John Martin, Jr., the fourth child of John and Sarah (Stanley) Martin, was born in Athens County, Ohio, on 22 January 1816 (in the part of Athens County that later became Meigs County) and died 24 November 1895 in Douglas County, Illinois, at the age of 79 years, 10 months, and 2 days. 

A biographical sketch of John's son Levi, published in 1910,* also includes a brief note about John, his first wife Mary Ann, and his father John Sr.  According to the bio, Levi was "a son of John Martin, born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1816, and died in Camargo Township in 1895.  His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Wheeler, who was also born in Athens County [well no, probably in Kentucky], in 1817, and died in Camargo Township in 1863.  They were married in their native county in 1836 [sic], and in the fall of that year started for Illinois, driving direct to Coles County and locating on government land in the present Camargo Township, the father working for Washington Boyce during the winter to earn the forty dollars necessary to pay for the forty acres on which he had settled and on which he built a log house.  His father, John Martin, Sr., had brought his family to this new locality in the spring of 1836, and there entered 240 acres of land on which he died five [ten!] years later.  From time to time the younger John Martin added to the holdings owned by him, until at one time he was the possessor of 200 acres."

John Martin, Jr., married three times:

John married, first, Mary Ann Wheeler in Athens County, Ohio, on 04 July 1837.  She was born 10 May 1817 (probably in Kentucky), died on 3 January 1862 in Douglas County, IL, and was probably the daughter of Basil and Susannah (Woodyard) Wheeler.  Twelve children were born to John and Mary Ann (three of whom died in infancy):

• Sarah Susanna Martin, 1838–1912 (married (1) George W. Barnett and (2) Abraham Van Voorhis) 
• John Martin, III, 1840– ?? [before 1880] (married (1) Caroline Hennis and (2) Isabell Conner) 
• Joseph Martin, 1842–?? [before 1910] (married Susan Wilson) 
• Levi Martin, 1843–1910  (married Sarah R. Smith)
• Margaret J. Martin, 1845–?? [before 1900] (married Isaac Hamilton Watkins) 
• Nancy A. Martin, 1847–1914 (married James Franklin Barnett)
• Isaac W. Martin, 1850–1910 (no known marriage)
• Mary E. Martin, 1853–1926 (married (1) Robert Barnett and (2) Henry Miller)
• Infant girl, 1853–1853 (apparently a twin of Mary)
• Lucinda Martin, 1858–1898 (married James Barnett)
• Ambrose W. Martin, 1861–1861
• Archles Martin, 1861–1861 (twin to Ambrose)

John married, second, Lavina Plowman on 1 June 1864.  She was born 17 March 1843, the daughter of James and Mary (Long) Plowman, and died 16 May 1877.  Her birth, marriage, and death all occurred in Douglas County, IL. Eight children were born to John and Lavina:

• Laura E. Martin, 1865–1892 (married Weyeth Perkins)
• James Plowman Martin, 1866–1931 (married Minnie May Mitchell)
• Elsie Catherine Martin, 1867–1910 (married James Owen Roderick)
• Hester S. Martin, 1869–1941 (married William Oscar Cheshier)
• George W. Martin, 1871–1946 (married Cora Belle West)
• Sophia Martin, 1873–1896 (married William L. Hawkins)
• Margaret Martin, 1874–1944 (married William McDonald)
• Wilson Henry Martin, 1877–1938 (married Ella C. Mitchell)

John married, third, Mrs. Mary A. (Dobs) Howard on 27 June 1878.  She was born 30 August 1846, in Illinois, and died 12 December 1882 in Douglas County.  She was the daughter of Nathan and Julia Ann (Berry) Dobs but may have been an adopted daughter, as she is listed in the Dobs's household (in Cumberland County, IL) in the 1860 census but not in the 1850 census, when she would have been 4 years old.  Mary had six children resulting from her previous marriage to Samuel Howard.  Two children were born to John and Mary:

• Leona Martin, 1879–??? (married Delmar Howard)
• Stanley Martin, 1882–1882

Thanks,      
     —Pete Martin

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*Douglas County—Biographical, edited by John W. King, from the series Illinois—Historical, edited by Newton Bateman and Paul Selby.  Chicago, Munsell Publishing Company, 1910, p. 757-758.