Joseph Spencer Martin
Joseph Spencer Martin, farmer and stock-raiser, P.O. Range, was a son of Jacob Martin, a minister, who was born near Marietta April 3, 1806, and a grandson of Charles H. Martin, who emigrated from England during the Revolutionary war. The latter was pressed into service; and placed on board a man-of-war, from which he deserted and joined the Federals. He was twice captured by the enemy, but succeeded in making his escape both times. In 1800, he emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and located near Marietta, where he remained until 1814, when he moved to Licking County. He raised a large family of children. Jacob, the father of our subject, had three children, all sons, viz.: James Douglass, born July 10, 1837, was a Colonel during the rebellion, opened the post office at Charleston, S. C., after the war, and now resides in Washington, D. C.; John W., born in 1843, and died in 1845; and Joseph Spencer, born October 22, 1839. The latter married Elizabeth Harrison, March 5, 1873, and has had five children, viz.: James Foster, born January 23, 1875; Benjamin H., born October 9, 1876; Joseph, born February 7, 1878; John Jacob, born February 3, 1880, and died in infancy; and an infant, deceased. Mr. Martin lived at home until nineteen years of age, and attended the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. In 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving three years was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. He was taken prisoner at Richmond, Ky., but was paroled. He was in teh sieges of Vicksburg and Mobile, the battle of the Cross Roads, Sligo, Oldtown and many other hotly-contested engagements, and in the march through Kansas and Missouri. Since 1866, he has been farming. He is a Republican in politics, and, since eighteen years of age, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]