JAMES MARTIN

MARTIN, STINGLE, WINDER, HOLLIDAY

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 3/9/2009 at 17:27:48

JAMES MARTIN, a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 22. Grand View Township, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1846, and was the fifth child in a family of seven born to Joseph and Mary (Stingle) Martin, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1852 the father, accompanied by his family, came to Louisa County, settling in Grand View, where his death occurred in 1883.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent upon a farm, and he received a liberal education in the Grand View Seminary. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the War for the Union, in December 1862, at Davenport, Iowa, where he was mustered into service, and assigned to Company K, of the 8th Iowa Infantry. The regiment was ordered to the front, and under the command of Gen. Grant, participated in the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Jackson, and the battle of Brandon, where Mr. Martin received a shell wound in the leg just above the knee. He received his discharge on the 31st of December 1863, at Pocahontas, but immediately re-enlisted in the same regiment, as a veteranized volunteer, engaging in the siege and charge on Spanish Fort, and doing guard duty at Memphis about nine months. He received his final discharge April 20, 1866, arriving home on the 9th of May, after which be again engaged in farming.

On the 31st of December, after his return, Mr. Martin was united in marriage, at Grand View, with Angeline Winder, a native of Louisa County, and a daughter of David and Annie B. (Holliday) Winder, who were born in Ohio, and came to Iowa at an early day, settling in Grand View, where the father engaged in farming for about thirteen years, was also Postmaster for the same period, and the owner of a store. His death occurred in 1884, at the age of sixty-five, and his wife is still living at her old home. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born five children, three of whom are living: Harry, Nellie and Vinnie, who are at home, attending school in the village of Grand View; William died Feb. 2, 1869, at the age of five months; Burt died June 11, 1877, aged five months.

After their marriage the parents first resided in Grand View for two years, then lived in the southwestern part of the township for seven years, after which they moved to the eastern part, making that their home for three years, and in the spring of 1879 moved to the county farm, of which Mr. Martin had charge for the seven succeeding years. In the month of November 1885, he purchased 237 acres of fine, arable land, highly cultivated, upon which is a fine residence and also barns and out-buildings, which are models of convenience. In January, 1886, they removed to the farm, which he now has well stocked with a good grade of Durham and Hereford cattle, and Norman and Clyde horses. He has assisted in organizing some of the school districts of the county. In politics he is a Republican; he belongs to Isaiah Dodder Post No. 47, at Grand View, and is one of the prominent farmers of the township.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album 1885