John Ulrich Martin
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John U. Martin was born November 8, 1844 along with his twin, William Eli, at Moss Bluff, Marion Co., FL to parents Emanuel H. and Mary (Geiger) Martin. John’s
parents came to Florida originally from
Georgia around 1820, but after a tragic turn of events in that their
first
child John
was just a lad when his father died and
in his father’s will dated July 28, 1856, John received a
substantial
inheritance as well as the other children. He and William along with
their
younger sister were entrusted to an older brother, Henry E. Martin,
although
they remained in the care of their mother. The guardianship was
presumably made
to protect their inheritance.
The
civil war came and John enlisted at Ocala,
FL in Co G; 9th
FL REG under Major Byrd. John
returned to Florida after his service and
on January 10, 1867 in Marion County, FL, he married Elizabeth Brinson,
daughter of James S. and Anne (Redding) Brinson. The family moved to
Sumter
Co., where they raised their children and remained until 1899. They
next moved
to Citronelle, Citrus Co., FL., where John acquired land and as his
daughters
married, each were given acreage. John and Elizabeth lost their three
boys in
infancy. 2. Lewella
Ellen Martin, b. 6-7-1870; d. 10-28-1914; md. Charles R. Tyner. 3. Oliver
Harris Martin, b. 12-27-1872; d. 2-5-1873. 4. Melissa
Ann Martin, b. 3-7-1874; md. 1st.
G. P. Howard, 2nd
Simon
J. Howard, 3rd
Charles Tyner. 5. Doolie
Caroline Martin, b. 1-13-1876; d. 3-1962; md. Walter Howard. 6. Mary
Ann Martin, b. 3-18-1878; d. 10-10-1955; md. George W. Lewis. 7. Alice
Josephine Martin, b. 8-12-1880; d. 4-10-1962; md. Jacob F. Black. 8. James
Martin, b. 1-6-1882; d. 2-18-1883. 9. Agnes
Estelle Martin, b. 4-6-1884; d. 11-6-1905; md. Edward Fackler. In
his
original application for a pension John
was living in Sumter Co. It was dated April 29, 1899. One of the
coldest
winters Florida had experienced was wrecking havoc on John’s
health,
exasperating his rheumatism; a condition from the days he spent as a
POW in the
service. By May he had moved to Citrus Co. John’s claim
included
a broken leg
caused by a falling tree and crippled arm caused by an accidental gun
shot,
which made it impossible to earn a living from manual labor. In his
application
for a pension on February 3, 1902, John states he “contracted
chronic rheumatism
from
exposure in camp in the service, being short of
bedding…and
being compelled to sleep on the frozen ground.” His
application
for pension
dated June 19, 1907…he is quoted as saying,”
“At end
of war I was at home on
parole having just been released from prison at Pt. Lookout,
MD.”
Again, John
says that he “was furloughed from hospital in Virginia for
sickness…came home
returning from hospital by Savannah…was pressed into service
and
was captured
at the “fall of Savannah…carried to Prison at Pt.
Lookout,
MD where I was
paroled.” This application also states “Was at home
near
Ocala on parole from
imprisonment…one arm being broken by being shot, one leg
broken
by falling
tree, one eye being put totally out by flying knife.” A
letter
attached to his
file from his neighbor and good friend E. S. Grace owner of a general
store in
Citronelle, states the following-“See him frequently...certain
he
is blind…will
never see again…he had but one eye for several
years…Though old and infirm he
was game to the last; made a very good little crop this year and save
his
fodder when his eye went out. He is an industrious old man and has a
very
energetic wife.” This was in 1912 when John was asking for an
increase in his
pension. He passed away January 18, 1915. His wife immediately applied
for a
widow’s pension. John Ulric Martin is buried at Red Level Cemetery in Citrus County.
On
A
Personal Note: I
am the g
g
granddaughter of John Ulric Martin. |
was killed by
Indians as an
infant, they returned to Georgia. A
few years
passed and owing to the Armed Occupation Act, the family returned to
Florida
settling in Pine, between Citra and Ft. McCoy.
