MARTIN Collection
James Allen Martin Obituary
DEATH CLAIMS CAPT. J.A. MARTIN Was old & well known citizen of Little Rock. Capt. James Allen Martin, one of Little Rock's oldest citizens and one of the best-known civil engineers in the state, died at 3:30 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, 1203 Wolfe St., after an illness of several months with dropsy. Capt. Martin was taken sick in July, 1904 and was confined to his bed most of the time until his death. A few weeks ago it was thought he was improving, but the relief was only temporary and since then he gradually declined. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 4 o'clock from the Christian Church, 10th & louisana Sts, and the services will be conducted by Re. J.W. Jessup. The interment will be in the Mt. Holly cemetery and the pall-bearers will be: Messars, A.G. Aiken, John Fletcher, C.L. Wayman, C.M.Shaw, J.B. Wisendorf and Capt. T.P. Brashear. Capt. Martin was nearly 75 yrs of age, having been born 17 Oct 1830, near Mabelvale, ten miles south of Little Rock. He was married to Miss Huldah Tracy Toncray. His wife died in 1898, but three children survive the union. They are Mrs. Charles F. Fowler and Mr. Frank D. Martin of this city and Silas C. Martin who lives in St. Louis. In 1861-2 Capt. Martin was Deputy State Treasurer and in 1863-4 was in the Confederate Army. In the closing year of the war he was a bookkeeper on the staff of General James F. Fagan. The father of the deceased was one of the pioneers of Arkansas, having moved to the state in 1821 ( Jared Carswell Martin ) from Missouri. Messars H.G. & J.C. Martin, well known citizens of Little Rock are brothers of the deceased. Capt. Martin was a member of the Christian Church of this city for sixty yrs. For 50 yrs he was an elder and for a long time was chairman of the Official Board of the First Church. (taken from Arkansas Gazette - 10 Aug 1905 ) Note: submitted by Meredith Gibson, a ggdaughter.
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The following is a letter written by Allen Martin (son of John Martin Jr)
to his cousin, Major Wm H. Martin [grdson of James Patrick Martin, brother
to John Jr]
Note: I may bracket dates/names to give explantion of same)
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Near Clarksville, Texas
August 18, 1867
My dear Cousin,
Please excuse my long neglect, a multiplicity of engagements come in my
way all the time and hindered me when I would write.
Sixty-one years ago my father left his home, four miles east of
Sandersville, Washington County, GA., and moved to Missouri, leaving Uncle
James (Patrick) Martin, your grandfather, Aunts Jane Warnock, and Sallie
(Sarah) Carswell, his brother and sisters, where they had been raised
together; all growing old and the parents of large families of children;
they have all long since passed away. Their children are but few in number
remaining. I am the only one of my family living. In 1859 William Carswell
was here, who was then the only one of his family living. He told me of an
old lady who lived near him who was the daughter of Aunt Jane Warnock and of
her Aunt Janes's family. Beyond this I do not know anything. Of your
grandfather's family, your Uncle James Hiram is the only remaining son, if he
is alive. He was living in Natchitoches County, Louisiana a few months
since. Your father and your cousin John N. are no more. Cousin Mary Ann was
living in Savannah, GA April last. I know not whether Cousin Catherine be
living or not. She was in 1859. Your Uncle John N. died in October 1865,
which I did not learn until recently, and in April last his sister Mary Ann
had not heard of it. My Grandfather John Martin and his wife, who was Jane
Hutcheson, came with their family of children [only one, then, John Jr, the
eldest, was 1 yr ol........rest born in GA] came from Ireland to Georgia 100
years ago. (Arrived in 1754--103 yrs ago) They were your great-grandparents,
and the great, great grandparents of Martha E.,your wife.
You mentioned something in your letter that there had been some
objection to the union of yourself and wife, because you were cousins. I
think the cousins very far removed in your case. It is hardly worth
counting. It is true we have come or descended from the same parent stock.
Removed three generations from yourself and four from her and two from myself.
I learned from Mr. Bryant, who is proposing to teach a school in your
place, that the family of Cousin Martha E. live in Kaufman County, and I must
confess, Cousin William, that in your last letter that you anglecised so
punctually that I did not make out the name. I have heard of a Matthew
Carswell living in Upshur County and that was from about Twiggs County, GA.
Is he our relation?
You informed me before the war that Cousin Margaret, your Aunt who first
married Warren and then Orr had died in Texas some ten or twelve year ago. I
heard of an Orr in Hill county, on the Brazos, before I left Arkansas whko
claimed to be related to me. If he was her son you have a brother living,
James, in or about Alexandria, LA. which I learned from Thomas, Cousin John
N. (Nutt) Martin's youngest son.
If our parents had remained near each other, their families would have
known more of each other. As it is, I suppose you have not seen a single
descendant of my father, and there are multitudes of those of your
grandfather Martin, who neither you nor I know anything about.
Myself and family would be more than pleased to see you and Cosin Martha
E. at our home. We have seven children The eldest, Mahala, grown. The next
in age, fourteen years and so down to the youngest two less than two of my
oldest sons. Compared with which all other losses were nothing. If I can
make a living and educate my family, it would be all that I should desire
temporarily. That the literary and moral training of my children may be such
as to make them useful members of society is the greatest earthly ambition I
have.
These qualities in man which make him of most use to his fellow man and the
promotion of best good & society are most to be appreciatedl, and such are
the qualities I desire my children to possess; and not only they, but all
with whom they or I am connected. When Cousin William Carswell was here he
spoke in the most glowing terms of his daughter, her superior qualities and
education, with which I was well pleased. Now that you are married I will
mention that I have a daughter who is dutiful and loving child, pious and
whose education we have labored to mould to usefullness.
As to myself, my father brought me West of the Mississippi over sixty
years ago when I was five years old, and in the wilds of Missouri, Arkansas
and Texas I have been reared and lived since I was 17 years old. I have
spent a great deal of my time in the woods on surveying trips with no other
associations than the few assistants I had with me. So that I claim the
qualities of a back woodsman. It is true that during the thirty-five years
[47 yrs 1815-1857] that I resided near Little Rock, the seat of Arkansas,
I had the privilege of associating with Arkansas most prominent men. The
Conway's, Sevier's, Ashley's, Fulton's, Cross's, Yell's, Walkin's, Riggs,
Johnson's and other noted men, but still I am a backwoodsman.
Once you and I were free American citizens. My prayer is that as your
grandfather and my father fought the battles 90 yrs ago, that won the
liberties that their children have enjoyed, that our children may enjoy the
same privileges. So far as I am concerned I am drawing so near the end, by
age and a broken constitution that I have but little to gain or lose. But my
children and my Beloved Southland I do care for, and the idea that my
country may be again right side up is a matter for which I will ever hope and
pray.
Do you know anything of William E. Carswell?
17 young men of our name and family [were] in the war. Four of Brother
John's sons (one killed) one of Brother Andrew's sons and one grandson died
in prison. Two of Brother Jared's sons, two of my sons, one of them killed
and one died, three of your father's sons, two of them died, two of John N.
Martin's (one dead) and one of Cousin Mary Ann Martin's sons. Seven of the
seventeen lost their lives for their Country, further I do not know.
I hope this may be more successful in reaching you than my former
letters have been [This one did make it obviously]
The love of myself and family to you and yours. Let us hear from you
often.
Adieu my dear relatives,
Your cousin
Allen Martin
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Note: letter was addressed to:
Major Wm. H. Martin [William Harrison Martin]
Athens, Texas
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So often letters did not arrive at their destination and they were few and
far between due to duties, hard work and cost to send them. Therefore, like
Allen Martin's letter, they covered years, sometimes, and all of family
doings of marriage, births, death, and many other things of interest.
This letter [original] was in possession of Juanita (Stiles) Bowling Cornell,
a descendant of Allen's and I understand, along with many other family
mementoes were given into the care of ET.S.T.C, Commerce, Texas.
This is the typed copy she sent to me, years ago.
Submitted by Meredith Gibson
in May of 2001
[whose 3rd ggf, John Martin, Jr. was the father of Allen Martin]
====================================================== Mrs. Mary Martin Mrs. Mary Martin was born near Galletin, Tenn. on January 10,1809. Her parents, John and Sarah Douglass, with other relatives came in keel boatto Arkansas Territory in 1819. They settled near where Little Rock has been built. There was only one little log cabin here then and it was occupied by the man who ran the ferry boat, and was near a spring that is in the old state house grounds. In this sparsely settled country, Mary Douglass grew up. She improved the few opportunities of attending the country schools She had a remarkable memory, and could talk for hours of the old settlers, all over the state, and of her large connection in Tennessee. Here in her happy home, she was married to Jared C. Martin, January 25, 1827. built a comfortable home in Pulaski County and raised a large family. Her husband died November 7, 1857, and the care of her children and slaves devolved on her. She bravely did her best to make all dependent on her comfortable and happy. She was a sincere Christian, and sang sweet old sacred songs as she went about her household work. Her beloved father, John Douglass, died in January 186l. She was very desolate with both husband and father gone; but the dark days of war came soon and there was not time to think of self, or our own trouble. Her husband had been a patriotic, public spirited man, and had often said to her that he feared a Civil War was coming soon, and he thought a war with some foreign nation would be a blessing in uniting the people of the United States. She loved quiet and peace, and the idea of war was dreadful, but when it came there was no one more willing to do all she could for the Confederate soldiers. Her home was just two miles from Little Rock, near the river. The Confederate Army often camped in a wooded part of the farm; they called the place Camp Texas. Her home was a home for the Confederate soldiers and often it was crowded with the sick. She nursed them and cared for them tenderly, she said their mothers had worked and cared for them and it seemed for them to be neglected when they weresick and wounded. Some of the wounded from the fight of Cotton Plant stopped awhile at her house, and one wounded man stayed three months. He recovered and went to his command. Some were very sick and three from Texas died. In the spring of 1863 her dear old home had to be abandoned. The line of breast works that Gen. Price had built below Little Rock extended entirely across her farm, her houses and every improvement were entirely destroyed, cotton burned, a hundred and thirty bales, and with her younger children she sought refuge in an old place she had ten miles southwest of Little Rock. (Note: this was Douglass land) Here she and her four children toiled as they never had before, plowing, hoeing, harvesting, cooking, washing, spinning, weaving, and often after they had succeeded in raising a little crop, the enemy came and took it all. She had a wagon and yoke of oxen, the only wagon and team in the neighborhood, and the women living near brought their grain to her house, and she sent it eight miles to mill for them. She was a fine manager and her family never suffered for the necessities of life, and when Confederate scouts would occasionally come, she always had something for them to eat and if they were in need of clothes she would find some for them. Her two grown sons (Note: James Allen & Wm. Andrew) were in the army and the servants all gone, stock of every description had been taken. She never dispaired but worked on trusting in God for help and comfort. When the cruel war was over with nothing but the land left, in her old age, she had to begin to gather up something to make a home again; she worked bravely for a few years, and was taken to her reward February 4, 1877. SOURCE: "Confederate Women of Arkansas -- in The Civil War 1861-65 -- Memorial Reminiscences" and published by the United Confederate Veterans of Arkansas in 1907. Written by Mollie D. Martin. It is on page 133. Note from the submitter: To me it is heartening to know that descendants of both Martins and Douglass families still own land belonging to both families to the present day. From Meredith Gibson of Folsom ,Ca.
Pulaski County AR GenWeb Coordinator
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