BIO: Jere C. MARTIN, Beaver County, PA
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm
Index for this bio book.
_________________________________________________________________
BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches
of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.,
Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 129-133.
_________________________________________________________________
JERE C. MARTIN is conspicuous among the prominent and influential members
of the Beaver County Bar, - being a partner of his brother, J. R. Martin,
with the firm name as Martin & Martin. His popularity and executive ability
have been appreciated by the citizens of Beaver, to the extent that he has
been honored with the office of chief burgess of his adopted town, and he is
at present officiating in that capacity. He was born in Darlington township,
Beaver county, April 11, 1867, and his ancestors have been residents of this
county for more than a century. He is a son of ex-Sheriff James Powers
Martin, grandson of James Martin, and great-grandson of Hugh Martin.
Major Hugh Martin was born in the north of Ireland and was of Scotch-French
origin; he came to America in 1770 and served during the Revolutionary War as
an Indian scout and captain of a reconnoitering party, in which capacity he
met with many thrilling adventures, which he often related with pleasure. He
was commissioned major during the latter part of the war. About the year
1798, he settled in Westmoreland county, Pa., near Greensburg, and there he
took up a tract of fifteen hundred acres of land; the larger part of it
extended into Beaver county, Darlington township. Upon his death his estate
was divided among his three sons, William, John and James.
James Martin received the homestead and one hundred and seventy-five acres
of choice land; the first set of buildings was made of logs, but James Martin
built large brick and stone buildings, all of which are still in constant use,
and are owned by the heirs of his son, James P. Martin. James Powers Martin
was one of a family of twelve children; those who grew to maturity were Hugh,
Daniel, Leasure, Jesse, Robert, John, James P., Eliza J., and Maria. James
Martin died aged seventy-two years, leaving a large estate; his wife,
Elizabeth Leasure, also died at an advanced age.
The father of Jere C. Martin was born on the homestead in 1828, and bought
out the heirs of his father's estate upon the latter's death; his entire life
was principally devoted
130 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
to agricultural pursuits, but he was at one time associated with an oil
refinery built on his farm, -the oil being manufactured from cannel coal. He
was elected sheriff of Beaver county on the Republican ticket and served from
January 1, 1876 to 1879. On the evening of December 24, 1892, Mr. Martin
accompanied his daughter, Mrs. A. Duff, and family, to the railway station in
a conveyance, and, upon their departure, he started on his way home, walking
down the track, but just before leaving the track he was struck by an engine.
This occurred about seven o'clock in the evening, and on the next day at one
o'clock he departed from this world. He was popular, widely known throughout
the county, a good citizen and friend, and his many excellent qualities and
courteous bearing gained for him the esteem and respect of all who knew him.
He was married in 1850 to Mary Imbrie, a daughter of John Imbrie, a prominent
farmer of Big Beaver township, this county. She was born in 1831, and died in
1877. They were the parents of the following children: James Rankin, a
partner in the law firm of Martin & Martin; John Imbrie, ex-sheriff of this
county; Rose, the wife of A. Duff of Beaver Falls; Mary I., the wife of Isaac
Hall; William H., a prominent real estate dealer of Beaver Falls; De Lorma E.;
Lilla J., the wife of Dr. J. R. McQuaid, of Leetsdale, Pa.; and Jere C.
The subject of this sketch was intellectually trained in the public
schools, in Greersburg Academy, and in Washington and Jefferson College at
Washington, Pa.; from 1891 to 1893 he served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff
John Imbrie Martin, his brother, and during this period he devoted his spare
time in the study of law, having access to his brother's law library.
September 19, 1894, he was admitted to the bar and immediately became a
partner with his brother, J. R. Martin. Since January 1, 1897, he has served
as chief burgess of Beaver, being elected on the Republican ticket. The
borough of Beaver is located on the north hank of the Ohio River and near the
mouth of Beaver River. Under the administration of Hon. Thomas Martin, then
Governor of Pennsylvania, in 1791, the town was surveyed and laid out. Martin
& Martin, attorneys-at-law, have a fine office in the Dawson Block on Third
street, and also one in Beaver Falls. Jere C. Martin has only been practicing
a little over four years, but is recognized as exceedingly bright, of
excellent address, quick to see the point and application of law, of
unusually good judgment, accurate in the preparation of legal papers or
causes for trial, and as having a clear legal mind and giving promise of
standing high in the ranks of his profession. His partner, J. R. Martin, is a
hard and conscientious worker, thoroughly equipped for his profession, and he
has merited the confidence reposed in him, his progress having been
deservedly rapid.
Jere C. Martin was wedded in 1894 to Miss Rose Best, a daughter of Charles
L. Best of Enon, Lawrence county, Pa., and two children have been born to
them, Dorothea and Griselda. He is the owner of a fine home in Beaver.
Socially, he is a member and past
BEAVER COUNTY 133
master of St. James Lodge, F. &. A. M.; and is also a member of the Elks; and
the K. of P.