Biographies M
James Cleland Martin
James Cleland Martin was born in Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky, in 1812, the son of James D. Martin and Mary Rice Spilman. When he was about eleven years old, his father and mother moved onto a farm in White Co., Illinois. He farmed with his father and on June 16, 1832, he volunteered and served in Capt. Bowman's Spy Battalion at Dixons Ferry, Illinois, in the Black Hawk War. He moved back to Woodford Co., Kentucky, with his relatives and in 1833 attended Hanover College in Indiana to be a Presbyterian minister.
He married Jane Martin in Woodford Co., Kentucky, February 17, 1833. Jane was the daughter of James Martin and Martha Elliot Martin of Woodford Co., Kentucky. James Martin of Woodford was the younger brother of Hugh Martin of Muhlenberg County who was James Cleland Martin's grandfather. Jane was born in Woodford County December 20, 1816 and died in Woodford August 8, 1848. James Cleland Martin was a cabinet and furniture maker in Versailles and the surrounding area.
Before Jane Martin died, James Cleland volunteered on May 6, 1846 in Capt. Fountain's Company, Second Regiment, Louisiana Militia to fight in the Mexican War. On December 23, 1861, he volunteered and became a Captain in the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, Union Army. Being about 50 years old at the time, he served only a short time and was retired to standby status but remained in the service.
His sons and daughters kept the furniture business and farm going, and after an argument with his daughter over a courtship he was having, he left the area and our only record of him was that he died in 1878.
Written and contributed by Harold W. Rarden
Updated June 29, 2018