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Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ John Martin
~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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John Martin
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| LAST NAME: Martin
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FIRST NAME: John
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MIDDLE NAME:
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NICKNAME:
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| MAIDEN NAME:
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AKA 1:
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AKA 2:
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AKA 3:
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| TITLE: Mr.
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GENDER: M
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MILITARY:
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| BORN: 9 Jul 1822
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DIED: 21 Apr 1883
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BURIED: 23 Apr 1883
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| ETHNICITY:
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OCCUPATION: Miner; Farmer
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| BIRTH PLACE: Shelby Co., Kentucky
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| DEATH PLACE:
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NOTES:
IOOF - John Martin, age 62
1860 OR CENSUS - J. Martin, age 38, occupation farmer, b. Kentucky, is enumerated with F. A., age 33, b. Ohio, along with S. M., female, age 12, b. Oregon, M., female, age 10, b. Oregon, P. E., female, age 8, b. Oregon, F. E., female, age 6, b. Oregon, L., male, age 4, b. Oregon, and W., male, age 1, b. Oregon. Also enumerated with the family is W. Farrell, age 22, occupation farm laborer, b. Ireland.
BIOGRAPHICAL:
Was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, in 1825. His ancestors were German, and came to America prior to the Revolution. When Mr. Martin was three years old his parents went to Illinois, and when he was about five years of age his father died, and the young boy began to feel the troubles of life. At this time he commenced to work for himself, and to aid his mother. When fifteen years old he went to Missouri, where he remained about four years.
At about the age of twenty-five he married Miss Fannie Derbin [Durbin], of Ohio, the daughter of John Derbin [Durbin]. During Mr. Martin’s boyhood he had no opportunities for getting an education. The loss of his father necessitated hard work, and the schools were few; but his natural energies enabled him to succeed in life.
In 1845, with ox teams, he started for Oregon with his family. The journey was a tedious one, requiring about six months’ time. Mr. Martin’s horses were stolen by Indians, who caused much trouble. They arrived in Oregon in November. The weary emigrants had been lost in the mountains, and were rejoiced to find themselves safe in Oregon, even though a new and wild country. At the Dalles, the party made rafts to descend the Columbia River, the stock being driven along the banks. In December Mr. Martin arrived in Applegate’s Valley, where he wintered. In the Spring of 1846, he moved to the place which he still owns. His first house was a piece of canvas stretched under an oak tree.
The country was entirely new, and, flour being scarce, the people generally lived on boiled wheat. Peas were used for coffee. The dress was generally deer skins. The market was at Vancouver, forty miles distant, and was the only place where cloth and leather goods could be obtained. Mr. Martin’s first work was hewing timber for a saw-mill. His pay was an order on the Hudson’s Bay Company. At this time he indulged his family in a little real coffee. In September, 1849, he went to the mines in California, where he remained five months, the party working in a deep canon, where they made about $250 per day to the man. Fearing snow-slides they left in Dec., and went to San Francisco, where they embarked on an old schooner bound for Oregon. The vessel was twenty-five days out, and failing to make the Columbia bar, she put in at Shoal-water Bay, where the party disembarked, and went on foot to the Columbia River, where they hired Indians to take them to Oregon City.
On arriving there, Mr. Martin found a horse awaiting him, which his wife had sent for his use. This was in 1850. In 1851, he went to Yreka, remaining for months, where he accumulated about $2,000. He then returned home, where he remained until the northern mines were discovered. He started for these mines in February, taking his goods on pack-animals. At this time the snow was five or six feet deep in the mountains. Mr. Martin’s first work in these mines was awaiting a log to make a stand for an auctioneer. For this he got $16. He then went to packing planks up the mountain side, at which he made about thirty or forty dollars per day. He remained in the northern mines about six months, doing well, and then returned home, where he has ever since remained.
He has improved his farm until it is now one of the best in the county. Mr. Martin is the father of eight children, seven of whom are living – five daughters, and two sons. He takes a deep interest in the welfare of all, and is one of Marion County’s solid men. He and his wife have about quit hard work now, and are enjoying the wealth they justly deserve. While Mr. Martin is entitled to great credit for his energy and industry, his wife deserves no less for her courage and patience. When he was away she remained at home, caring for the place, and her little ones. At one time the nearest neighbor was three miles distant,. In order to get wood cut, she used to give food to the hungry Indians. She would mark a circle on the ground, and compel the savages to fill it with chopped wood before they received any food. In this was she helped herself, and, in a measure, solved the Indian question.
Illustrated Historial Atlas Map of Marion and Linn Counties 1878
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DEATH CERTIFICATE:
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OBITUARY:
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INSCRIPTION:
John Martin
Born in
Shelby Co., Kentucky
Died
Apr. 21, 1883
Aged 60 years, 9 months, 12 days
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SOURCES:
LR
IOOF Register of Burials
DAR pg 22
S&H pg 23
1860 OR CENSUS (Marion Co., Salem, FA #3031)
Illustrated Historical Atlas Map of Marion and Linn Counties, 1878
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CONTACTS:
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| LOT: 104
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SPACE: S½
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