U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin, Earl R. B. (1874-1952) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 453-455 E. R. B. MARTIN, a prominent member of the Pleasants County bar, residing at St. Marys, was born August 11, 1874, near Middlebourne, Tyler County, West Virginia, and is a son of Robert B. F. and Laura (Engle) Martin, the former of whom was a son of Reuben and Nancy (Courtney) Martin, the latter of whom was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born on the passage from Ireland to New York. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Christian Engle, whose ancestors came from Saxony. Christian Engle was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and came to what is now West Virginia in 1837, by way of the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, stopping first at Sistersville, and then proceeding to Middlebourne, where he still resides at the age of 85 years. Christian Engle is perhaps more widely known as an old pioneer and useful citizen than any other West Virginian. For 42 years he served continuously as Circuit Court clerk of Tyler County and was the first deputy clerk of the combined Circuit and County courts before the separation, and went out of office in 1897. This is the most remarkable public record in the State. He was noted for his marvelous memory, — of people, papers, events, and it has been said that he was better posted in common law practice than most of the lawyers, who frequently consulted him. It was under this very capable man that the subject of this sketch gained his most valuable knowledge of the common law, which led him into the study of the law and eventually to his admission to the bar. The wife of Christian Engle, Amy Hartley, was of English, Irish and German extraction, and was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and died in 1898. The Engles and Hartleys came together to West Virginia. The Courtneys settled in Monongalia County, Virginia, now West Virginia. The Martins were of German descent and natives of West Virginia. Robert B. F. Martin was one of the pioneers of Tyler County. He was the seventh member of a family of 12 children. He attended the subscription schools of his day, but they afforded but meager instruction. His occupation was farm work until the outbreak of the Civil War, when at the age of 27 years with his two brothers, Reuben and Anthony, he enlisted for service, in Company K, 7th Reg., West Virginia Vol. Inf.; he took part in the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, and after two years was honorably discharged. Returning home to Tyler County, he married Laura Engle, eldest daughter of Christian and Amy (Hartley) Engle, and the three children born to this marriage were: Christian R., born October 18, 1865, who is engaged in the practice of law at Middlebourne; Asia, born March 20, 1867, who is residing at home; and E. R. B., of this sketch. R. B. F. Martin has been a very successful business man and practical farmer. Both he and his wife still reside near Middlebourne, aged respectively 65 and 62 years. Mrs. Martin is a lady who possesses literary ability. Had she been given advantages in youth she would doubtless have become likely known as a writer of verse. Our subject was educated in the common schools of West Virginia and then took a complete business course at Wheeling, where he graduated in 1894. Then he entered the University of West Virginia at Morgantown, where he graduated with the degree of LL. B., in 1898. When but 17 years old he began to teach school, following this vocation for two years in Tyler County, subsequently becoming principal of the Middlebourne High School. He also served on the Tyler County Board of Education for the examination of teachers. It was in 1893 that he began the desultory study of the law, in connection with various other occupations, and in July 1898, he was admitted to practice, and opened up an office with Hon. T. P. Jacobs at Mannington, where he remained eight months, and then moved to St. Marys in 1899, where he entered into partnership with Hon. W. S. Allen, now at Parkersburg. Owing to ill health, he gave up his office practice in 1900 and engaged in outdoor occupation of leasing oil lands in the interest of the South Penn Oil Company, under S. S. Miller, district superintendent. A year later he severed this connection and formed a partnership with Hon. Clyde B. Johnson, of the St. Marys bar, which has resulted in the upbuilding of one of the most prominent and able law firms of West Virginia. In politics Mr. Martin has been a lifelong Republican, this being a family trait, and he has devoted much study to the fundamental principles of this party and is a man thoroughly informed on all affairs pertaining to State and national as well as civic matters. On February 6, 1900, Mr. Martin was married to Jessie E. Stealey, daughter of L. L. and Mary H. (Billingsley) Stealey, of Tyler County. They have one son, Bruce, born July 14, 1902. Their beautiful home is situated on the Ohio River, in St. Marys. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Marriage License, Ohio County, WV (Page 333) Earle R. B. Martin Age: 26 years Birthplace: Middlebourne, W.Va. Residence: St. Marys, W.Va. Jessie E. Stealey Age: 23 years Birthplace: Middlebourne, W.Va. Residence: Middlebourne, W.Va. were married on February 6, 1901(see note) (NOTE: the last digit of the pre-printed 1900 year on the marriage license was crossed out and replaced with a 1 making the marriage year 1901. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Kanawha County, WV #6056 FULL-NAME: Earl R. B. Martin BIRTH-DATE: August 11, 1874 BIRTH-PLACE: Tyler Co., West Virginia DEATH-DATE: April 4, 1952 (at 78 years of age) DEATH-PLACE: 1012 Quarrier Street, Charleston, Kanawha County, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: 1012 Quarrier St., Charleston, Kanawha County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Lawyer, Oil Industry FATHER: R. B. F. Martin MOTHER: Laura Engle CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Carsinoma of Throat INFORMANT: Mrs. Emma Martin BURIAL: Middlebourne (Tyler County, WV) ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------