���� "JAMES W. MARTIN, county commissioner of Belmont county and one of the county's most substantial and representative citizens, descends from an old and honorable Ohio family.� His birth took place on November 2, 1856, on his father's farm in Goshen township, this county, being a son of Amos G. and Mary A. (WHITE) MARTIN.

��� ��"The MARTINS were established in Belmont County by Isaac MARTIN, who came from his native Pennsylvania at an early day, and with other members of the Society of Friends settled on Bend Fork.� Later he sold his property there and removed to Stumptown, where he followed farming, and died at Hocking, Washington County, Ohio, about 50 years ago.� His wife was Martha WILSON, who was also born in Pennsylvania [she was really b. in Harford Co, MD, dau of Benjamin WILSON], and her death took place at Hocking.� They reared seven children, viz.:� Martha, Rebecca, Sarah, Thomas, Samuel, Amos G., and William, all of whom became residents of Belmont County.

���� "AMOS G. MARTIN was born in Belmont County and in early years followed the trade of cooper, but after his marriage and location in Goshen township he engaged in farming.� He was an intelligent and reliable man who was frequently called upon to serve in township offices, supported the Republican party in politics, and his death at the age of 55 years, on January 5, 1875, removed from the locality one of the best citizens.� The mother of our subject was Mary A. WHITE, who was born in 1824, in Belmont county, and died in January, 1862.� She was a daughter of James and Mary [KENT] WHITE, the former of whom was an early pioneer of the county and became one of its prominent and successful men.� The old WHITE mansion home, now about 100 years old, still stands, and is located about one-quarter mile from Mr. MARTIN's present home, the farm belonging to him, as do also the homesteads of his parents and grandparents.� Mr. WHITE was a success both in farming and in horse breeding and for years was a leading citizen.� A family of five children was born to the parents of our subject namely:� Martha A. married [1875] S. S. [Selkirk Samuel] LINGO, a farmer, and they moved to Southern Iowa, where she died [1895], leaving four children, -- Walter, Earnest, Mabel and Otis;� Mary E. in 1876 married C. O. MEAD and they moved to Iowa, where she died in March, 1880 -- Mr. MEAD now resides in Nebraska;� Laura E. died in this county on February 7, 1887, unmarried;� James W.;� A. G. [Alvin Grant], a cigar manufacturer at Bethesda, married Clara B. HUNT, who died December 20, 1901, leaving three children, -- Golde, Charles H. and Mattie Jewell.

���� "Belmont County has been the chosen home of James W. [WHITE] MARTIN, all his early associations being connected with Goshen township.� After completing the common school course he went to Wheeling, where he took a course at the Wheeling Business College, graduating in March, 1880.� Owning so large an acreage of land, his farming and stock raising has been on a rather extensive scale; in former years he gave much attention to sheep raising.� In Goshen township his farm contains 225 acres and he also owns 40 acres adjoining the town of Bethesda where he has already laid out one addition and sold lots, this beutiful little town attracting buyers of homes from all over the State.

���� "Although a good farmer and a fine man of business, Mr. MARTIN is probably better known in the county on account of his prominence in politics. In the spring of 1880 he was elected a justice of the peace, when but 22 years of age, and he was, no doubt, the youngest in the State, and he served with great acceptability for three terms, or nine years, and has served ever since that time, continuously, as notary public.� For some years he was the popular postmaster, and his late election as county commissioner not only testifies to the valuation in which he is held by his party, but also is a matter of congratulation to his many friends who know his eminent fitness for public life.� From 1880 to 1883, with Joseph G. BOLON, he was engaged in mercantile business at Hunter, and during this time was the Republican appointee to the office of postmaster.

���� "On November 8, 1884, Mr. MARTIN was married to Roxy L. [Lena] LANGLE, who was born November 14, 1858, in Belmont County, and is a daughter of Abraham and Sidney A. (WILSON) LANGLE, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Ohio.� Mr. LANGLE died in 1891, aged about 90 years;� his widow still survives and lives in Goshen township at the age of 68 years.� Mrs. MARTIN was the third member of her parents' family, the others being as follows:� Isaac H., who is a farmer in Arkansas, married Lizzie GOODRICH and they have four children, -- Grover, William, Mace and Clara;� Theodore F., who married Mary GROOMS, died in 1902 his wife being also deceased, their son, Howard, living with his granfather GROOMS;� Mary F.;� Elsie A.;� and William E. who married Rachel� A. MOORE of Hunter. ���� "Mr. and Mrs. MARTIN lost an unamed infant, their three surviving children being:� Nellie L., born September 12, 1884;� Corwin A., born March 12, 1889; and Hillis Ernest, born April 19, 1902.� Warren J., born September 12, 1900, died June 20, 1901.� Mrs. MARTIN and her daughter both belong to the Baptist Church."