clara Leigh and Jessie G. The former graduated with high honors at the age of fifteen, and the latter is yet attending school. Dr. Martin is a member of the Masonic order, R. A. M., Blue Lodge and Eastern Star, A.O.U.W.; a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a Democrat in politics; his wife and daughter, Clara Leigh, are members of the Baptist Church. He is the son of Rev. John J. and Phoeba (Howard) Martin. The mother died in 1851, and in 1854 the father married Mrs. Elizabeth (Wright) Howard, widow of Adrian Howard. The father is a Methodist minister, and is now living in Kahoka. In 1886 our subject engaged in the drug business in that city with B. S. Crawford, who is also an M. D., and a native of Illinois, born in 1845. He is the son of H. P. and Margaret (Crawford) Crawford. His mother died in 1879, and the father took for his second wife, Mary (McCandless) McCoy. B. S. Crawford was reared in the town of Warsaw, Ill., and assisted his father in the mercantile business until 1865, when he entered the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, and graduated in the spring of 1867. He first located in Greensburg, Knox Co., Mo., where he remained twelve years. He then practiced in Canton. Lewis County, for seven years, and then located in Kahoka, embarking in the drug trade, and also continued his practice with W. H. Martin. In 1868 he married Miss Nancy Northcutt, a native of Missouri. To them were born three children: Eva, Margaret and Frank. His wife was a member of the Christian Church, and died in 1878. The following year he married Miss Catherine Beach, of New York, born in 1847, and daughter of Alexander and Catherine Beach. Dr. Crawford is a member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of H., A. O. U. W. and K. L. of H. He is a Republican in politics.