Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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


WILLIAM C. MARTIN 
 
was born in what is now Red River County, Texas, January 29, 1824. His father, 
Gabriel N. Martin, was a native of North Carolina, who went to Texas in 1812. 
His mother was formerly Henrietta Wright. She was born in Alabama. Mr. Martin's 
father was a wealthy farmer and a prominent man in his section. He was for some 
years a judge and a leader in political circles. He also engaged largely as a 
contractor, furnishing supplies for the Indian agencies of the United States 
Government. He was killed by the Indians in 1834. The subject of this sketch was 
reared as a farmer, receiving limited educational advantages until the age of 
eighteen years, when he educated himself. December 31, 1843, he married Miss 
Rebecca C. Miller. She was the daughter of Richard G. and Rebecca (Bayless) 
Miller, who resided in Lamar County, Texas. Mr. Martin was engaged in farming 
and cotton-planting in the county of his birth until 1853. In April of that year 
he
started overland for California, making the journey by ox teams. After a short 
stay at Warner's ranch, in San Diego County, he came to Los Angeles County, and 
located near El Monte, taking up what he supposed to be Government land, about a 
mile southwest of what is now Savannah. There he engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising until 1865. In that year he abandoned his farm (the land having 
been decided as grant land) and located in El Monte, where he opened a hotel 
which he conducted until 1872. He then purchased a squatter's right to 160 acres 
of land located just north of the San Dimas Ca�on. There he took up his 
residence and engaged in general farming and the bee business, until 1887, when 
he sold out and moved to Pomona, and took up his residence on the corner of 
Seventh street and Town avenue. Mr. Martin also owns other property in Pomona, 
among which is a ten-acre tract in block 197, twenty acres in block 212, and two 
houses and lots on Third street in block 52. He has been a resident of Los 
Angeles County for more than thirty-live years, and is well known throughout the 
San Gabriel and San Jose rallies. Politically he is a Democrat. In 1854 he was 
elected justice of the peace, serving as such for several years; and for more 
than twenty years he has served as a school trustee. He is a consistent member 
and a steward of the Methodist Church, South; is a charter member of Pomona 
Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin: 
William T. (a sketch of whom is given in this volume), and Henrietta Jane, who 
died in 1853, aged seven years.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 558
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler