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, William T. D. (1844-1933) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 781-785, WILLIAM T. D. MARTIN. A full history of the Martin family in Preston county can be found in another part of this work. Philip, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was of German descent, and settled about two miles from Kingwood, on a farm since owned by Judge Dille. Their children were as follows: (1) John, who died about thirty-five years ago, about seventy years of age, at Gladesville. (2) Jacob, of Bruceton Mills, long since departed. (3) Susan, who married William Forman. (4) Margaret, who married William Snyder. They lived on Muddy Creek, but subsequently moved to Iowa. (5) Philip, the father of W. T. D. Martin. (6) Joseph; (7) David. Philip Martin was born about four years before the War of 1812, and remembered seeing some of the soldiers of that war. He was born near Pleasantdale, on a farm adjoining the old Garner homestead, and raised a farmer. He attended faithfully to his duties as a voter, but was no politician. He was a devoted member of the Methodist church and an old-fashioned class leader of that society for eight or ten years. He married when twenty-five years of age, his wife being Nancy, daughter of Moses Beavers. The young couple took up their residence on the James Miller farm above Rowlesburg. He was a successful farmer, and later moved south of Kingwood, where he died in 1896, at the age of eighty-eight years, and was buried on the home place. His wife died September 30, 1868, and was buried on the home place. Their children were: (1) Mary Ann, who married Daniel Adams and moved to Tucker county, where she died in 1865; (2) Susan, who married George Adams, son of Daniel, and moved to Tucker county also; (3) Samuel, who died at the age of sixty-five, at Kingwood, in 1899. He was Colonel of the 15th W. Va. Infantry, and was all through the war. His wife was Harriet J. Synder. (4) W. T. D., of whom mention will again be made. (5) Philip B., died February 23, 1889, and was buried on the home farm. He married Retta Hammond, and to this union four children were born, namely: (1) Bessie, who is now the wife of George Barker, an engineer on the B. & O. Railroad, residing in Keyser, West Virginia; (2) Purley Theodore, who is now living in Ohio and is studying for the ministry; (3) Ethel, who married Everett Mathews, an operator for the B. & O. Railroad, residing in Cumberland, Maryland; (4) Dora Malissa, who now lives in Keyser, West Virginia. (6) Nancy Catherine, wife of Rev. W. D. Herndon. They reside in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Their children are as follows: (a) Morgan, who is a traveling salesman; (b) William Edward, a cashier in the Bank of Buckhannon; (c) Beulah, wife of Clarence Bryant, all residents of Buckhannon, West Virginia. (7) Lydia E., wife of Henry Harriman. To this union seven children were born, as follows: (a) Minnie May, who departed this life about twenty years ago; (b) Dora Belle, wife of Robert Giaour, a farmer near Oakland, Maryland; (c) twins, who died in infancy; (d) Philip Amos, a farmer who resides near Herring, West Virginia; (e) Addie, who died in infancy; (f) William Henry, a bookkeeper in Terra Alta Bank, West Virginia; (8) Sarah V., wife of Samuel Evans, who resides in Howard City, Michigan; (9) Melissa M., wife of Henry Beckman, a farmer and stock dealer, who resides on a farm six miles from Oakland; (10) John A., who died when four years of age. William T. D. Martin was born January 17, 1844, on the old home place northwest of Kingwood. His educational opportunities were limited to two or three months schooling in the winter time during his earlier years only, but he has been a close student and has a remarkable memory. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in the army, becoming a member of the 6th W. Va. Infantry, and served to the end of the war, most of his time guarding on the B. & O. Railroad. On Mr. Martin's return home he married and lived first on a tract of land consisting of two hundred acres, about six miles from his birthplace. He stayed there from 1865 to 1888, then sold and removed to where he now lives, about two miles from Irona. The farm consists of one hundred and thirty acres of choice land, which he bought of Jamison Snyder, an excellent orchard of six hundred trees is on the place. The farm is adapted principally to the raising of produce. Mr. Martin deals to some extent in cattle, always interested in the best grades of stock only. On November 10, 1879, Mr. Martin was married to Mary E. Shahan, who was a daughter of Abraham Shahan, and from this union were born the following children: (1) Lloyd W., born September 6, 1871. He married Stella Conner and lives at Carnegie, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Lucy. He is a railroad conductor. (2) Avis, born September 15, 1873, is the wife of C. A. Craig. (3) J. Guy, born March 5, 1876. He was educated at the Fairmont State Normal and taught school for several years. He is now at Phoenix, Arizona, on a homestead. (4) Lulu A., born November 16, 1879, was educated at the Kingwood High School. She was a school teacher also. She is the wife of Norman Cale, a farmer. No children. (5) Sarah M., born July 16, 1882, remains at home. (6) Harry J„ born July 9, 1886. He was educated in the Fairmont State Normal, has been teaching eight years, and is now carrying the mail on a rural route from Tunnelton. Mr. Martin, following after his father, has always been interested in politics, but is no office seeker. He is devoted to church work and has been a class leader in the Methodist Society during the past eight years, and six years at one time before that. The Martins have all been good representatives of that old, industrious pioneer class of open-hearted farmers whose latchstring always hung out for the weary traveller and not infrequent passer-by to enter whenever hungry or in need of water to drink — a class of old-timers that will some day be a thing only of the past, much to the disgrace of our boasted civilization. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #2576 FULL-NAME: William T. D. Martin BIRTH-DATE: January 17, 1846 BIRTH-PLACE: W.Va. DEATH-DATE: February 20, 1933 at age 87y-1m-3d DEATH-PLACE: Tunelton, Kingwood District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widower OCCUPATION: Retired FATHER: Phillip Martin (born in Germany) MOTHER: Nancy Beavers (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Infirmities due to old age INFORMANT: Harry Martin (of Tunnelton W.Va.) BURIAL: Maplewood Cemetery, Kingwood --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------