Martin, Charles I.

BRANCH, OBERDIEAR, FISH, STARBUCK

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/2/2010 at 17:24:36

Charles A. Martin needs no introduction to the readers of the history of Bremer county, for he has resided in this part of Iowa during practically all of his active life and his interests have constituted important forces in general development. Following many years of close connection with agricultural interests of this locality, he is living retired in Horton, where he is enjoying the fruits of his former well directed labor. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served in that conflict as a member of Company C, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, from which he was later transferred to the Twelfth Iowa Infantry. He was born near Laporte, Indiana, November we, 1841, and is a son of Asa T. and Harriet A. (Branch) Martin, the former born in Tripoli, New York, October 8, 1818, and the latter in Middletown Springs, Vermont, February 18, 1821. The ancestors were of Scotch and Irish origin but the paternal grandparents were both natives of New York, where the grandfather followed farming during his entire active life. When Asa T. Martin, father of the subject of this review, was twenty years of age he moved to Indiana and in that state his marriage occurred. In 1842 he moved to McHenry county, Illinois, and there remained until 1855, when he came to Iowa, locating in Frederika township, Bremer county, and assisting in the organization of the town of Martinsburg, which was named in his honor. However, when a post office was applied for, a new name had to be selected, owing to the fact that a Martinsburg had already been located in the state. Mr. Martin selected Tripoli, this being the name of his birthplace in New York, and there he made his home during the remainder of his life, dying February 14, 1890. He was a man of great energy and initiative and brought the first sawmill to this section of the state, operating this enterprise for some time. A firm believer in the value of temperance, he lost no opportunity to support his views on this qustion and his activities were productive of excellent results. He became widely known and highly respected and at his death left many friends who appreciate his true worth as a man and a citizen.

Charles I. Martin is the oldest in a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. He remained at home until 1863 and on the 19th of December of that year enlisted in Company C, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Lake and Captain Henry F. Sill commanding. After he was mustered into service at Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Martin was attacked by small pox and sent to a hospital at Cairo, Illinois. After his recovery he assisted in nursing the post surgeon, who lay ill of the same disease in the Virginia Hotel in Cairo. In July, 1864, Mr. Martin rejoined his regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, and he participated in the battle of Tupelo. He received a sunstroke on the return match and his health being otherwise poor, his lieutenant sent him with the hospital train to Memphis, the convalescents marching and the sick riding in the cars. Mr. Martin remained in camp for a few days and then rejoined his regiment at Oxford. Under the command of General A.J. Smith they participated in a battle in that vicinity, during which the courthouse was burned by the prisoners confined therein, all thus hoping to make their escape. The regiment was then sent across the line to Missouri and marched afterward for forty-eight days without an engagement. It was later sent to St. Louis and on to Nashville, where it took part in the battle of Nashville, afterward participating in an engagement at Fort Blakely, Alabama. When the regiment returned, Mr. Martin was trasferred to the Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and continued with this command during the remainder of his service. He was mustered out January 20, 1866, and after his discharge returned to his parents' home in Tripoli. He owned a farm three miles distant and this he improved and operated until 1885, when he went to Kansas, where he bought land and remained one year. At the end of that time he sold his property and returned to Bremer county, buying a farm in Polk township. There he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1903 and then retired from active life, moving into Horton, where he owns a fine modern residence.

On the 23d of May, 1870, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Oberdiear, of Cherry Valley, Illinois, a daughter of Levi Oberdiear. The family is of German and Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, the grandfather having been born in Holland and the granmother in Hanover, Germany. The maternal grandmother, Sarah Fish, was born near Lake George, New York, and was of Irish and English descent. Mrs. Martin's father, Levi Oberdiear, was also a veteran of the Civil war, serving three years as a member of Company L, Eighth Iowa Cavalry. He was wounded in battle and after his recovery reenlisted, serving four years and six months. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-three. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children. Levi A., the elder, was born May 6, 1871, and was educated in Tripoli. He moved to Horton in 1885 and four years later went to New York state, where he accepted a position in a dry-goods store, remaining two years and a half. He afterward returned to Horton but at the end of four years moved to Sartoga Springs, New York, entering the service of his former employers in 1895. Ten years later he was admitted to partnership, the firm being now E.D. Starbuck & Company, dealers in dry goods and carpets. The other child born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin is a daughter, Emma K. She was educated in Tripoli, Burlington, Waverly and Osage and afterward took a course in nursing, graduating from a hospital at Clarinda, Iowa. She later took a business course at Burlington and was for a time employed as a stenographer and bookkeeper. She enlisted as a nurse during the Spanish-American war and was stationed at Chickamauga Park and Anniston, Alabama, serving during the entire period of hostilities.

Mr. Martin is a member of O'Brien Post, No. 240, G.A.R., of Tripoli, and is active in the affairs of that organization. He is one of the representative and prominent citizens of Horton and has the esteem and good-will of all who know him.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914