Dr. J. B. Martin, a successful physician of Russellville, Mo., was born in Moniteau County on the 10th of September, 1835. Both his paternal and maternal grandparents came to Missouri from Tennessee at an early day, and settled in Cooper and Moniteau Counties, respectively. The former afterward moved to Moniteau County, there becoming an extensive land-holder, and there the grandfather died in 1848. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Our subject's parents, Valentine and Sarah C. (English) Martin, were also Tennesseeans, and came to Missouri with their parents at an early day, and afterward became prosperous citizens of Moniteau County. The father served as justice of the peace for several years, and died in 1872, his wife having died several years prior, Dr. J. B. Martin was the second of their six children, and was reared to farm labor, and attended the common schools until twenty-one years of age, then farmed for himself for one year. In 1861 he began studying medicine with Drs. English and Robinson, of Jamestown, and finished his course in 1864, and then for about one year was clerk in a drug store in California. He then opened a drug store in Tipton, in partnership with another gentleman, but in 1868 bought out his partner's interest and moved his stock of goods to California, where he formed a partnership with Judge Adams and opened a store. In 1869 he sold out and moved to Russellville, where he was successfully engaged in practicing his profession until 1878, when he moved back to California, thence to Elston after a short period, remaining in this place for fourteen months, after which he returned to California, and formed a partnership with Dr. Russell, continuing about one year. He has since been successful physician of Russellville. In 1875 he received his diploma from the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, Mo. In 1869 he was married to Miss Mattie Hurd, of Boonville, a daughter of William Hurd, a native of Georgia, by whom he has a family of four children: Charles Gordon, who is attending school at the State University at Columbia; Laura, William H. and John Bunyan. The Doctor has a handsome residence in Russellville, which he erected in 1883, and owing to his ability as a physician has acquired a large and paying practice. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Russellville Lodge No. 90, and also belongs to the I. O. O. F., and was for a long time its secretary. He and family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).