My Genealogy Hound

JOHN HOLMES MARTIN, retired farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville; another of the early pioneers of Darke Co., born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, June 19, 1810; when 9 years of age, he removed to Darke Co. and located in Washington Township; he was a son of William Martin, who was born in Ireland, and came to America when an infant, with his parents, who settled in Maryland, and removed to Pennsylvania when he was 15 years of age, and came to Ohio about 1801; in 1813, he located in Butler Co., and in 1819 came to Darke Co., where he was engaged in farming in Washington Township until his decease, which occurred in the fall of 1821. Our subject lived upon the old homestead, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1856, when he purchased his present place, where he has since lived; he now owns 107 acres upon his home farm, within half a mile of Greenville, with good farm buildings, and valued at upward of $100 per acre; he also owns 126 acres in Washington Township, which is a part of the old homestead upon which he located sixty years ago; he also has 120 acres in Mississinawa Township; he has his farms rented, and devotes his entire attention to buying and shipping stock to Cincinnati and other markets. Mr. Martin is entitled to a place in the front ranks of the early pioneers, being one of the few old landmarks left who relate their experience with the Indians, the bear, the wolf, the panther, the deer and other wild game which was to be found in abundance. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Presbyterian Church for forty years, and was influenced to purchase his present home, in 1856, that he might have better advantages for churches and education for his family. His marriage with Casandra Chenoweth was celebrated March 21, 1833; she was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, in October, 1813, and died Feb. 16, 1879; seven children were born to them, of whom six are now living—Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary J., William H., Rachel, John F. and James P.; the deceased was William H., who lost his life at Nashville while fighting for the preservation of the Union during the late war of the rebellion.