My Genealogy Hound

Judge John R. Martin, attorney-at-law, of Washington, is a native of New Brunswick, N. J., born in 1843, and the son of Randolph and Annie E. (Williamson) Martin. The father was born in New Jersey, in 1808, and was of English descent. He followed merchandising the greater portion of his life in New Brunswick, N. J. He died in 1876. The mother was of English-Dutch origin, and was born in 1811. She died in 1881, and was the mother of three children. The paternal grandfather of our subject, James Martin, was a native of Virginia, a farmer, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. John R. was the second child born to his parents. He was educated at Rutgers College, New Brunswick, graduating in 1862, with the degree of A. B., and in 1865 he had conferred upon him the degree of A. M. At the age of nineteen he began the study of law, his preceptor being Hon. Henry V. Speer, of New Brunswick, and in 1864 he graduated at Albany Law School, Albany, N. Y. The same year he was admitted to the bar, and afterward continued his study for two years. In 1866 he came to Franklin County, Mo., located at Union, and entered upon his practice, In 1877 Mr. Martin moved to Washington, where he has since resided, and where he continued his practice. December, 1868, he married Miss Mary B. Ackerman, who was born in New Brunswick, N. J., in 1851, and who is the daughter of Abraham Ackerman, at one time editor and publisher of the Franklin County Progress, at Union. To Mr. Martin and wife were born three children: Jessie, Edward and Annie. In 1868 Mr. Martin was appointed probate judge of Franklin County, by Gov. Fletcher, and was the first one to hold that position in the county. He occupied this position one year. In 1875-76 he was a member of the State Legislature, elected by the Republican party. He served on the committee of criminal jurisprudence, and is one of the leading attorneys of Franklin County. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Mrs. Martin is a member of the Presbyterian Church.