Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3 - Группа авторов - Страница 55

The subject of this memoir was one of the honored citizens of Mount Vernon, Westchester county, and had been identified with the industrial life of the American metropolis for a long term of years, winning success through his personal efforts and guiding his life according to the maximum principles of honor and integrity. He attained a venerable age, passing away in the fullness of years and honors. Endowed with the most sterling character, energetic, independent and vigorous in his intellectuality, he won for himself a place in connection with the valuable activities of life, and it is certainly incumbent that in this compilation be included a brief sketch of his career.

Mr. Martin was a native of New Jersey, having been born in the historic old town of Perth Amboy, on the 26th of August, 1814, the son of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Andrews) Martin. The father served in the war of 1812, and his death occurred about the year 1825. He left his widow with four small children and with but a modest patrimony. Mrs. Martin was a native of New Jersey, while the Martins were numbered among the pioneer families of Westchester county, New York, whither they came from the state first mentioned. Daniel' Martin, grandfather of the immediate subject of this memoir, was a native of New Jersey, and his death occurred in 1790. He married Mary Applegate, who was born in New Jersey, being a representative of an old English family. Isaac Andrews, grandfather of our subject on the maternal side, was an active participant in the war of the Revolution, in which he did valiant service for the cause of the colonies. He died about the year 1828, and his wife survived him about three years.

Charles G. Martin passed his boyhood in his native town, Perth Amboy, attending the district school until his fourteenth year, when he laid aside his text-books and initiated his practical business career by learning the trade of a locksmith, making combination locks for banks, being in the employ of Dr. Solomon Andrews, of Perth Amboy. After completing a thorough apprenticeship at his trade Mr. Martin went to New York city, where he secured a position with the firm of Day & Newell, manufacturers of locks, remaining in their establishment for several years. Thereafter he went to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, where he' was engaged in the manufacturing of locks and keys for a period of eighteen months. At the expiration of this time he joined a party of New Jersey men who made the voyage to California on their own ship, sailing around Cape Horn and landing at San Francisco, where Mr. Martin remained nearly two years.

Returning to New York city, he entered into a partnership relation with Silas H. Herring, under the firm name of Herring & Martin, and they engaged in the manufacture of safe locks on a quite extensive scale, gradually building up an excellent business by reason of the superiority of their products and the honorable methods according to which they conducted operations. The association continued for a number of years, but the business was finally placed in the hands of the firm of Mackerell & Richardson, with whose establishment Mr. Martin continued to be identified for a period of ten years. In 1864 he again engaged in business on his own responsibility, establishing foundry and finishing works, which he conducted with marked success until 1877, when he turned the business over to his son, Benajah M., who continued the industry on South Fifth avenue, New York city.

Being well advanced in years, Mr. Martin retired from active business pursuits, and in his attractive home at Mount Vernon, this county, was enabled to enjoy the fruits of a long life of faithful toil and endeavor. He was a man of the most unbending integrity in all the relations of life, endowed with strong intellectuality, and was known and honored as a valued citizen. In his political adherency he was stanchly allied with the Republican party, taking not a little interest in local political matters, but never seeking or holding official preferment. He lived to attain the venerable age of eighty-four years and four months, his long and eminently useful life drawing to its close on the 21st of December, 1898.

On the 12th of June, 1845, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Hampton Molleson, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and they became the parents of two daughters and one son, namely: Benajah M., who succeeded his father in business; Mary Andrews, who is the widow of Rev. Wellington White, a missionary for ten years in Canton, China; and Anna Molleson, who is the wife of Rev. Henry F. McEwen, D. D., pastor for eleven years (1887-1898) of the old Presbyterian church at the corner of Second avenue and Fourteenth street. New York city. Mr. Martin was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, with which his widow is also identified. Since the death of her honored husband she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. McEwen, at Amsterdam, New York. It is worthy of note in the connection that John Hampton, a lineal ancestor of Mrs. Martin, was taken prisoner by the British in the Revolutionary war, being confined in the famous old sugar house in New York city for a period of thirteen months. His death occurred in 1822.