Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 5 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 19

Born in Ray County. Mo., in 1862, Joseph Martin is a son of William and Emeline (Clark) Martin. His father served in the Civil War and died in Missouri in 1877; his mother is still living and now resides in Fresno. Joseph grew up in Missouri, where he received a good education and in April, 1881, he migrated to California and engaged in ranching in Fresno County.

Joseph Martin was united in marriage at Kingsburg. Cal., on September 7, 1890, with Abbygail Woodmansee, who was born in Ray County, Mo., the daughter of Oliver and Frances (Huddleston) Woodmansee, natives of Ohio and Harrison County, Mo., respectively. Mr. Woodmansee was a soldier in the Union Army and served in an Ohio Regiment of Artillery until the close of the war, after which he came to Missouri where he was married and followed farming and stock-raising until his death, in 1884. Resides his widow he left three children: Abbygail, widow of Joseph Martin; James; and Mary, now Mrs. Kline. After her husband's death Mrs. Woodmansee brought her family to Traver. Cal., in 1886, and two years later located at Kingsburg, Fresno County, where she made her home until her death.

Abbygail Woodmansee was the oldest child of the family: she attended the public school at Traver, but, being the eldest, was early obliged to take up the duties of life and assist her mother with the work at home, becoming her mainstay and greatest help, and remained with her mother until her marriage to Mr. Martin. After their marriage Mr. Martin leased a part of the Alfred Baird place near Academy and engaged in raising grain for three years and then leased a part -of the Simpson place, in the same vicinity. In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Martin purchased the old Kern place of 1.800 acres on Fancher Creek, where they engaged in stock-raising and soon afterwards they bought another ranch of 556 acres close by. In 1910 they sold the 1,800-acre ranch and purchased the present place of 410 acres in the Round Mountain District and moved there. During these years Mr. Martin also bought and sold other ranches. He also found time to serve as a trustee of the Fancher Creek district.

Five months after they settled on the Round Mountain ranch Mr. Martin passed away, on February 11, 1911, at the age of forty-five years, leaving besides his widow, six children: Harry, who resides in Fresno; Bertha, is the wife of Lawrence Simpson, of Sanger; Walter, assists his mother on the ranch; Elsie, is the wife of Clarence Moore of Round Mountain; Hazel; and Joseph. Since the death of Mr. Martin, his widow continues to operate the home ranch but leases the Fancher Creek ranch. Mrs. Martin is one of the very oldest settlers in this part of the county and, like her late husband, is favorably known and highly respected.