Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 80

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Tennessee > Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee > Part 80

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In the meantime, he had devoted his leisure to the study of law, and having been licensed to practice, he opened an office at. Shelbyville, in 1851, and practiced with much success until IS61 ; his great popularity as

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an orator, his knowledge of human nature, his adroit manner of handling facts in a case, added to his exten- sive acquaintance, gaining for him a very large clientele. After the war he practiced at Manchester until 1877, when he settled at Tullahoma, where he has since con- tinued to reside, devoting his time mainly to recover- ing his valuable property in Independence and Izard. counties, Arkansas. This property consists of a large tract of land purchased by him some forty years ago, and on which are rich mines of manganese ores. The discovery of the manganese deposits was made by Smith, the Arkansas assistant State surveyor, over forty years ago. Samples of the ore were sent to Prof. Gerard Troost, of Nashville, who was Gen. Martin's old teacher, for analysis. Prof. Troost pronounced the ore very rich, and advised his pupil to purchase. But from the neglect of Gen. Martin's agent, who failed to keep him posted, the lands were sold under a tax sale. It was further given out that Gen. Martin, who was a resident in the mountainous districts of Ten- nessee, had been killed during the war. "These reports coming to my ears," said the General, "I went down to attend my own funeral and administer on the estate." He succeeded in recovering the property through the courts, and this, added to his previous possessions, gives him a fair share of this world's goods.

Gen. Martin has always been an enterprising and public-spirited man. While a farmer he established a pork-packing house in Nashville, one among the first in the State. In 1848-9, he was a member of the com- pany, consisting of himself, James HI. Wilson and Gen. F. K. Zollicoffer, that built the wire suspension bridge at Nashville, at that time reckoned as one of the finest and most substantial bridge structures in America, and the longest in the South. This bridge was destroyed by having its wires cut upon the evacuation of the city by the Confederate army under Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston, in February, 1862.

Prior to the war, as before stated, Gen. Martin was a Whig. When the war broke out he espoused the Con- federate cause, but with great agony of spirit, saying to a friend in 1861: "We must go' with our people." Since the war he has been a Democrat, but has never voluntarily sought office, and never wanted it. He has repeatedly declined nominations when there was every prospect of a successful canvass. In 1869, he was elected, without canvassing or making a speech, a dele- gate from the counties of Coffee, Grundy and Van Buren to the State constitutional convention of 1870, and in that body was chairman of the military com- mittee.

To most Tennesseans, however, Gen. Martin is best known by his career as a soldier, for a martial spirit. and love of country were born in him. He volunteered for the Mexican war, but his company disbanded before reaching the seat of hostilities. In the great war be-

tween the States, however, he bore a conspicuous part, In June, 1861, he was called upon to command the " Erwin Guards," as their captain, but in a few days thereafter, without opposition, he was elected colonel of the Twenty-third Tennessee volunteer infantry, which was soon after brigaded under Gen. Pat. Cle- bourne.

About this time, the call of the militia being de- termined upon, he was solicited to allow his name to be voted for as major general of the third division of Tennessee State troops. His answer was: "In time of war no man should seck or decline an office." On receiving this reply, the citizen soldiery took up his name and triumphantly elected him their major-general. He was still at Bowling Green, Kentucky, in camp,; commanding the Twenty-third regiment, one - of the best-drilled and best disciplined regiments then in the Confederate service, when Gov. Harris made a call on him for one-half of his militia division, comprising eighteen regiments, to be chosen by the draft. On re- ceiving this order he was in doubt as to his exact duty, for, being then performing service as an officer in the regular Confederate army, he could not determine the proper line of duty-whether it would be right to re- sign his rank in the regular service and accept a posi- tion in the militia of still higher rank. He consulted with Gen. Cleburne, assuring him that he was unde- cided as to what he should do; that duty, instead of promotion, was his ruling motive; that the cause was everything, the man nothing, and he would abide the advice of his superior officer. Gen. Cleburne answered that, while unwilling to forego his services, he was un- decided what advice to give, and referred him to Gen. Hardee. He went to Gen. Hardee, who was unwilling to decide the matter, and referred him to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. The latter said this was not a time for delay or hesitation. He would decide at once, and that was that he (Gen. Martin) should resign his rank in the Confederate army and accept the office of major- general of militia, tendered him by the citizen soldiers, and that no time was to be lost. He accordingly tendered his resignation, but it happened about that time that the demand for troops elicited great enthusiasm in his part of the State, and he found that the militia who were to fill out his division had entered the army as volunteers, instead of waiting to be drafted. The upshot was that, instead of organizing his division, Gen. Martin hast- ened to his regiment and " joined the boys" again. Ile was in time to take part in the battles of Shiloh and Pittsburg Landing.

The brigade of Gen. Cleburne, in which Gen. Martin fought, attacked the Federals, commanded by Gen. B. M. Prentiss, who was at the extreme front. The Con- federates advanced to the brink of a ravine, Prentiss' brigade occupying the opposite side of the ravine, when the most furious artillery duel took place which oc- curred during the war. The limbs on the trees were

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eut down by the cannonade, and were very destructive to the men. Gen. Martin was wounded in this part of the battle in seven places. A limb fell on him, douh- ling him up on his horse. His wounds were severe and his sufferings extreme. The slope of the ravine was very steep, but the Confederates made the descent into the chasm, the banks being over one hundred feet high, when Prentiss, holding his position on the erest of the ridge, delivered a plunging fire from his batteries on their heads, which was very destructive and murderous. den. Prentiss held his position with dogged bravery, standing as firm as a rock, until subsequently, being surrounded by a superior force, he had to surrender.

The following anecdote, published in the Detroit Free Press, illustrates so well, and so truthfully; Gen. Martin's conspicuous bravery on the field of Shiloh, it seems very appropriate in this connection: "During the battle of Shiloh, as the First Tennessee regiment of Confederate infantry was advancing to attack, lying on the edge of the battlefield, some of the boys saw a big, fat colonel, badly wounded. He proved to be the gallant Mexican and Confederate veteran, Col. Matt. Martin, of the Twenty-third Tennessee. As the col- un came up on the double-quick, and, with a yell, Vol. Martin lifted his head and roared out in sten- torian tones, 'give 'em goss, boys-that's right. my brave First Tennessee -- give 'em Hail Columbia!' The regiment halted but a moment, and one of the boys inquired, 'Colonel, where are you wounded? ' He answered in a deep bass voice, 'My son, I am wounded in the arm, in the leg, in the head, ain the body, and in another place I have a delicacy in men- tioning; but don't mind me; go ahead, give 'em fits! And the truth of it is, he was wounded in seven places, and, besides, a limb had fallen upon him, doubling him up on his horse."

In the subsequent struggle of the Confederacy, Gen. Martin filled various positions of honor and responsi- bility. He remained with the Twenty- third until after the battle of Chickamauga, being called upon by the men to command them, and thus he served with " the boys" through the campaigns in Tennessee, Miss- issippi, Alabama and Georgia. The remainder of the time, after Chickamauga, he was mostly with Gen. Clan ton, upon Clanton's request. His bravery during the war was recognized by Generals Cleburne and Har- dee in the most complimentary terms. His conduct throughout the struggle was reckless of danger-ex- posing himself at the most dangerous points of the conflict whenever necessity required. More particu- larly, however, is Gen. Martin gratefully remembered by the people, both for his bravery and for the prompt- ness with which he gave his name, his eloquence and his commanding influence to the cause of the South.

Gen. Martin was first married in Maury county, Tennessee, September 21, 1835, to Miss Sarah Quincy Williams, daughter of Gen. Samuel H. Williams, a

a large farmer, and a gentleman prominent in that county as a sheriff, brigadier-general of militia, and member of the Legislature. Mrs. Martin's mother, nee Miss Ruth Davidson, was a relative of Gen. William Davidson, of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, an intrepid officer of the American army, who lost his life at the battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, and in whose honor Davidson county, Tennessee, was named. Mrs. Martin was one of eight sisters, all noted as ladies of great refinement and model housekeepers. She was a Presbyterian, and a graduate of the Nashville Female Academy, a remarkably fine mathematician and accom- plished in music. She died in 1851, having borne nine children, four of whom are now living: (1). Barclay Martin, married Miss Kate Fogleman, of Shelbyville, and has three children, Barclay, Louie Queen, and Johnnie. He is now living at Wichita Falls, Texas, a lawyer. (2). Sarah Clay Martin, now wife of William J. Armstrong, of Maury county, has seven children, Quincy, Matt., Mary Gordon, Maria Barclay, George, William and Maury D. (3). Margaret F. Martin, now wife of Augustus F. Sowell, of Maury county, has three children, Jennie Pearl, Augustus, and Lizzie Martin. (1). Marshall Abram Martin, now practicing law at Burnett, Texas; married Miss Emma Walker, daughter of Thomas Walker; has six children, Barclay, Thomas Walker, Matt., Anna, Emma J. and Armstead Fisher.

Gen. Martin has four great-grandchildren : Quincy Armstrong, oldest daughter of William J. Armstrong, married J. T. Cochran, and has three children, Wil- liam, Thomas, and Matt .Martin. Mary Gordon Arm- strong married Milton Bunch, and has one child, Hugh.

Gen. Martin's present wife was Miss Elizabeth D. Martin, his second cousin, whom he married March 5, 1865, in Montgomery, Alabama. She was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, February 2, 1824, daughter of Hon. Abram Martin, war tax collector of the Confed- erate States for the State of Alabama, and for many years a circuit judge in that State. Her mother, Jane Patton, was the daughter of Thomas and Jane Patton, both native Irish.

The Martin family is of Scotch-Trish descent, as Gen. Martin's portrait, accompanying this sketch, plainly shows in its strong Scotch-Irish lineaments. His grand- father, Abram Martin, commanded a company under Washington at Gen. Braddock's defeat. A short time before the Revolution he moved from Virginia to Edgefield district, South Carolina, and was killed by the Indians, in the State of Georgia, while with a sur- veying party locating lands. He left his widow with eight sons and one daughter. All of these sons were officers in the American army during the Revolution - ary war, except Matt. Martin, the youngest, Gen. Mar- tin's father, who was a private. Gen. Martin's oldest uncle, William Martin, was a captain of artillery, and was killed at Augusta, Georgia, Barclay Martin was a captain in a cavalry regiment, and afterwards became a

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colonel. John Martin was a major, George a captain of infantry, and Edmund, James and Marshall Martin were lieutenants. All who know Gen. Martin will re- member with what pride and animation he recalls and dwells upon the Revolutionary history of his ancestry, and there may be found in these reminiscences an ex- planation of his own lion-like courage and dauntless patriotism. Having inherited with his blood a name honored in history, it seems to be his ambition to trans- mit it untarnished, and illustrated with his own prow- ess, to his posterity.

The Martin blood was up during the struggle for American independence. The day after the battle at Augusta, in which Capt. William Martin was killed, the British evacuated that city and were en route to Ninety-six, in South Carolina, Col. Brown being their commander. An officer was sent forward to order breakfast at the house of Mrs. Betty Martin, grand- mother of Gen. Martin, and this, too, the very day after her son had been killed. The British officer asked her if her name was Martin, and upon being answered in the affirmative, informed her that he had seen her son killed the day before-had seen his brains shot out. She replied that she wished she had five thousand sons to fight in the same cause. When Col. Brown came up he went into the house, and seeing that the lady was in great distress, and presuming that she was apprehensive of improper treatment or of losing her property -- she being of a noted rebel family-assured her she might rest easy on that score, that both she and her property should be protected. She replied: "It is not that; but the anomalous position I am in of being compelled to feed those who killed my own son but yesterday." "Who informed you that your son was killed yester- day?" inquired the British commander. She pointed out the man, one of his own officers, whereupon Col. Brown reprimanded the officer severely, struck him with his sword, and threatened to have him cashiered for bearing such tidings to a mother.

The personal courage, the daring spirit and patriot- ism of the Martin family, were finely illustrated soon after this event by a thrilling adventure of Gen. Mar- tin's aunts, Grace and Rachel. The former, an English lady, originally Miss Grace Warren, was the widow of Gen. Martin's uncle, Capt. William Martin, who had been killed at Augusta. The latter, whose maiden name was Miss Rachel Clay, a cousin of Henry Clay, was the wife of Col. Barclay Martin, Gen. Martin's uncle. These two ladies captured a British officer, with his escort, and took from them an express which they were carrying to the British commandant at Ninety-six. They dressed themselves in their hus- bands' clothing and armed themselves, one with an old pistol, the other with a bayonet fixed to a staff like a pike. While dressing for the enterprise, Rachel Mar- tin suggested that they would better represent men if they could swear at them while attempting the capture.

Grace promptly replied : "If you can't swear, I can. They have killed my husband, and d-n them, I can curse them with all my heart." Concealing themselves in an ambush near the way along which they knew the bearer of the coveted dispatches must pass, they sprang into the road as the two men rode up, pointed their. weapons, and ordered them to surrender. They took the officer and his escort prisoners, disarmed them, secured the dispatches, and conducted their captives back to Martintown, to the house of their mother-in. law, Mrs. Betty Martin, Gen. Martin's grandmother. The old lady twitted the officer that he and his orderly had surrendered to such youthful soldiers. " Why; madam," said he, "they attacked us so suddenly we had no time to defend ourselves. The wicked eyes of the youthful soldiers were so determined and piercing, I am confident they would have run us through or shot us dead, had we offered the least resistance." There- upon the old lady turned to her daughters-in-law and said: "Soldiers, what are you going to do with your prisoners?" They replied : " We ought to have killed them at first. but now we know not what to do with them, unless we confine them as prisoners in the swamps until the war is over." The old lady suggested that they be paroled, which gave great relief to the . prisoners. Rachel Martin, being the wife of an officer, and knowing something about the paroling of prisoners, put them under oral obligation not to fight any more during the war, and especially to protect the women and children wherever they went, and not rob them of the necessaries of life. The officer begged for the dis- patches, but the ladies kept them, and had them de- livered, post haste, to Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and the patriot cause. For other and fuller information of these ladies, see Mrs. Ellett's " Women of the Revolu- tion."

Gen. Martin's father, Matt. Martin, the youngest of the eight brothers, was born in Charlotte county, Vir- ginia, grew up in South Carolina, but went back to Virginia, and married after the Revolution. After this, upon the reorganization of the South Carolina militia, he was elected captain of an artillery company. He remained in South Carolina several years, then moved to Bourbon county, Kentucky, remained two years, and then, with his brother, Col. Barclay Martin, settled in what is now Bedford county, Tennessee, shortly after the Duck and Elk river purchase was made from the Indians. He died in that county, October 16, 1816, in his eighty-fourth year. He was a man noted for firmness, strong will and superior judgment; and his deportment in life was such that he had the unbounded confidence and esteem of the whole community, and great influ- ence in political, social and church affairs, though not belonging to any communion. He always refused to become a candidate for any trust, though he was a jus- tice of the peace from 1807 to 1831.

Col. Barclay Martin, Gen. Martin's nucle, after his

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settlement in Bedford county, was a member of the Tennessee Legislature for that county. . He was a very popular man, and of high character. He died child- less, and now lies buried alongside of his wife, Rachel, and Gen. Martin's father and mother, Matt. and Sally Martin, in the family graveyard on the old homestead of Gen. Martin's father, in Bedford county.

Gen. Martin's mother, originally Miss Sally Clay, sister of Rachel Clay before mentioned, was born in Charlotte county, Virginia, daughter of Henry Clay, "the tobacco maker." He became very wealthy, and emigrated to Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he died. As before stated, she was a cousin of Henry Clay, the great Whig orator and statesman, and it is through his mother and paternal grandmother, Marshall, that Gen. Martin has inherited the oratorial power for which he has been so long distinguished in Tennessee. Gen. Martin's maternal grandmother was Miss Rachel Puvall, a Virginia lady. Gen. Martin's mother was a member of the Baptist church, and a lady noted for great energy and industry and fine common sense. She died at the age of seventy-nine, having borne thirteen chil- dren-four sons and nine daughters.

Of Gen. Martin's brothers and sisters, it may be said : Barclay Martin was a member of the Tennessee house of representatives and of the senate, and also a mem- ber of congress from that State.

Miss Lucy G. Martin married Theodrick Bradford, who represented the Bedford county district in the Tennessee senate for many years, in the early history of the State.

His sister, Miss Rachel P. Martin, married Hon. John Tillman, a member of the Legislature from Bedford county for many years. She was the mother of Hon. Lewis Tillman, M. C., and Judge B. M. Tillman, chan- cellor. Her. grandson (son of' Lewis Tillman), Col. Samuel Tillman, is now a distinguished professor in West Point Military Academy. Another grandson, Col. James D. Tillman, was a colonel in the Confederate army; afterwards represented Lincoln county in the lower house, and Lincoln and Franklin counties in the State senate. Another grandson, George Newton Tillman, is now United States marshal for Middle Ten- nessee, and a lawyer who, perhaps, has no superior of' his age in the State.

Gen. Martin's oldest sister, Miss Polly Marshall Mar- tin, married her cousin, John Marshall, a gentleman of high standing and culture. Their son, Rev. Matt. Martin Marshall, is a noted Presbyterian clergyman and revivalist. His son, also named Matt, Martin Marshall, is a prominent lawyer at Dyersburg, Tennes- see. A grandson of Rev. M. M. Marshall, Matt. Mar- shall Neill, is a rising lawyer of much promise at Tren- ton, Tennessee.

Gen. Martin's sisters, Rebecca Martin and Betty Mar shall Martin, married brothers, both farmers, Rebecca married Thomas B. Mosely, and Betty M., married

Edward A. Mosely-both gentlemen of respectability and wealth. Gen. Martin's sister, Mattie Bedford Mar- tin, married Samuel R. Rucker, a lawyer of distinction, who was formerly in the State senate from Rutherford county. Gen. Martin's seventh sister, Sally Clay Mar- tin, married Col. John L. Neill, a lieutenant under Jackson. He was captured by the British on the even- ing of their landing below New Orleans, in the night attack made by Jackson upon them. He was a popular man, and at one time sheriff of Bedford county.

Many members of the Martin family have been prom- inent. William D. Martin (Gen. Martin's cousin), was a member of Congress, and afterwards judge of the South Carolina supreme court. Abram Martin was a circuit judge in Alabama. Edward Martin was a mem- ber of the South Carolina Legislature, and a very sue- cessful planter in Beaufort district of that State. These were the sons of Gen. John Martin, of South Carolina, one of the eight patriot brothers. Two of Gen. John Martin's daughters married gentlemen of prominence. The youngest, Sarah, was the wife of governor and United States senator, Fitzpatrick, of Alabama. The eldest, Susan, married Dixon HI. Lewis, United States senator from Alabama. John A. Ehmore (Gen. Mar- tin's cousin), was an eminent lawyer at Montgomery, Alabama. His repuation 'was such that the supreme judgeship of the State was repeatedly tendered him, but he uniformly declined it. The county of Elmore, in Alabama, was named for him.

By way of anecdote, it might be related here that prior to the war Gen. Martin's brother, Barclay, had a wide reputation as a Democratic speaker, and the General himself as a Whig orator. Frequently Barclay would have appointments in various parts of the State, and the Whigs would send for Matt. to answer him, and in like manner Barclay was often sent for to answer Matt., but neither would accept the invitation, so high was their mutual brotherly regard. They differed politi- cally till the war came up; since that they are one in politics, as always in brotherly love. Family pride is a characteristic of the entire family, and their adherence to each other has never been equalled outside of the clans of Scotland.

After the war, Gen. Martin returned home and advised everybody to abide by the result or leave the country, as he was anxious to see the Union brought back to the standard of the fathers. He refused to take a fee, either from a rebel or a Federal soldier, when arrayed against each other for injuries done during the war, on the ground that such suits would reopen wounds that should be given time to heal. In this way he did a great public service.

Gen. Martin is a man distinguished, not alone for personal courage and public spiritedness, but for firm- ness of character and fine social qualities. He is a true man, true to his friends, true to principle, and true to his State-an honorable, - hightoned, high-

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minded, refined gentleman ; a great favorite in social circles, which he always enlivens with anecdote, wit and humor. Though not a vindictive man, his repartee, when attacked, is sudden and withering. His sympa- thies are easily excited, and, when defending a criminal, his lips are tremulous with emotion, and often his tears

flow. Ile is a man of large build, frank and outspoken, and carries in his conversation the unmistakable lines of an honest man, a man of push and nerve and sin- cerity. In appearance he resembles Gen. Robert E. Lee .. So striking is the likeness that it is frequently al- luded to.

J. BUNYAN STEPHENS, M. D.

NASHVILLE.

T' IITS distinguished gentleman is presented in these pages as a type of strong mental, moral and phys- ical manhood; of medium height, compact build, large frame, weighing one hundred and seventy-five pounds ; of dark complexion, clear brown eyes; a face radiant with intelligence, and with a serene, collected appear- ance, as of a man who sees his way before him, and has his mind made up to do or suffer whatever duty may demand. The impression he makes on one secing him for the first time is that he is a man of positive charac- ter. And such is the reputation he has made for him- self throughout the South, as professor of obstetrics in the Nashville Medical College, a chair, which he has filled for the last nine years; as editor of the Baptist Watchmen ; as an eminent physician, and as pastor of the Primitive Baptist church. His location in Nash- ville was brought about by the celebrated Dr. John M. Watson, who, seeing his own end approaching, se- lected Dr. Stephens for his successor in charge of the Baptist church in that city. Yielding to his solicita- tions, he settled there in March, 1867, and by a very active life has made a name among the standard men of the State, and acquired a comfortable fortune.

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Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 80

Author: Speer, William S Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278