As the day with its dawn of hope and promise, its noontide of
strength and activity, and its twilight of achievement and rest, so has
been the life of W. C. Martin who, after many years of earnest endeavor
in business circles is now living retired from active labor, enjoying
those comforts and pleasures which a goodly competence can provide. He
was born in Jonesboro, Washington county, Tennessee, on the 25th of
August, 1838, a son of Richard B. and Axsha (Hunt) Martin, the former a
native of St. Charles county, Maryland, and the latter of Washington
county, Tennessee. "The father was a carpenter by trade and served as
justice of the peace for his county for many years. He passed away
December 25, 1868, but his widow survived until October, 1880.
W. C. Martin is indebted to the common schools of Tennessee for the
educational privileges which he acquired during the period of his
boyhood and youth, and after completing his studies he served an
apprenticeship to the blacksmith’s trade. When eighteen years of age he
left his native state and came to Macoupin county, Illinois, arriving
here in 1856. He was engaged at his trade in Girard for a time, after
which he gave his attention to farming for a few years, and then, on the
10th of April, 1862, he started for San Francisco, California, driving
across the plains with an ox team. It took exactly five months to
complete the journey, and after arriving in the Golden state he accepted
employment with the Overland Mail Company as a blacksmith. Later he
spent three years in Nevada, repairing stage coaches and shoeing stage
horses; returning to Illinois, he reached Macoupin county in the month
of December, 1866. Locating at Palmyra, he became identified with the
general merchandising business in connection with D. N. Solomon, their
partnership relations maintaining for twenty-five years. In 1894 Mr.
Martin purchased his partner’s interest in the firm and continued alone
in business until January, 1911, when he was able to withdraw from
active life with a competency which made him financially independent,
and he is now living in honorable retirement, spending much of his time
in travel and in the enjoyment of those things which are to him a source
of pleasure and delight.
On the 26th of February, 1867, Mr.
Martin wedded Miss Sarah A. Solomon, a daughter of D. N. and Elizabeth
(Newell) Solomon. The father, a merchant by occupation, following that
line of activity in Palmyra for a number of years, is now deceased,
having passed away in 1900, at the age of seventy-nine years. Unto Mr.
and Mrs. Martin has been born one child, R. D. Martin, engaged in the
merchandising business in this city. He married Miss Katie Padget, and
to them has been born a daughter, Lena B.
Mr. Martin belongs to
the Baptist church of Palmyra, and in politics has given his allegiance
to the democracy since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He
has served as clerk of North Palmyra township and also as city clerk of
Palmyra, and in all matters of citizenship is public-spirited and
progressive. In addition to admirable traits of character which have
made him one of the highly respected and valued citizens of this
community he also possesses a genial disposition and pleasing
personality which win and retain warm friendships, and he is popular
with a large circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the
circle of his acquaintance.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 383-384.
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