Martin, C. D.

MARTIN

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/24/2008 at 13:47:20

C. D. Martin

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.274, York Twp.)
C. D. Martin, farmer, P. O. Minen, was born in Franklin County, Mass., in 1834; he was the son of Orra and Polly (Mitchell) Martin; his father was born in Connecticut in 1791; he was a minister by profession, but has engaged in farming during the latter part of his life; he is still living in Wisconsin, an active man for his age. His (subject's) mother was born in Briston, Conn., in 1799; she was a niece of the original publisher of "Mitchell's Atlas," and a cousin of the present one. She died in Wisconsin in January, 1875. Our subject received his early schooling at home, afterward attending, for two terms, at the Janesville Academy, and two terms at Lawrence University, at Appleton, Wis. He began life for himself by working his father's place, in Walworth County, Wis., to which State his father moved when our subject was but six years old. He was one of the earliest settlers in Wisconsin. In 1870, our subject came to Cedar County, Iowa, and shortly afterward to Jones County, this State, where he stayed for four years. In 1875, he came to Council Blfufs. He lived for three years on a farm in Lewis Township, adjoining the latter city. In 1878, he bought eighty acres of land in, and moved into, York Township, this county, where he now resides. He is at present (1882) a Trustee of the township and Justice of the Peace; has been President of the School Board. He was married, in Wisconsin, in January, 1859, to Mary J., born in New York December 21, 1832, daughter of Solomon and Naomi Westfall, both of whom were natives of New York. Her father still lives at the age of seventy-five. Her mother died in the spring of 1876, aged seventy-eight. Our subject's parents had nine children, five of whom - four sons and one daughter - are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children - Frank Orra, born July 9, 1861, and Ella S., born July 30, 1864. The parents are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Martin is a Democrat.