My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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W. T. Martin, railroad and express agent of Salem, was born in Dent County, Mo., in 1855, being the son of William C. and Rachel Minerva (Barnes) Martin. William C. Martin was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1826, and when a young man immigrated to Dent County, Mo. He was married here in 1852, and located four miles north of Salem, where he has since resided. He is the owner of 320 acres of land, and is a successful farmer. His wife, Rachel M. (Barnes) Martin, was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., in 1830, and is the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Barnes, who were natives of Alabama, and who came to Dent County, Mo., in 1844, and located seven miles northeast of the county seat. Thomas Barnes died about 1880, at the age of eighty, and his wife is yet living, and is eighty-four years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin were born five children: Eliza J., wife of John T. Watson; William Thomas, John W., Francis M. and George W. William T. was educated at Salem Academy, and at the age of eighteen he began teaching, which profession he followed for three terms in Dent County, Mo. He was reared and grew to manhood on the farm, making his home with his parents until twenty-one years of age. In 1877 he married Miss Amanda J. Goade, who was born in Crawford County, Mo., January 6, 1859, and who bore him six children: Charles E., Ernest E., Minnie M., Pearl, Mattie and Lee. In 1879 Mr. Martin and family came to Salem, where he teamed for two years for William James, hauling iron ore. In 1881 he commenced working for the St. Louis, Salem & Little Rock Railroad, now ‘Frisco Railroad, as assistant agent and assistant clerk for E. B. Sankey, superintendent of the same branch. For twenty months he was baggage and express agent for the Salem branch, and in February, 1887, he was given his present position. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a Democrat in politics, casting his first presidential vote for Tilden in 1876.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dent County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Dent County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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