Biographies

Montgomery County Biographies

James P. Martin

Biographical Sketch from Erath County, Texas History 1896

Submitted to the Montgomery County Genealogical Society, Inc.by Bertha Teague McAleese

Figuring prominently as one of the early settlers of Montgomery County, Texas, and occupying a foremost place among its successful farmers, James P. Martin is entitled to no small recognition in a biographical record of the representative men and women of his day and place. He descended through both paternal and maternal ancestry from German stock, and in his make-up are found many of the sterling traits of character which distinguish the German race: -- industry, integrity, good judgment, and a frank, open manner. These elements combine in his personality are strongly marked and have contributed t his success, or, rather have won him success.

On a farm in Autauga County, Alabama, Feb. 22, 1832, James P. Martin first saw the light of day, his parents being Lewis and Mary (Riser) Martin, both natives of South Carolina. Lewis Martin’s father, Jacob Martin, came to America in the colonial days, was a participant in the war of the Revolution, and after that war ended settled in South Carolina, where he resided for some years, and hence he removed to Alabama. He was by trade a blacksmith, but the greater part of his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. His favorite pastime was hunting, in which he excelled, and for which he was noted far and near. James P. Martin’s grandfather on his mother’s side was Bijah Riser. He was a native Germany, and on coming to this country settled in South Carolina, where he became a prominent planter and slave owner. Lewis Martin was reared in Alabama, in which state he married and settled down to the life of a planter, being prosperous in his operations and becoming the owner of a number of slaves. In the year 1860 he removed to Texas and settled in Montgomery County, buying a farm and on his passing the closing years of his life, he died there in 1866. His advance age barred him from serving in the Civil War, but his family was well represented in the Confederate Army, his five sons donning the gray and marching to the front. Of his children we record that Mariah, widow of Thomas Moore, is a resident of Montgomery County, Mr. Moore having died while serving in the army; James P. the next in order of birth, is the subject of this article; Emeline and her husband, a Mr. Mets, are deceased; William Crockett; Francis M. died at Little Rock, Arkansas, during the war; and Zachariah T. residing in Montgomery County. Two of the five sons lost their lives in the army and the other three escaped with only slight wounds.

James P. Martin passed his boyhood and youth on his father’s plantation, remaining with his parents until reaching his majority, and when he started out in life on with his own responsibility it was in a Louisiana sawmill. From milling he turned to rafting logs down the Washita river, he was engaged in rafting for several years, until he came to Texas, in 1859, and since coming to this state has been identified with farming interest. His first location in Texas was in Montgomery County. There he bought a tract of wild land remote from civilization, the nearest settlement on one side of him being eight miles distant and in another direction there being a stretch of thirty miles of uninhabited country. He was twenty-eight miles from Houston. The work of opening up his land to cultivation and making a home occupied his close attention, and while he toiled on, he endured many privation and hardships, meeting and overcoming every obstacle, however, with that good grace and steady nearve that have characterized his whole life.

James P. lived in Montgomery County nine years, including his three years in the war; and at his point we would speak further of his war service. It was 1863 that Mr. Martin enlisted, as a member of Company K, Elmore’s infantry, and his service extended from that time until the close of the war. This command operated on the coast of Texas and Louisiana, from the mouth of Brazos to New Orleans. Among the engagements in which he was also in a hotly contested battle with negroes. During his three years of army life he was never captured by the enemy and he was only slightly wounded. At the time of General Lee’s surrender, J. P. Martin was with his command at Galveston; from there they went to Houston, where they disbanded, and he immediately returned home and resumed farming.

James P. is a man of family. He first married in 1857 to Miss Louisa Metts, a beautiful redhead, and a native of Georgia, there marriage being consummated Louisiana. She was one of a large family of children, her father being Zachariah Metts, a native of Georgia who moved first to Louisiana and in 1859 came to Texas, settling in Montgomery County. Mr. Metts died in Montgomery County. He was a member of the Baptist Church and was a man who stood high in the estimation of all who knew him. Mrs. Louisa Martin died in 1864, leaving two small children. In March, 1866, James P. married Miss Indiana Cagel.

Politically, Mr. Martin was in early life a Whig, in 1856 he became a Democrat and ever since that date has remained true to his party and its principles; and while he has taken a commendable interest in public affairs he has never been an aspirant for office of any kind. He is member of the Christian Church.

Concluded.

Transcribed from the Mesquite Herald, a publication of the Montgomery County Genealogical Society, Inc.

Vol. 6 No. 3 Fall 1983

By Dale Donlon