Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah July 15, 2020

Another of the estimable citizens of Carroll county who gave three years of his early manhood to the service of his country is Thomas H. Martin, who is engaged in farming on an eighty acre tract he owns on section 14, Sheridan township. A native of the state of New York his birth occurred in Rochester, Monroe county, on the 23d of August, 1840, his parents being Daniel G. and Hannah Martin. The father, who was born in Somerset county, England, when a young man emigrated to the United States, settling in Rochester, New York, where he passed away in 1855. There his wife, who survived him for ten years, was also living at the time of her demise. Of the twelve children born of their union none but the son Thomas H., the youngest member of the family, is living.

Thomas H. Martin was reared in the town where he was born, acquiring his education in the common schools, continuing to remain at home until 1859 when he went to live with a brother in the vicinity of Buffalo. In 1860 he accompanied his brother west, locating in De Kalb county, Illinois. He was residing there when he enlisted in the army on the 9th of August, 1862, going to the front in Company K, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, on the 30th of June, 1865, with the rank of corporal. Mr. Martin saw considerable active service, participating in the skirmishes at Resaca, Buzzard Roost, Kingston and Pumpkin Vine Creek, Georgia, but he was never seriously wounded, although twice struck by minnie balls. The first time the course of the ball was deflected by striking his bayonet and the other time it struck his canteen and glanced off. After receiving his discharge he returned to De Kalb where he resided until 1871 when he came to Carroll county. When he first located here he took some land on section 1, Sheridan township, which he partially improved and cultivated. He later abandoned this tract and settled on his present homestead, where he has ever since resided.

While living in Illinois, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Mary F. McNish, and to them were born eight children in the following order of birth: Hannah, the wife of Albert Hosmer, of South Dakota; Dora, the wife of James M. Figert, also a resident of South Dakota; Allie, who married Charles Blahanvictz, living on the homestead of Mr. Martin; Julia, who is deceased; Hattie and Mabel, both of whom are at home; one who died in infancy, and Mattie, who is also deceased.

Through the medium of his connection with the G. A.R. Mr. Martin keeps in touch with his comrades of the field, and in politics he is a republican. He has never prominently participated in township activities of a governmental nature but has served as a member of the local school board. During the long period of his residence in Sheridan township Mr. Martin has made many friends, whose regard he yet retains, having displayed in his private relations the same loyalty as characterized his service on the battlefields of the south.

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