Illinois:  History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William Henry
Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1882. 
Cass County.

JOHN MARTIN, (deceased); was born in Pennsylvania, in 1829, and
was a son of William and Mary (Anderson) Martin, the former of
Irish descent, and his wife of American ancestry, so far as
known.  John was the oldest of their family of five sons and one
daughter, and the only one that every came West.  He was a
gunsmith by trade, and made it the principal occupation of his
life.  He left his native State and came to Ohio in 1853, located
at Gilmore, Tuscarawas Co., where he married Miss Rose Ann
Turner, daughter of James and Julia (Romig) Turner.  James Turner
is of English descent, and a native of Maryland, and Mrs. Turner
is a daughter of Jacob Romig, of German descent, a native of the
Keystone State, and by occupation a farmer, and a saddler by
trade.  Mr. and Mrs. Turner came to Illinois from Ohio in 1853,
lived for a time at Decatur, in Macon County, and in 1856 came to
Cass County, Hickory precinct (then Virginia), located on a farm,
where they still live, surrounded with a family of grown-up
children, and the comforts of a well-regulated country home. 
Mrs. Martin was the second child of the family, and was born Feb.
7., 1835.  Mr. Martin pursued his calling, in Virginia, coming
directly from Ohio in 1853.  In 1858 he went with his family to
Paris, Edgar County, and there followed his trade, until the
breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861, when he enlisted, in
response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers.  He
was enrolled from Edgar County, but the 14th Ill. Vol. Cav. being
full, his entire Co. I. was mustered into the first Mo. Vol. Cav. 
He was soon promoted to first lieutenant, but died of sickness at
Rolla, Mo., just before his commission reached him.  The sad news
of his death reached his bereaved widow, left with six fatherless
little ones, all too young to full understand the loss of their
nearest and most valuable earthly friend.  Mrs. Martin's
experiences, for the years that have now passed, were only a
repetition of what many a brave and widowed mother was in those
days called upon to withstand.  Left upon her own resources, she
kept her little family together, afforded them every advantage
within her reach, to gain an education, and a clear understanding
of what was right and wrong; and her faithfulness is duly
rewarded by living to see her boys all settled in life, and each
prospered in his adopted calling.  She died May 23, 1878, in
Virginia.

     J. A. Martin, the well known merchant tailor, of Virginia,
was born May 9, 1853, in Ohio, and is the oldest living son of
the family.  He attended the common schools of Cass and Edgar
Counties, this State, and later the Illinois College at Fulton,
Whiteside Co., Ill.  He learned the tailor's trade with Mr. H. W.
Leach, of Bloomington, at fourteen years of age, and has from
that time followed it.  He engaged permanently in business in
Virginia in 1876, and most of the time at his present location,
No. 10, West Beardstown St.  Mr. Martin conducts a first class
tailoring establishment, in every respect, and always has on hand
a complete stock of goods in the latest patterns.  He was married
March 4, 1874, to Miss Ida C. Herr, daughter of H. S. and Rebecca
(Myers) Herr, of Bloomington, Ill.  They have three children: 
Nellie, Guy C., and Edna M.  Nellie died, at two years of age, in
1877.

     The second living son is John S., a marble cutter, born in
Cass County, this State, June 25, 1854.  He received his
schooling in the pioneer schools of his native county, and came
to Virginia in 1876.  He attended the Illinois College at Fulton,
and in 1870 entered a marble shop as an apprentice; served eight
years in the business, with marked success.  In 1876 he visited
Philadelphia, and other eastern cities, making his trip a
valuable one, in observing much pertaining to his chosen
profession.  As a sculptor, Mr. Martin has displayed talent,
having produced several very creditably wrought pieces of
statuary.  As a monumental designer, his ability is shown by some
extensive plans of a monument to be submitted to the Garfield
Monument Association, of Cleveland, Ohio.  His plans contemplate
an expenditure of $250,000.  Mr. Martin married Miss Alice L.,
daughter of William L. and Andromache B.(Naylor) Black of
Virginia.  

     George W. was the next born, his birthday being January 4,
1856, in Virginia, and is the third of the family now living.  He
received his education at the State Normal School, of Normal,
Ill., and graduated at the Wesleyan University, from the law
department, with the class of 1876, and was admitted to the bar
in June of that year.  He practiced his profession, in
Bloomington, in company with Messrs. Straight and Coy, and
continued with them until he came to Virginia, in 1877.  Since
that time his practice has been steadily increasing, with bright
prospects for the future.  He married Oct. 5, 1881, Miss
Quintella D., daughter of John Sallie (deceased), formerly a
farmer of Virginia.

     Charles Aesop, the fourth of the family, was born Nov. 4,
1857, in Virginia, Cass Co.  His people, about this time moved to
Edgar County, and he received his early schooling there.  Later,
he attended the High School at Bloomington.  At sixteen years of
age he learned the painter's trade, and developed a taste and
talent as scenic painter.  He followed this trade in Bloomington,
St. Louis, and other large cities, with success.  He entered the
law office W. S. Coy, of Bloomington, and continued with him as a
student until 1877, when he came to Virginia, taught school, and
prosecuted his law studies, and was admitted to the bar at
Springfield, in 1880, and since that time has practiced in
Virginia.  Sept. 8, 1881, he married Miss Sallie R., daughter of
James M. Beadles, of Virginia.  

     Jennie R., is the sixth child of the family, and now Mrs.
George W. Berris, of Sedalia, Mo.

     William R., the youngest, was born at Paris, Edgar County,
Ill., May 5, 1861.  He attended school at the Soldiers' and
Orphans' home at Bloomington.  He learned the tailor's trade of
his brother James A., and is now associated with him in business.
He married Feb. 22, 1882, Miss Harriet E., daughter of James
Beadles, before mentioned.

Martin Anderson Turner Romig Herr Myers Naylor Black Straight Coy
Sallie Beadles Berris
=
PA Tuscarawas-OH MD Macon-IL Edgar-IL Whiteside-IL MO