ALEXANDER MARTIN. Alexander Martin was born January 10, 1800, and was a son of Stephen and Bethiah Martin. Stephen Martin was born January 26, 1761 and died December 19, 1834. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and at the time of his death was drawing a pension from the government for services rendered his country in her struggle for independence. His wife, Bethiah (Barrows) Martin, was born May 4, 1764, and died March 13, 1841. They had eleven children, of whom Alexander was the ninth, and all are now dead. Alexander came to North Bloomfield over sixty years ago, where his father had a small foundry, and when he became of age, he assumed the business. Alexander took the care of his father and mother until their death, and continued the business for a number of years. At that time there was no competition in that line anywhere near, and his customers came from a long distance, exchanging grain and barter of all kinds for his goods. By that means he acquired an extensive acquaintance and a reputation for fair dealing and honesty throughout the country. March 26, 1823, he was married to Ruth, daughter of Simon and Ruth (Hall) Harwood. Her father was born August 23, 1766, and died March 3, 1816, and her mother died October 18, 1838. In 1826 Mr. Martin purchased and moved into the house in which he lived till his death He and his loving wife spent over fifty years together amid the comforts of a pleasant home, and surrounded with a large family of children and grand-children. Their golden wedding was celebrated in 1873, when five of the ten children that had been born to them were present. In July, 1875, his wife died and in the same year his son, B. Franklin, also died. His surviving children are Amasa H. and A. Dwight, of Lima, Mrs. T. H. Holden, of Honeoye Falls, and Mrs. J. W. Davis, of Livonia Station. In October, 1876, Mr. Martin married the widow of Amos Hitchcock, and daughter of Eleazer Harwood. She was a cousin of his first wife, was born January 29, 1814. and is still living. In 1822, Mr. Martin united with the Masons at Allen’s Hill, and was one of the last two surviving members of Union Lodge, No. 50, of Lima, who remained true to the trusts of Free Masonry through the Morgan excitement. He was Masterof Union Lodge at one time, and also was a member of Morning Star Chapter of Lima. In politics he was a Democrat until 1848, when he entered into the Free Soil movement and upon the formation of the Republican party became one of its members, ever supporting its measures and policy with earnestness and consistency. He represented the town of Lima in the Board of Supervisors several terms, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances in his own and neighboring counties. He had not been in active business for several years preceding his death. His was one of the few examples we have in these days of one who had accumulated a competency by close application to business in early life, industry and frugality, without deception or fraud of any kind; one of whom no one could say that he had wronged them, and in whom the poor and needy ever found a friend and benefactor. He died August 8, 1877, from neuralgia of the heart and without a moment’s warning. His funeral services were attended on the Friday following, from the Universalist church of North Bloomfield, where he had been a constant attendant and one of its chief and earnest supporters for many years.

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