The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-11
JOHN MARSHALL MARTIN

JOHN MARSHALL MARTIN
At fifteen minutes after eight
o'clock Wednesday evening, Col. John
NJ Martin passed from life to eternal
rest as peacefully as tired child ever
fell asleep.
In the death of Col John NJ. Martin,
Ocala has lost her most distinguished
and her strongest link to a glorious
past.
John Marshall Martin was born in
old Beaufort district Hampton coun-
ty), s. c., March IS, 1892 He came
TO Marion county, Florida, in 1856
and settled on his plantation north of
0cala. In 1881. he came to Ocala and
has been citizen of the town ever
since.
He was educated at the Citadel Mil
itary School in Charleston and was a
lifelong member of the Episcopal
church. He was married twice, in
1852 to Miss Willie Wellborn and in
1864 to Miss SaIlie Bonham Waldo,
who survives him.
His chief claim to fame is that ne
was the last surviving member of the
Confederate Congress. but most of his
time during the life of the Confed-
eracy was given to military service.
He was in the Congress less than a
year, in the army for three. At the
beginning of the war he organized
the Marion Light Artillery and as
captain of that company was muster
ed into the Confederate army Nov. 8,
1861. His first service was in the
western army and he was severely
Kentucky. His wound sent him back
home, and March %, 1868, he was adj
mitted to Congress to represent the
Eastern district of Florida. He serv-
ed out that term, and was warmly
pressed by his friends to run again,
but felt that his place was in the
army. He was commissioned colonel
of the Ninth Florida Infantry. He
was with this regiment at the second
battle of Cold Harbor, the battle of
the Crater, and most of the other hard
fighting around Richmond and Peters
burg during the last days of the Con-
federacy.
Returning home after Appomattox,
Col. Martin did his full share in up
building the South His plantation
home at Martin, few miles north of
Ocala, was the center of industry as
well as the abode of hospitality. In
1881, while keeping up his plantation,
he removed his home to Ocala, and
ever since, forty years, has dwelt
here, loved and honored. He might
have held Office, gone to the capitol
under the big dome at Washington, as
he went to the comparatively humble
building at Richmond. but preferred
the walks of private life. Under
Cleveland's administration, he was
prevailed on to become postmaster Of
the city, but it is well known that he
accepted the Office more from a wish
to serve his fellow citizens than for
the ennoluments.
Beside his widow, Colonel Martin
leaves to mourn his death his sons,
John M. Martin Jr. of Jack
sonville. Edmund w. Martin of At
lanta, Waldo w. Martin of Ocala. the
strong staff on which he leant during
the last years of his life, his daugh-
tiers. Mrs. Albert H. Birdsey of Sa-
vannah and Mrs. Lallie Martin Mum
roe of Biltmore, N. c. He also has a
number of grandchildren. among
whom Mr.. John w. Martin, mayor of
Jacksonville. and Miss Frances Bangs,
daughter of Mrs. Munroe, were at his
bedside with his wife, sons and
daughters when he. passed away.
Colonel Martin was an unusually
robust man and his strength remained
with him until the last. 1t was his
desire to help a servant in what he
thought too heavy a task that caused
the fall some months ago that confin-
ed him to his bed whence he never
rose. In his last days he had little