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 AMES A. MARTIN, a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Humbolt Township for the last fifteen years, has been successfully engaged in general agriculture and stock-raising on his finely cultivated farm of forty acres, occupying the northeast quarter of section 23. He is one of the most thorough tillers of the soil in the northern portion of Coles County, and every acre of his land is utilized to the best advantage, nothing being allowed to go to waste. His buildings, fences and machinery indicate the care and good judgment exercised in the management of the farm, and the general air of thrift and prosperity is all the recommendation required to establish the intelligence and industry of its proprietor. Mr. Martin is a native of this county, and was born on his father’s farm in Lafayette Township, Nov. 27, 1835. He is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dates) Martin, the former a native of Kentucky, born Dec. 26, 1811. His death took place in this county in 1843. The mother, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, was born Dec. 25, 1811, being just one day older than her husband. They were married in 1830, and became the parents of six children: Amanda E., who became the wife of Benjamin Bolen, and Seth B., are deceased; James A., of our sketch, was the third child; Eliza J. married Henry T. Miller, and is now deceased; Phebe died in childhood; Charles D. married Miss Sarah E. Whitney, and is farming in Lafayette Township. Mrs. Martin, after the death of her first husband, was married Sept. 25, 1846, to Robert Miller, who was a native of Dayton, Ohio, and born Sept. 4, 1801. Of this marriage there were four children, the record of whom is as follows: Thomas M. N. married Miss Sarah Jeffries, and Rachel became the wife of John G. Jeffries; both are deceased. Winfield Scott married in Douglas County, and is a resident of Nebraska., Belinda died in early childhood. Robert Miller died at his home in Lafayette Township, April 29, 1862. The mother of our subject is living on the old homestead. James A. Martin in early life became well acquainted with the various employments of the farm, and when contemplating the establishment of a home of his own, decided to follow the occupation of his father. The first important step toward this end was his marriage with Miss Rachel Wells, which occurred at the home of her sister in Lafayette Township, March 19, 1863. Mrs. M. was born near Circleville, Ohio, Nov. 6, 1845, and is the daughter of Elisha and Martha (Williams) Wells, the former of whom died in Ohio in about 1857. The mother is still living there. The parental household included twelve children: Sarah A., a resident of Ohio; Elizabeth married Isaac Kite, of Perry County, Ohio; Reason married Miss Isabel McDill, and is farming in Kansas; Martha is deceased; Nancy is the wife of Samuel Herman, a farmer of Lafayette Township; Susanna; Rachel; Margaret married A. T. Martin, of Lafayette Township, and died in 1872; Isabel and Joseph are deceased ; Caroline is the wife of Elijah Hite, and a resident of Perry County, Ohio; Louisa married Thomas Cooper, and also lives in the Buckeye State. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have no children. Mr. Martin is a Democrat in politics. |
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