Martin, George W.

ATLAS MAP
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1873

Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, Iowa

Page 23

CAPT. GEORGE W. MARTIN, the present county clerk of Scott county, was born in Ohio county, in Old Virginia (now West Virginia). His father, Samuel Martin, emigrated to Illinois with his family, and settled on Sweet's Prairie, Morgan county, Illinois, in the spring of 1834 (afterwards Scott county, Ill.), and resided there until his death - October, 1845. He was raised upon the farm, only receiving a common school education such as the country then afforded. After arriving at the age of some fourteen years, he was only permitted to go to school in the winter, and during the summer remained at home to work upon the farm. In this way he learned reading, writing, arithmetic, etc. - in short, obtained the usual amount of education which the young men of that day acquired in the log school houses of the west. In the spring of 1847 he was married to Miss Angeline Conway, of Greene county, Illinois, and in the fall of 1848 moved, with his family to Dallas county, Texas, going all the way by land. Upon his arrival in Texas he engaged in his old occupation, farming, which he continued until his return to Illinois. Capt. Martin lost his first wife on the 8th of March, 1855, and on the 22d of December, 1856, was again married, in the state of Texas, to Miss Mandanna L. Harris, a native of Clinton county, Ill.; he had the misfortune to lose her also, as she died on the 29th of October, 1857, in Dallas county, Texas. In the month of October, 1858, the Captain concluded to return to Illinois, and, with his two little daughters, he returned overland to Illinois, which he reached about the 1st of November, 1858, and settled at his father's old homestead, with his mother, who was then still living. On the 10th of April, 1860, he was again married, to Miss Cornelia M. Richmond, of Madison county, New York, who is still living.

Capt. Martin continued farming until the 9th of August, 1862, when, at the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, he enlisted as a private in Company H, 129th regiment Illinois volunteers, and at Pontiac, Ill., upon the organization of the regiment, was elected captain of company H, which position he held until September, 1864, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. The Captain was with General Sherman in his grand march from Chattanooga to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was compelled to return home, much against his inclinations. As an officer, he was the very soul of honor - generous, brave, every ready to shoulder his share of responsibility, and universally respected by his men. Like the illustrious Father of his Country, he returned to private life, exchanging the weapons of war for the peaceful one of agriculture - the sword for the plow and reap-hoop, and again re-embarked in his old occupation of farming. He was not. However, allowed to follow his own inclinations long, for in July, 186, without any solicitations on his part, he was unanimously nominated by the republican party for the office of county clerk. The county was, at that time, strongly democratic, and the selection of Capt. Martin by the republican party proved the wisdom of their choice, for nothing but undaunted energy, together with great personal popularity, could possibly overcome the democratic majority. The Captain went to work in earnest in the campaign, using only legitimate and honorable measures, scorning bribery, whisky, and other such corrupt means which have proved the ruin of so many candidates. He won the respect and esteem of even his political enemies, who, forgetting their allegiance to time-honored principles of their party, did what is the last thing a democrat ever does - split their ticket, and voted for the gallant Captain and elected him. And here we would say, that a more efficient, gentlemanly, and courteous officer, cannot be found in the state of Illinois. His promptness, affability, and faithfulness, in the discharge of official duties, secured his renomination in 1869, by his party, for the same position. A desperate struggle ensued. Every effort was made that human ingenuity could invent, or pluck and energy could put into execution by the old wheel-horses of democracy to keep the rank and file in the harness; but all would not do. Even the popularity and integrity of Mr. F. M. McGlasson, who had recently left the republican party and carried with him almost the entire republican vote of his precinct, failed to secure the object desired; and again victory perched upon the banner of the Captain. He is now serving upon the last year of his second term, and we venture to predict, although the recent returns indicate large democratic gains in the county, that the Captain is good for another four years; and although this may not be acceptable to the leaders of the opposition, the interest of the tax payer of the county will not suffer at his hands.

The Captain had four children by his first wife, two of whom, now blooming and beautiful young women, reside with him in Winchester - the eldest of whom, for several terms, has, with entire satisfaction to patrons, had charge of one of the departments of the Winchester High School. By his present wife he has had six children, five girls and one son, four of whom are still living, the eldest daughter and son being dead.

Capt. Martin is an honored and prominent member of the Christian Church of Winchester, and is as prompt and conscientious in the discharge of Christian duties as he is in all other relations of life. As a farmer, as a soldier, as a county officer, as a husband, as a father, and as a Christian, he stands among the highest and most honored of his county. Had he in early youth have had the advantages of a collegiate education, and have chosen one of the learned professions, he might have filled a wider sphere, but would not have been more honored or respected by his fellow men; and, after all, this, with a reputation for honesty and integrity is a brighter ornament to the possessor than the dazzling gems that sparkle in the diadems of princes.


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