San Joaquin County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



 
SAMUEL L. MARTIN.
 
        The story of a real pioneer family is to be found in the record of 
Samuel L. Martin, who came to California in 1857, and from that time until he 
died was counted among the real builders of the county. A native of Tennessee, 
he was born in Hardin County, May 22, 1833, and when he was but nine years old 
he was taken by his parents to Arkansas and there reared and received such 
education as possible at that time and place. On March 22, 1857, he started for 
the Golden West, all alone, with his blankets thrown on the back of his mule. 
After traveling a few days he overtook a large train westward bound and joined 
them, doing his share of the work in driving stock. In this train was the Scott 
family, Kentuckians, and here he met his future wife, Miss Ala Scott, who was 
born in Kentucky, on July 16, 1835. As soon as they reached California, the 
young folks were married, in October, 1857. Some members of the train decided to 
choose the well-beaten trails, while others who were over anxious to reach 
California, took a shorter route and were murdered in the Mountain Meadow 
massacre.
        Arriving safely, after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Martin began 
housekeeping on a ranch six miles southeast of Lockeford, opposite the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Cole, who were Forty-niners, Mrs. Cole being sister of Mrs. 
Martin. Mr. Martin acquired 260 acres of the Pico Grant, and here he developed 
and improved a good ranch, carrying on grain and stockraising with a fair degree 
of success. Nine children came to bless their home: William T , the eldest, was 
born on the Dodge place, where the parents stopped a short time; the others, 
born on the old Martin ranch, being Joseph H., Susie, Mary J., Samuel L., James 
H. H., Elizabeth, Carrie M., and Ellen V. The survivors of the family are 
William, James, Carrie, Mrs. Lewis Moreing, Mrs. McCall and Ellen. Mr. Martin 
died in December, 1914; Mrs. Martin passed away on April 3, 1898.
        The first seven years after locating on his ranch, the crops were a 
failure owing to the overflow of the river. Mr. Martin, with others of his 
locality, put through the drainage ditch into Martin's Slough, and ever since, 
there has been no difficulty with water. He was a friend of education and helped 
build the Calaveras schoolhouse and served as a trustee of the district for many 
years. Mr. Martin was a whole-souled man, generous to a fault, ever ready to do 
his share to develop the interests of the state, county and locality.
 
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p   904       
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.