My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM JOHN MARTIN. Dennis Charles Martin, a highly respected and worthy citizen of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1856, a son of the late William John and Anna M. (Kelly) Martin.

William J. Martin (father), for many years an active and prominent citizen of West Haverford, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born in London Derry, Ireland, in 1824, and died June 13, 1860. He acquired a practical education at the national schools of his native country, and when a youth of seventeen years emigrated to the United States, he being of the same opinion as many other young men that the opportunities for business success were greater there than in the country of their birth. Upon attaining his majority he engaged in the shipping business, running merchant vessels, trading between this country and the West India islands, making the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his business center. In 1856 he removed from Philadelphia to West Haverford, taking up his residence at the old Revolutionary hostelry known as the “Old Buck,” at which place he died.

William J. Martin was united in marriage to Anna M. Kelly, daughter of Dennis and Mary (Boyle) Kelly, and the following named children were born to them: I. Henry D., born March 21, 1853, in Philadelphia, near Eighteenth and Cherry streets. He acquired his early education in the private school of Professor Roth, located at Broad and Pine streets; he then attended Villa Nova College, at Villa Nova, Pennsylvania, for about one year, and this was supplemented by a full course in one of the commercial colleges in Philadelphia. He then entered the commercial world, serving almost constantly in the capacity of traveling passenger agent for railroads. For a number of years he served as the Philadelphia representative of the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe Railroad, after which he traveled for the Old Colony Railroad, and subsequently became manager, in Philadelphia, for the Union Steamship Advertising Company. He was a consistent member of the Bryn Mawr Catholic church, where he worshipped regularly, was a member of the Merion Cricket Club, and in politics was an independent Republican. His death occurred at Atlantic City, New Jersey, August 5, 1903. 2. William J., born June 24, 1854, died February 21, 1884. 3. Dennis C., born September 13, 1856, mentioned hereinafter. 4. Mary E., born September 15, 1858; she was educated at Sharon Convent, Sharon Hill, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and she resided with her parents up to the time of their demise. Since the death of her mother she has held and filled the position of Sacristan of the order of Mother of Good Counsel, of the Church of Our Mother of Good Counsel, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. For many years she has been actively connected and interested in the church and charitable work belonging to the parish, and is much respected and esteemed by all who know her. 5. Anna M., born November 30, 1859, died July 6, 1896.

Dennis Kelly, maternal grandfather of Dennis C. Martin, married Mary Boyle, in Ireland, she coming from a highly respected and wealthy family who resided in County Donegal. In 1802 Mr. and Mrs. Kelly emigrated to America, locating at the lower banks of Cobb’s Creek, situated in Lower Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, a part of which property is now owned by the Ashurst estate. He purchased land there, erected thereon a mill, and began the manufacture of cotton goods. Later he purchased land on Cobb’s Creek, upon which was standing an old powder mill, which he remodeled and used for manufacturing textile goods. Subsequently he purchased another mill, including considerable land, located above Leedom’s saw mill on Cobb’s Creek, after which he purchased a large tract of land from the Humphrey estate, and erected thereon an additional mill, and finally purchased two more mills which were located at Haddington, Philadelphia county. In addition to these enterprises he had an interest in the Blonden and Goodintent Mills, situated in the city of Philadelphia, all of which were used for the manufacture of cotton and woolen cloths for the trade, and during the progress of the Civil war his mills were kept working steadily in order to supply the demand required by the United States government. His land holdings comprised seven hundred and thirty acres, covering two miles in length by one-half mile in width, which extended from the southern line of Haverford east to and beyond the city line of Philadelphia. He was one of the influential and prominent men in the community, took a keen and zealous interest in local affairs, and the various important improvements of the county were brought about largely through his instrumentality and liberality. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly were the parents of eight children, namely: I. Margaret, born in 180; she became the wife of Charles Kelley, and their children, all of whom are now deceased, were as follows: Dennis B., Walter, Sallie, William, Edward, Mary, and Louise Kelley. 2. Hannah, born in 1808, died March 7, 1867; she was the wife of John Russell, and their children were Mary Jane, born September 13, 1828, died March 23, 1859; Dennis A., born January 27, 1830, died July 29, 1830; John A., born January 1, 1832. 3. Dennis. 4. Elizabeth, twin with Dennis. 5. William, born in 1810, died March 9, 1836. 6. Mary, born February 16, 1811, died July 28, 1892; she was the wife of Jacob Ott, and their children are as follows: Jacob, born July 3, 1833, died July 13, 1886; Mary, born January 28, 1835, died in 1837; Sarah E., born May 7, 1837, died August 16, 1863; Dennis, born October 3, 1839, died in 1840; Andrew, born June 29, 1841, died in 1846; Mary Ann, born January 29, 1843, died in 1845; Joseph born October 4, 1844, died October 5, 1867; Jaremiah J., born January 1, 1852. 7. Elizabeth, born May 5, 1819, died April 29, 1888; she was the wife of Frederick Eckert, who died June 20, 1856; and had four children, Mary, Anna, Bessie and Frederick; she was then united in marriage to professor Peter M. Arnue; no issue. 8. Sarah, died September 4, 1873; she was the wife of Roderick O’Connor, and their children were: Dennis, deceased; William, deceased; Roderick, deceased; Frederick, deceased; Charles, Mary, and Sarah. 9. Annie M., aforementioned, born May 10, 1824, died November 21, 1896, as the wife of William J. Martin. Dennis Kelly, father of these children, died July 21, 1864, in his eighty-fifth year, and his wife, Mary (Boyle) Kelly, died May 24, 1861, in her seventy-eighth year. They, their children and grandchildren are buried in the Augustinian St. Denis’ Cemetery, the ground for which was donated to the church of St. Denis by Dennis Kelly.

By his will dated June 5, 1863, proved August 3, 1864, will book 11, page 591, letters granted same day to Hannah Russell and Dennis P. Kelly, executors, he gave and devised all his estate unto his six daughters-Margaret, Hannah, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Ann-during the term of their natural lives, to be equally divided among them share and share alike, and at the death of said daughters, or any of them, share of said daughter or daughters to go and be vested in the children or child of the said daughter or daughters respectively in fee simple, to be equally divided of said children of the said daughters as tenants in common. And he did direct and request his daughter Hannah to take as part of her share of said real estate the Mansion House which he occupied, situated in Lower Merion township.

Dennis C. Martin, son of William J. and Anna M. (Kelly) Martin, received his early educational training at a private school situated at Haverford, and this was supplemented by a course at Mount St. Mary College, located at Emmitsburg, Maryland. Shortly after the completion of his studies he accepted a clerical position, and later he assisted in engineering in both Delaware and Montgomery counties, after which he retired from active business pursuits. He is now living privately on the old homestead in Bryn Mawr, the house in which he resides having been erected in 1739 by the Miller estate, an addition being placed to the property in 1780 by the same family. In the early years of 1700 and up to and including the year 1845, this old property was used as a public hostelry known as the Old Buck Hotel, which name it retained until its purchase by Dennis Kelly, Sr., and it is still in the possession of the family. During the Revolutionary war, just previous to the troops going to Valley Forge, a letter, which is on record, shows that General Washington wrote to Philadelphia requesting the government to furnish the soldiers with blankets, they being then on their way to camp. At that time General Washington was making the old hostelry his headquarters.

Dennis C. Martin was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Leary, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Duane) Leary, and their children are: William J., born September 23, 1901, died August 29, 1902; and Marie Gertrude, born January 7, 1904.