The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1900-06-20
KNOWN AS "MARTIN'S BRICK"
He Gave A Barbecue In 1856. Col. Hum.
phrey Marshal And Major Hancock
Were The Orators.
FROM THE PEN OF COL EDWIN FORBES FORDSllE KENTUCKY

Editor of the NEws-I see in the News
ofJRe 9Th, the death OF John @. Mar
tin Mo was many years ago prominent
business man of Cloverport, and this re-
calls to my memory many social and
business eve ITS connected with his per-
sonal life and business career.
On the 7th day of December, 1855, L
was employed by the Breckenridge Coal
Company, at Bennettsville, now VIC
toria, and was in the service OF this COM
pany four years and three months, and
about one half OF this time was in the
Oil yard at Cloverport. l was also In
the employ OF Culley & Rodgers after
the coal and oil company suspended
business. Previous to my first visit to
Cloverport in December 1855, Mr.. Mar
tin had erected large two story brick
building on the southwest corner OF Wall
and Elm streets, now the BREcKESRlDGE
News office-and this was at that time
considered bold undertaking for small
town merchant OF limited means. The
first story Of this house had two store
rooms; one of them was occupied by Mr.
Martins general supply store and the
other, 1 think, by p. V. Duncan d Cox
The second story was fitted up for pub
lie hall and for years was used for reli-
gious meetings, school exhibitions,
shows, public speaking etc, In all oil
which Mr.. Martin took a deep interest.
During the summer of 1856, | think it
was, the friends OF ex President Millard
Ekmore, at that time candidate Tor re-
election, gave barbecue in honor OF
him. The picnic ground was in grove
on the bank of Glover Creek above the
steam mills OF Pierce and Satterfeld. Col
Humphrey Marshall and Major Hancock
were the orators of the day. Major Han
cock spoke first and after he had adj
dressed the people about an hour, COL
Marshall arrived at the stand accompan-
led by an escort OF horsemen, which
John G. Martin had organized and which
he called "Light-horse.' Mr.. Martin
had, after organizing his company,
marched to the hotel and at the appoin-
ted time escorted Col. Marshall to the
stand just at the close Of Mejor Han
cocks speech. As Col. Marshall noun
ted the stand the cheering voices for
Cara Martin aud his men drowned the
music Of the Cannelton brass band. Msj-
or Hancock introduced Col. Marshall
and Rev. John Christian delivered the
welcome address which was 80 elo-
ouent that it was said that Col. Mar
shall was somewhat embarrassed to make
suitable reply to this brilliant welcom-
III speech. One OF Mr.. Martins men on
this occasion was the late jerry Muir
ply, OF Cloverport, and l think at this
time sill of Martins men are like their
Captain--in the spirit world.
During the two years was at Bsnnetts-
vile heard many speak Of the building
of the Martin brick at Cloverport. Some
of them worked upon it, and they APP
peared to think 1t almost equal to build
ing the Falls Canal at Louisville, upon
which some Of them had worked when
they we're young men. While lived at
Cloverport many men, including the
aged and intelligent Major Jas. Miller,
spoke in the highest praise OF the Mar
tin house, and Dick Rogers, one OF the
contractors for the work, showed me the
bench upon which the finest part o.
woodwork was made and spoke OF this
bench as being relic Of a grand piece
of work. At that time. Mr.. Martins
house had large trade from the Ben
nettsville end of the Railroad and in this
way most Of the people at and around
Bennettsville had something tosay about
his store or his large brick house.
When left Cloverport in October
1859, Mr.. Martin had store in one Of
~ storerooms and his father had store
IA the other room, and the now Hon. A.
j. Gross was clerking in the latter's store.