My Genealogy Hound

JOHN P. MARTIN. Passers-by seldom fail to notice the pleasant home of this gentleman, which is a commodious and convenient farm structure located in the west part of Xenia. The exterior arrangements display the taste of the proprietor, while within the neat and cosy rooms prove that the wife is alive to the interests of her department. Mr. Martin stands high both in social and political circles, and is a leader in both, rather than a follower. Success has met him almost uniformly in his undertakings, and he is awake not only to his own interests, but to whatever tends to elevate and improve his commmunity.

In politics, Mr. Martin is a strong and uncompromising Democrat, and in religion, is a devoted member of the Catholic Church, the faith of his progenitors. He has served in many positions of trust, and has faithfully discharged all duties accompanying the same. In 1883 he was nominated on the Board of Public Works, and was elected in October, the same year. After serving out that term, he declined re-election.

John and Bridget (Toohey) Martin, the parents of our subject, were natives of the Emerald Isle, where they were born in County Galway. In 1849, they resolved to seek a home in the United States, coming to Ohio via New Orleans and Mississippi River. The father was a laborer and died August 17, 1866, in Ohio. The mother still lives in Xenia, making her home with her daughter. They had a family of seven children, of whom our subject was the fifth in the order of birth. He was born at Loveland, Clermont County, Ohio, May 5, 1852, and was there reared, receiving the larger part of his education in the public schools of that town. Later he became a student in the parochial school of Dayton, Ohio.

At an early period of his life our subject started out for himself, and his first engagement was as a newsboy on the old Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad, which is now a branch of the Baltimore & Ohio system. When fourteen years old he apprenticed himself to Brooks, Light & Co., Plumbers, Steam and Gas Fitters. After serving a three years apprenticeship, he went to Indianapolis, where at the early age of seventeen years, he took charge of a plumbing and gas fitting establishment. At the urgent solicitation of his former employers he returned to their employ, and was soon sent to the County Infirmary (Greene County) to do a job of work. With the consent of his employers he remained there for two and one-half years superintending the steam and gas fitting of that establishment.

In 1873, Mr. Martin embarked in the same line of business in Xenia, and was thus engaged for six years. Upon retiring from this occupation he devoted his attention to the manufacture of some inventions in hydraulics which he had devised and constructed in Cincinnati. He was interested principally in the Red Jacket Force Pump, a line of ten or twelve patterns. After successfully operating the same for about thirty months, he sold out and went to Mexico as a prospector, to examine a gold mine in Durango. After a few months residence there he returned to the Buckeye State, where he has since made his home.

May 5, 1873, was the date of Mr. Martin’s marriage, his bride being Miss Kate Brodie, a daughter of Michael and Kate Brodie, natives of County Clare, Ireland. Thence they emigrated to the United States and settled in Massachusetts, where their daughter, Mrs. Martin, was born. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were the parents of five children, four of whom are living and one deceased. The children are named respectively: John, William, Margaret and Nellie. They are intelligent and bright and are receiving thorough educations, which will prepare them for whatever positions in life await them.