Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 62

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 62

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John Martin, a prominent planter of Lincoln county, whose postoffice address is Bogue Chitto, lives ten miles south of Brookhaven. He is the son of James and Mary (Gill) Martin, who were born and married in North Carolina, where the subject of our sketch was born in 1813. Their other children-John, Thomas, James and Daniel- are deceased. Melinda is the wife of Warrick Brister, a prominent farmer of Lincoln county, and is the mother of eight children. The mother of our subject died in 1825. Mr. Martin married for his second wife, Alice Gill, and to thein were born four children, of whom two-Albert J. and Hamilton -are now living. Mr. Martin was a very prominent planter in his native state. He came to Mississippi with his family in 1809 and located in Lawrence county on the farm on which he lived the life of a planter until his death. John Martin began active life for himself when still quite young. While having no educational advantages, he managed to get a large amount of general information, being observing of everything about him, and an apt student of human nature, which, with his other good qualities, caused him to become a highly respected and highly influential citizen of Lawrence county. He was married in 1846, to Mrs. Elphany (Obier) Weathersby, who, at that time had five children by her former marriage with Ludwick L. Weathersby. The names of the children are as follows: Lewis, Missouri, Virginia, William J. and Solomon C. This lady was a native of South Carolina, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Adams) Obier, to whom were born four children: James, William, Mary and Elphany, now Mrs. Martin. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin one child has been born-a son-John O., who married Miss Julia Gardner, and after her death he married Miss Dora Huffman, who died after having borne him one child. He then married Miss Maggie C. Smith, who has borne him a family of five children: Smith, Nellie. Pollie, Virginia and John A. This son with his family lives with Mr. and Mrs. Martin, and he assists his

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father in the management of the plantation. In 1863 Mr. Martin was drafted to serve in the Mississippi state militia and went into service in Captain Grag's company of Colonel Quin's regiment. He served a very brief time, and then came home on a furlough and did not return. Mr. Martin may truly be called an Andrew Jackson democrat, for he cast his first presidential vote for Old Hickory, and has voted the democratic ticket ever since. He is a supporter of churches, schools and everything that has a tendency to promote the general welfare. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Master Mason. He came upon his present plantation in 1866 and was obliged to clear the land and erect build- ings for himself and his family. His home is one of the most comfortable in the county, and the hospitality of the family is such that it is truly a home to all who seek admission.

Hon. John H. Martin was born in Albemarle county. Va., in 1790. He was a soldier under General Jackson during the Indian wars and was made a major in recognition of dis- tinguished services. He commanded the Tennessee troops at the battle of New Orleans. After the war he practiced law with success at Glasgow, Ky., until 1826, when he removed to Nashville, Tenn., and associated himself with Hon. John Bell and Judge Henry A Crabb. Later he was a partner of George S. Yerger, and that firm prepared Martin & Yerger's Tennessee reports. Later he was for a short time circuit judge by appointment. He removed to Vicksburg in 1836 and died of yellow fever in 1841.

Hon. Jonathan McCaleb Martin is a personage of such importance and prestige in his county and district, as well as in the state, that a brief review of his career will be of more than passing interest to the readers of this volume. Although his early manhood was devoted to the cause of secession and was full of thrilling incidents his subsequent career has been devoted to peaceful pursuits and his success has been a steady and con- stant growth, for he is possessed of excellent judgment, strong common sense and indom- itable energy, and in his life and character have evinced great symmetry, completeness and moral standing of a high order. He was born in Claiborne county, Miss., June 2, 1846, being the sixth in a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom only four are living. The names of his brothers and sisters are as follows: Caroline M., a liter- ary lady of note residing in New York city; George H., a resident of Wichita Falls, Tex., and Fletcher C., who is a graduate of the University of Texas, and is now practicising law in Seymour of that state. Those deceased are: Jones E., who was a student of high rank in Williams college, after leaving which he began devoting his attention to agriculture. He entered the Confederate service as captain in a company of infantry and during his career as a soldier showed remarkable courage and bravery. He was killed at the terrible battle of Sharpsburg, having, just prior to his death, been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Forty-eighth Mississippi infantry volunteers. William M., another brother, entered the Confederate service in the Claiborne guards, in which he was soon promoted to first lieutenant, but resigned this position to return home and raise a cavalry company in connec- tion with Captain McGruder, in which he assumed the role of first lieutenant. In an engage- ment which took place soon after, Captain McGruder was killed and Lieutenant Martin was promoted to the captaincy of his company. Captain Martin was shot three times and was killed at Harrisburg, Miss., in 1864. He was a young man of brilliant prospects, was a graduate of Yale college, and was expecting to make law his profession. Charles Henry, who died in early manhood, possessed a fine analytical mind and gave every promise of making name and fame for himself, but ere these expectations could be realized his sun had set forever. Sarah H. was a graduate of the famous Female college of New Haven, Conn., of which Mrs. Edwards was president, and died in 1866. Mary E. died of yellow

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fever in 1878, she having also been a graduate of the Female college of New Haven. Melinda A. died at the age of nine years. The father of these children, William Heyward Martin, was born in Maryland in 1800, and was a graduate of the famous Princeton college of New Jersey, afterward becoming an eminent lawyer in his native state. He first read law under William Bullit, and after graduating in his calling moved to Louisville, Ky., where he formed a partnership with Humphrey Marshall, a man of renown, stability and wide reputation.

After making his home in Louisville for one year he came to Port Gibson, Miss., where he opened a law office, and soon won the reputation of being one of the most talented lawyers of Claiborne county, if not of the state. After a time, at the solicitation of his wife, he gave up his chosen profession and engaged in looking up his large landed interests, which were wrecked by the war. He died in 1878 of that terrible scourge, yellow fever. He often told of witnessing the passage of the British ships up Chesapeake bay and also saw the bombardment of Fort William Henry. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary M. McCaleb, was born in Mississippi in 1814 and died in 1865. Her mother was a native of South Carolina and her grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The paternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, Dr. Ennels Martin of Maryland, was surgeon's mate of Dr. Shippen's staff. Hon. J. McC. Martin's early education was received under a govern- ess and private tutor, also the country schools, from which he entered the Seidlitz school at Port Gibson, Miss. His education was interfered with by the bursting of the war cloud which was hanging over the country, and he left the halls of erudition at the early age of fifteen years to shoulder his musket, don his suit of gray, and defend his country. Prior to his enlistment, however, he had taken part in the battle of Port Gibson, and only three days after entering the service he had his horse shot from under him, this being at the battle of Harris' Landing. He became a member of the Fourth Mississippi cavalry in 1863, and was assigned to Mississippi River department, but was afterward transferred to the famous Gen. Bedford Forrest's command and took part in the engagements at Flenker's Field, where Col. Frank P. Powers was his commander; Harrisburg, Miss., where his brother was killed within a short distance of him; Johnsonville, Tenn., where the Confederates destroyed the arsenal and sunk several steam and gun boats, and where Captain Martin came very near being killed by a bursting shell. He also took part in the engagement at Oxford, Miss., the fight taking place on the campus of the college grounds. In this engagement Captain Martin was promoted to fifth sergeant for gallant conduct, by Capt. Charles E. Buck. He next took part in the engagement at Selma, Ala., and surrendered at Gainesville of that state, soon after returning home. He at once engaged in hauling cotton and superintending wagoning, for as he had not a dollar in his pocket he concluded that there was no time to waste in vain regrets, but with his characteristic energy, immediately put his shoulder to the wheel in order to retrieve his fallen fortune. He had to commence at the very bottom of the ladder, but he wisely saved the money he earned and with it determined to finish his education. He entered the famous University of Virginia, at Charlottsville, in 1866, and after taking a general course for two years he returned home and began teaching school in Copiah county, the money he thus earned being sent to his brother, with which to cultivate the home farm. He afterward fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for a short time, then decided to take up the study of law, and with this end in view went to New Orleans, but finding that he must engage in some business in order to carry on his course of study, he applied for, and obtained the chair of English and mathematics in Prytonnia high school of that city. In 1874 he engaged with the White league in the famous battle of the Levee, and narrowly escaped being shot as a ball passed

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through his hat close to his head. He was admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1875, but shortly after left New Orleans, having received a telegram from his sister calling him home on important business, and here he drifted into politics. In 1875 he was the prime organizer of the revolt against the republicans and pushed his venture to a successful issue. Three years later he was elected to the house of representatives and was re-elected in 1879 and 1881, and was also chosen to the state senate from Claiborne and Copiah counties. His meas- ures which were successfully handled and perfected were the following: The Emigration law of 1880, The State census of 1880, The Compromise of Mobile and Ohio rail- road, of money borrowed from the Chickasaw school fund in 1857, The Act creating the Mississippi institute and college for the white girls in 1884," which bill he drafted, and secured its passage after a bitter fight. He had been a trustee of the college ever since its erection, and at the present time about four hundred names are enrolled. He commenced the practice of law in 1876, and is considered by all the leading members of the bar as one of the best counselors of the state, and his work as a skillful, shrewd and farseeing attorney has won for him a national reputation. By his earnest endeavors he has amassed a fortune of $60,000, and by dint of perseverance, ability, industry, frugality and honest toil, has arisen to an exalted position in the state. During the first four years of his career as a pro- fessional man, he was a partner of the late chancellor of Mississippi, L. McLaurin, now of Dallas, Tex., but since that time has been associated with several gentlemen who have formed the basis of their legal education under the admirable tutelage of Hon. J. McC. Martin. One young gentleman, S. R. Bertron, a graduate of Yale college, is now prominently con- nected with the Equitable Loan and Trust Company, of Boston, Mass. Hon. J. McC. Mar- tin also educated his brother Fletcher C. in the University of Texas, the latter being now a successful legal practitioner. Mr. Martin is trustee of the Industrial institute and college of Columbus, Miss. ; is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Port Gibson, Miss., and is also a mem- ber of the Knights & Ladies of Honor and the American Legion of Honor. He is a gentle- man who firmly believes in insurance and is now carrying over $30,000 in the heavy stock companies of the East.

He was married to Miss Amanda M. Myles, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of Dr. William and Amanda (Wood, nee McCall) Myles. Mrs. Martin is an accomplished and intelligent lady and received her education in the Columbian Female institute, at Columbia, Tenn. Mr. Martin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth, of Port Gibson, and his wife of the Episcopal church of that place. He is an openhanded and generous gen- tleman, whose benevolence is well known by all who are acquainted with him. He is ever awake to the demands and interests of his country and state and at all times uses his influence for the advancement of morality, intellectual vigor, the rise and growth of the country and the general welfare of the race. Although his legal learning is profound he is yet a close student, and in his handsome and well appointed library many pleasant and profitable hours are spent. His law library contains twelve hundred volumes, valued at $4,000, and his library of general works is remarkably well selected, contains eight hundred volumes, worth about $2,000. He possesses strong and resolute will, great firmness, practical sagacity, a keeu insight into the motives and methods of men, and in all respects is admirably fitted for the profession he has followed. His home in Port Gibson is one of the most beautiful and attract- ive private residences of which the city can boast ; an air of refinement and taste pervades all its surroundings, and the generous and truehearted, yet unostentatious hospitality dis- played there by himself and his accomplished wife is the delight of the many friends who gather beneath their rooftree.

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Norman Martin is the sixth son of Norman Martin, Sr., who was of Scotch descent, born in South Carolina in January, 1798. His son, Norman, was born in Lauderdale county, Miss., in 1842, was brought up to a farm life and was educated in the common country schools. In 1860 he began work on his own account, but in 1861 responded to the call of the Confederacy for troops, and being at that time a resident of Louisiana he joined the Nine- teenth Louisiana regiment, under command of Colonel Hodge, afterward successively com- manded by Hollingsworth, Winding, Turner and others. Although his regiment partici- pated in the battle of Shiloh, he was sick at the time and did not take part in that battle but was afterward at Chickamauga and Missionary ridge. He was at Atlanta with John- ston, was at Resaca, New Hope church, was at Atlanta again on the 28th of July, after which he went with Hood on his Tennessee campaign, participating in the battle of Nashville. Upon Hood's army being routed he made his escape from Tennessee and arriving in Missis- sippi went to Spanish Fort, Alabama and after the close of hostilities came home and once more engaged in agricultural pursuits at his old home in Clarke county. He was given one- hundred and sixty acres of land by his father, which by good management he has increased to between eight hundred and one thousand acres of average land. From the cultivated portion of this land he raises about twenty-five bales of cotton each year, the average being about one-half bale of cotton to the acre. The average yield of corn is about twenty bushels to the acre, but oats, potatoes and sugarcane are also raised to a considerable extent. He uses home compost and commercial fertilizers and considers it a paying investment. He was married in 1866 to Miss Martin Anderson, of Lauderdale county, Miss., by whom he has five children: George W., Lucy C., Joseph L., Thomas F. and Sarah Hayes. He was elected a member of the board of supervisors in 1876 and was twice re-elected, doing much to improve the county during his term of service. His well known efficiency has again brought him before the public for the position this year (1891) and he no doubt will again be elected. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church of many years standing. Mr. Martin is liberal and charitable, is a warm patron of education, is thrifty and industrious and occupies a high social position.

Judge Thomas N. Martin (deceased), a prominent and distinguished attorney at law, was born in North Carolina in 1807, being the third son born to William Martin. The eldest son, James was a pioneer minister of the Baptist church, and it is said of him that though illiterate he did untold good for the cause of Christianity. The second son, Osborn, was an itinerant Methodist minister. As Thomas came of humble parentage he only received about three months' schooling in his boyhood, his time being spent in tilling the soil. When about twenty-one years of age he secured a position in an iron foundry on Broad river, North Carolina, being in the employ of a Mr. Black, who afterward became a congressman. The political preferment of Mr. Black served as a spur to the ambition of Mr. Martin and he set. about securing a better education than he had. About the time he had attained his majority he had married a Miss Parthenia Howser, the daughter of a well-to-do planter of Dutch parentage, after which he remained in the employ of Mr. Black until about 1835 or '36, when he removed to Mississippi and settled in what is known as the Dark corner of Chickasaw county. He chose for his home a sterile piece of land because he discovered that a spring of clear water flowed through it, and here he opened a school and cleared him a little farm. The story of his early struggles against privation, the hardships he endured and the dangers he encountered are but the repetition of the story of other worthy and ambitious pioneers. At about the time the county of Chickasaw was organized he was appointed one of the com- missioners to lay out a road from Houston to Grenada, also served as a member of the board

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of police and was afterward made a justice of the peace. His next advancement upon the ladder of success was when he was elected clerk of the probate court, although at that time he was still a resident of an obscure portion of the county, being elected to this office about the year 1840. He removed to Houston in 1841 and served in the capacity of clerk for about twelve years. In 1852 or '53 he became assistant clerk of the house of representatives, in which capacity he was faithful, efficient and upright. In 1846 his genius found an outlet as editor of the Houston Patriot, of which he continued to be the successful editor and pro- prietor for five or six years. Under his able management the paper became a decided success and became largely patronized. In 1865 Judge Martin was elected a member of the state senate, and during his term as senator he became noted as a conservative, thorough and ardent democrat. He was instrumental in securing the passage of a number of important bills, but the one which won him his greatest distinction and in which he took greater pride than in any other act of his senatorial career was an act providing for the recovery of the Chickasaw school funds from the several railroads to which it had been loaned. In Novem- ber, 1869, Mr. Martin was elected to congress, his opponent being a Mr. Railsback, receiving a very flattering majority, but was not permitted to take his seat in congress. This closed his political career. His ambition aspired to greater honors and his advancing years made the latter part of his political career odious to him. Mr. Martin was admitted to the bar without special preparation, save that which was gained from his service as a public officer. He at once took rank with the leading members of the local bar, which at that time was very able. Realizing his defective early education, he formed a partnership with J. M. Thomp- son, now of Birmingham, Ala., and together they built up a very successful and lucrative practice. This partnership lasted up to 1858, at which time Mr. Martin associated himself with his son-in-law, William S Bates, of Pontotoc, under the firm name of Martin & Bates, which partnership lasted up to the time of Mr. Martin's death, May 19, 1886. By the time the war opened Judge Martin had acquired a large property, consisting principally of real estate. When the war opened he began merchandising, but had the misfortune to lose a considerable amount of his property in the general collapse that followed. He had, how- ever, prior to his death, been able to partially retrieve his fortune, and was the owner of fifteen hundred acres of good land in Chickasaw and adjoining counties. To himself and wife the following children were born: Mary Jane, widow of William Scott, of Houston; Sallie A., widow of Judge S. A. Dulavey, of Houston; Susan, wife of Judge William S. Bates; William O., who grew to be a young man of excellent principles and fine intellect, joined the army of Virginia in 1862 as a private in the Eleventh Mississippi infantry and was killed at the battle of Malvern hill; Virginia, wife of Capt. J. W. Howell, of Green wood, Miss. ; Martha O., widow of Mr. Roberts, and Laura S., widow of Clay Prewit, of Houston. Judge Martin was from boyhood a member of the church and was for the last twenty years of his life an elder in the Presbyterian church. His widow, who survives him, is also a member of that church. He was a leading member of the local lodge of the A. F. & A. M., of Houston, represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state and was at one time assist- ant lecturer of the state. He was an advocate of temperance and identified himself with temperance organizations. He was a man who possessed very superior mental qualifications, and weight and power accompanied all his words and writings and inspired respect. His leading characteristics were extreme frankness, honesty of purpose, indomitable will and energy. Full of generosity and charity he rarely suspected others of sordid or improper motives, and his criticisms, when provoked, were tempered with mildness and forbearance. In the domestic circle he was devoted to his family and in social life he was highly esteemed

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for his kindly and courtly manners. He was keenly alive to the sufferings and misfortunes of others, and no one ever appealed to him in vain for consolation or succor.

William B. Martin, M. D., of Indianola, Miss. Among the pioneer families of Mississippi that settled in Copiah county, was that of the Rev. Dr. Martin, who took up his abode there about 1816. He was a pioneer minister of the Baptist faith, but in addition to attending to the spiritual wants of his fellowmen he was engaged in planting also, and reared his family on his plantation in that county. Hon. W. W. Martin, his son and father of Dr. William B., was born in one of the Carolinas about the year 1814, but from his infancy until the time of his death he was a resident of Missis- sippi. Miss Mary A. Miller, a native of Copiah county and a daughter of Squire Miller, a prominent and wealthy planter of that county, became his wife, after which they settled on a plantation and in time became wealthy. He interested himself in the political affairs of his day, showed excellent qualities of leadership, was a thoroughly independent thinker and for the sound judgment and practical ability which he at all times manifested he was elected to represent Copiah county in the general assembly of the state one or more terms. He was called from life in 1858, his widow surviving him until 1890. Dr. William B. Martin was the youngest of their five sons and two daughters that grew to mature years, and his .. youth, like that of his father, was spent in Copiah county, on a plantation. Besides receiv- ing his primary education at home he finished his education in Mississippi college, nearly completing the regular course of that institution. His first work in the way of earning his own living was as a school teacher in Holmes county, being principal of the Wesson high school for one year, where he earned the reputation of being an able instructor and a fine disciplinarian. While in that town he studied medicine under Drs. Rea and Sexton, two local physicians of the place, and took his first course of lectures in Tulane Medical college of New Orleans in the winter of 1884-5. After completing his first course he returned to Wesson, and during the summer of 1885 was there engaged in the practice of his profession, after which he returned to his former alma mater and finished his medical course, graduating in the spring of 1886. Soon after this he came to Indianola and here has been actively engaged in practicing ever since. He has done much to alleviate the ills of suffering humanity in this section, and has shown that as a physician he is possessed of more than ordinary skill and talent. He brings the magnetism of his presence to bear upon his patients, and his cheerful countenance, his cordial ways and encouraging words, aid largely in carrying out the work which his medicines inaugurate. In 1888 he formed a partnership with Dr. Cannon and the following year this firm opened a drug establishment and are now carrying a fine line of drugs and medicines that would do credit to a much larger town. They have a fine trade and practice and are the leading physicians of Sunflower county. Dr. Martin was married here in November, 1887, to Miss Georgia Smith, a native of the county, being reared here by an uncle, G. K. Smith, now a resident of Oxford, Miss. Mrs. Martin is the daughter of William and Nannie (Gillespie) Smith, both of whom died when she was a child. The Smiths were among the prominent early families of this section. Mrs. Mar- tin, as well as the Doctor, is a member of the Baptist church. The latter is a member of the state board of medical examiners and also belongs to the state board of health. He is one of the leading inhabitants of Indianola and is public-spirited and enterprising.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 62

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314