Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 699–701; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Charles H. Martin, a native-born citizen of this county, son of
one of its honored residents, is now one of its most prominent farmers
and extensive landowners. His large farming and stock-raising
interests are centered in Buckheart Township, and though he still
superintends the management of his farm he took up his residence in
Canton at 108 West Pine Street where he and his family have one of the
pleasantest homes in the city.
Mr. Martin was born on his father’s old homestead in Buckheart
Township, April 24, 1852. His father was an old pioneer settler
of this part of Illinois. He acquired wealth by industry and good
management and retired to Canton, where he made his home until his
demise, when death removed from a community that mourned his loss one
of its most valued citizens. From the Canton Register of July 30,
1880, we glean the following particulars concerning the accident that
caused his death, and an appreciative biographical record of his life
and work:
“The particulars of the sad event are as follows: Mr.
Martin was on his way to Owen Gagin’s, in Deerfield Township. He
was driving an old family horse that was perfectly gentle, and had
never been known to run away. When he approached the bridge
across the Big Creek, near the gas works in the northwestern part of
the city, his horse scared at a pile of stone lying at the east end of
the bridge and it was with some difficulty that Mr. Martin urged the
horse past the stone pile on the bridge; at the west end of the bridge
there was a similar stone pile and when about half way across the horse
again shied and commenced backing. Mr. Martin tried to urge the
horse forward, but in vain. The horse continued backing until it
backed off the south side of the bridge on the east end, and driver,
carriage and horse went off the bridge together. In the fall Mr.
Martin fell out of the carriage and the horse fell upon him, crushing
him fearfully about the chest and stomach. It is supposed Mr.
Martin struck head first, as his neck was broken in two places.
“Howard Martin was born in Orange County, N. Y., October 14,
1814, and had he lived until the 14th of October he would have been
seventy-six years of age. He emigrated to Illinois in 1836 and
located a few miles west of Canton, making his residence in this
vicinity extend over a period of forty-four years. On June 18,
1845, he was married to Miss Teletha Putman who, with two children, a
daughter and a son, survives him. Of his father’s family but one
remains, a brother, living west of Canton in Joshua Township.
About thirteen years since Mr. Martin gave up his agricultural
pursuits, having amassed quite a fortune, and removed to canton, where
he has since made his residence. Perhaps no man in the community
will be missed to a greater degree than Mr. Martin. He was a
kind-hearted, generous friend, and a good neighbor, dearly beloved by
every member of his family and by a large circle of friends. It
is said that no man ever asked Howard Martin for financial aid or
friendly advice in vain. A man of large means, he was in a
position to extend help to the needy and deserving, and in cases where
he could expect no return for his kindness he was especially liberal.
“His death has deepened the gloom that has fallen over the
community occasioned by the death of other prominent and well-known
citizens in the immediate past, and it will take time for our people to
fully realize all that they have lost in the sad taking off of Howard
Martin, who may be properly styled ‘one of the noblest works of God –
an honest man.’
Leaves have their time to fall,
And flowers to wither at the north wind’s breath,
And stars to set – but all,
Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death.”
The mother of our subject was born at Lewistown, the
county-seat, in October, 1823, and was the first white female child
born in the county. She is the second daughter and fourth child
of Elijah and Elizabeth (Duff) Putman. Her parents were born in
the South, her father in Kentucky and her mother in one of the
Carolinas. They were among the first pioneers to locate in this
county, coming here in 1822. The Indians were very numerous here
then, and there were but few settlements in this part of the
State. In 1846 Mr. and Mrs. Putman removed to Iowa and settled in
Davis County, where they spent their remaining days, he dying in 1863
and she in 1887. Mrs. Martin resided on the home farm with her
husband until their removal to Canton and now she and her daughter are
occupying the family residence. She is a woman of great personal
worth and is highly regarded by all around her.
Charles Martin, of whom we write, was reared at his birthplace
in Buckheart Township, and gleaned his education at the neighboring
school. He lived with his parents until he attained his majority,
when he married and established a home of his own. He carried on
farming and stock-raising quite extensively, raising and shipping
cattle, hogs and horses, and continued to live on his farm thus
actively engaged until 1881, when he removed to Canton, where he has
since resided. He still superintends the cultivation of his farm,
however, and has nine hundred acres of choice land, the most of which
is under a fine state of cultivation and is provided with buildings of
a substantial order of architecture.
Mr. Martin was married to Miss Celinda Hasson, of this county,
in 1874. She is a daughter of James Hasson, who removed from New
York to this county. They have a family of four children – Fred,
Wyley, Frank and Lee.
