My Genealogy Hound

James W. Martin, farmer, of Washington County, Mo., is a son of Noah and Margaret (Hinkston) Martin. His great-grandfather Martin was born in England, from which he and six other small boys were banished to Vermont, for killing a sheep. They succeeded in obtaining homes. Mr. Martin, grandfather of James W., was a soldier in the War of 1812. In his family were ten or twelve children, the father of James being one of these. The latter was born in North Carolina in 1794, and when about seven years of age was taken to Kentucky, where he grew to man’s estate. In 1816 he came to New Madrid County, Mo., and the following year to Washington County. Here he married Miss Hinkston, whose parents were among the first settlers of Washington County. The father lived to be eighty-seven years old, and the mother seventy-seven. By trade he was a carpenter, millwright and wagon-maker. He built one of the first grist mills in the county on Miller’s branch. In religious belief he was a Quaker, and in politics a Democrat. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their family consisted of four sons and five daughters. Their youngest child, James W., was born in Washington County, in 1840. He was educated in the old subscription schools and reared on a farm. In 1861 he enlisted in Col. Freeman’s Regiment. In 1862 he joined Company E, Second Missouri Cavalry, Confederate States army, and was paroled at the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Cupola (Miss.), and Fort Pillow (Tenn). Since his return home he has made farming and stock-raising his chief occupations. In 1872 he settled on the farm where he now lives and where he owns 360 acres of land. At the close of the war the amount of his possessions consisted of $2.20, but by constant industry he has acquired his present property. In 1877 he married Margie, daughter of Robert Whitehead. She was born in Crawford County in 1858, and is the mother of three children: Allie, Zora and Pearl. She belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Martin is a Democrat and a member of the A. O. U. W.