Biography - John F. Martin
JOHN F. MARTIN, who is a resident of Strasburg Township, is a native of
Fountain County, Ind., having been born in Davis Township, September 9,
1842, where he remained until he had reached the years of manhood, and
indeed it was not until he was in his twenty-second year that he left the
home roof to go out and battle for himself. At that time he removed to
Shelby County and settled on a farm in Richland Township. There he remained
but a short time and then returned to Indiana in time to enlist with his
youthful comrades in the War of the Rebellion. He joined Company D, of the
One Hundred and Fiftieth Indiana Regiment, and served until the close of the
war, when he returned to Shelby County, this State, and has ever since made
his home in Richland Township on a farm, until 1882, when he came to
Strasburg.
Since coming to Strasburg Mr. Martin has been engaged in the grain and flour
trade and has built up a flourishing business. Our subject is a man who is
interested in any measure that benefits humanity. Naturally he takes a great
interest in local as well as national politics. A Democrat in his political
policy and theories, he has been appointed by his party to fill a number of
local offices. He has been Collector for two years, and has filled the
office of Assessor for the same length of time.
The original of our sketch was married in Richland Township, Shelby County,
this State, soon after his return from the war, in December, 1866. His wife
was Mrs. Philenia Whitlatch, who was born in Shelby Township. The lady has
made a pleasant home for her husband and the children who have taken their
place at the family board. Their names are Lizzie, Rosetta, John Franklin,
Emma, Ella, Delia, Eva and Charlie.
Mr. Martin is a member of the Masonic fraternity. For four years he has held
the office of Village Trustee of Strasburg. Personal comfort, convenience or
gain are secondary considerations to our subject in the face of the demands
that are made upon his time by the needs of the community. An upright and
trustworthy man personally, as a citizen he combines the rare qualities of
ability, judgment, generosity and self-forgetfulness. He has done much to
assist the growth of the village, and he with his amiable wife and family of
children make one of the pleasantest homes in the place.
The father of the subject of this sketch was George B. Martin, who was a
farmer, and a native of Ohio. His mother was a Miss Elizabeth Pierson, who
was born in New York. After the marriage of George Martin they settled in
Davis Township, Fountain County, Ind., where they passed the remainder of
their lives. They had thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, and
of these our subject was the eldest. At the present time (May, 1891) only
three of this large family are living. Mrs. Martin, our subject's wife, was
the daughter of Peter and Eda Smith. They were old settlers at an early day
in Shelby County, and died in Holland Township. Her first husband was Samuel
Whitlatch, who died in Richland Township. By her first marriage she was the
mother of one child, Samantha, who is now the wife of Marion Johnson. Mr.
and Mrs. Martin are members of the Baptist Church, in which body they are
both active workers. Our subject is known throughout the county as being a
large grain-buyer, and his reputation as a business man is without a flaw.
Extracted 13 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 426-428.
