John J. Martin

Notes:

John Jacob Martin was born in East Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa.
When he was twelve years old, his parents moved to Southampton Twp.,
Franklin Co., Pa. He grew up there on his father's 160-acre farm on the
Rowe Creek at Pinola.
On November 28, 1878, he was married to Sarah Rife in Franklin Co.,
Pa. by Preacher Franklin Dysin. As the custom was then, John and Sarah
went to Lancaster County on their wedding trip, visiting all their
relatives down to their parents' cousins.
After their marriage, they lived in part of the house with John's
parents and farmed with his father. Then they started farming for
themselves on a slate land farm in Letterkenny Township.
Some time after their oldest son, Henry, was born, they became
members of the Mennonite Church.
Later they moved to the Rife home farm in Letterkenny Twp and lived
in half of the house. Sarah's parents and her two unmarried sisters,
Elizabeth and Mary, lived in the other half.
The family moved away from the Rife farm in 1897 and lived at Salem
for several years. On January 24, 1900, John bought his father's 45-acre
farm at Pinola for $1700. They moved there soon after his father's death.
While living at Pinola, they attended the Rowe Mennonite Church.
As each of the children reached maturity, five of the seven left
home for jobs in other communities. Henry weat to Illinois in 1897 and
got a job in a factory. He married and settled there. In the fall of
1902, Stephen went to Ohio and worked on a farm. Fannie also went to Ohio
and worked in homes there. In 1909, Eber went to Ohio and worked for a
farmer.
Because of this dispersing of the family to distant communities, as
well as the wide gap in age between the oldest and the youngest, the
children were never all together at the same place at the same time. Ada
did not even meet her oldest brother till she was eight; Henry was then
thirty-two.
In the winter of 1910, Clara, Henry's wife, died. Henry was left
with his two children--five-year-old Royce and two-and-a-half-year-old
Gladys. He brought them to his parents, who provided a home for them.
That winter, John and Sarah decided to move to Ohio in order that
they could be closer to their children and so that Henry would not have
to travel as far to see Royce and Gladys. They sold their farm at Pinola
to their son-in-law, Calvin Martin, and moved to Ohio in February 1911.
They lived near their son Stephen. While living there, John did day work
among the farmers. Their son, John, went to Ohio about a week before his
parents and found work in Wayne County.
In the fall of 1912, John and Sarah moved back to Pennsylvania and
rented a house in Chambersburg for about a year. But John felt he should
be on a farm for the sake of his young ones, so he bought a 52-acre farm
near Shippensburg. He farmed with one horse; all his implements were one
horse-size. After farming for about six years, he bought a house on
Philadelphia Avenue extended, north of Chambersburg near the Chambersburg
Mennonite Church, January 11, 1921.
John and Sarah were praying parents, concerned for their children's
welfare. Church attendance was a "must," and to be on time was a "must."
John commanded his children to obedience. "Right forth immediately" was
one of his expressions. They taught their children to be honest. If any
of them told a lie, it was a serious offense. Sarah was diligent in
teaching her giorls to sew and there was no getting it done quickly. If
the stitches were not little and even, they had to be ripped out and
redone until they passed her inspection.
John did day work for different farmers up to the last year of his
life. He died September 16, 1922, age 67 years, after an illness of
several months. Sarah wrote in the back of her Bible, "How I miss John's
kind and helpful hand." A neighbor commented, "John's dry humor
complemented Sarah's more negative outlook on life."
After John's death, Sarah continued living with her daughter Ada and
her grandchildren, Royce and Gladys. She was free to spend time helping
her children. She was glad to be able to go and spend a week or even a
month at one of their homes, helping as needed.
Sarah always enjoyed good health until the late spring of 1944. Her
heart weakened and she died June 18, 1944, after being in bed several
weeks. The sermon text at her funeral was Mark 14:8: "She hath done what
she could."
John and Sarah Martin are buried in the Chambersburg Mennonite
Church Cemetery, Chambersburg, Pa. Their graves are located in the second
row east from the cross drive, and the tenth marker to the right of the
main drive. ("The John Jacob Martin Family", Daniel R. Lehman, 1978.)




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John married Sarah Rife on 28 Nov 1878 in Franklin Co., PA. [Group Sheet]

1. Henry Edwin Martin
2. Fannie Martin was born on 24 May 1881 in Franklin Co., PA; died on 15 Apr 1939.
3. Stephen Rife Martin was born on 30 May 1882 in Franklin Co., PA; died on 21 May 1950.
4. Alice Martin was born on 27 Oct 1883.
5. Eber Martin was born on 27 Jun 1888; died on 21 Sep 1909.
6. John Jacob Martin was born on 4 May 1890.
7. Ada Grace Martin was born on 4 Jul 1902.

Notes:

After John and Fanny were married, they farmed in Lancaster County
for twenty-eight years. They were members of the Weaverland Mennonite
Church, East Earl, Pa.
In the spring of 1868, they moved to Franklin Co., Pa., near
Shippensburg. John bought land on the Rowe Creek at Pinola. He purchased
30 acres from Samuel Kyner for $850, deed dated March 18, 1868. He also
purchased three tracts of land totaling 130+ acres with improvements,
from Margaret Johnson for $11,880.62, deed dated March 31, 1868.
John and Fanny lived in the brick house east of Rowe Creek. This
farm was sold to his son, Preacher Joseph H. Martin. Later it was
purchased by the New Enterprise Stone Quarry.
Across the creek was a house along the Orrstown Road (Route 433).
John added to this house and built a barn there. This farm was sold to
his son, John J. Martin. It is now the site of the Pinola Hatchery.
John and Fanny were members of the Rowe Mennonite Church, near
Shippensburg, Pa. They are buried in the ole Rowe Cemetery, a short
distance from Pinola. Their graves are located in the middle of the fifth
row from the rear fence. ("The John Jacob Martin Family", Daniel R.
Lehman, 1978)

John married Veronica "Fanny" Horst on 10 Mar 1840. Veronica was born on 21 Apr 1822; died on 16 Apr 1883. [Group Sheet]

Jacob married Anna Wenger Martin in 1805. Anna (daughter of Abraham M. Martin and Eva S. Wenger) was born on 10 Mar 1786; died on 4 Jun 1849. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Henry bought the "Creek Henry Martin Farm" from his father. He and
his wife apparently spent most of their days at this place. They were
Mennonites. They are buried in the Lichty Cemetery, where his father is
buried. Thier graves are marked by simple stones that are carved in
German. They can be easily located in the sixth row from the west fence
in the old section of the yard. ("The John Jacob Martin Family", Daniel
R. Lehman, 1978)

Heinrich married Barbara Zimmerman on 11 Jun 1765. Barbara (daughter of Christian Zimmerman) was born on 1 Mar 1743; died on 1 Jan 1829 in Lancaster Co., PA. [Group Sheet]

Abraham married Eva S. Wenger. [Group Sheet]