GEiSfEALOClCAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISToRV. 251 through the industry and excellent agricultural methods employed by its owner. In politics he is a Democrat, but a liberal one, and endeavors to secure the best man for the offices, irrespective of politics. Mr. Strohmann is regarded with feelings of respect and esteem in his locality, his position before his neighbors always demonstrating his integrity and reliability. He takes a great interest in public matters, especially those pertaining to his township, and is always ready to do his part in making improvements. R. S. MARTIN. Among the many worthy enterprises of the stirring little city of Hedrick, Keokuk county, Iowa, none are more deserving of commendation than the one which is being conducted by the above genetleman and his sons, who are editors and proprietors of the Hedrick Journal, a newspaper which has done very valuable service in bringing the development of the youthful city to the atteiition of the capitalists of the east. Mr. R. S. Martin is a native of Licking county, Ohio, born February 4, 1836. He was the son of Daniel and Sara E. (Hagan) Martin, natives of Pennsylvania. After marriage they removed to Ohio, where he became a prominent and influential citizen, having been judge of the court of common pleas in Licking county. In 1854 the family removed to Iowa and located at Steady Run township, Keokuk county, where the father continued to reside until his death at the advanced age of ninety-one years. He was a man of very fine mold of character, and during his life time spread an influence for good in every community in which he resided. The parents of Mr. Martin had a family of eleven
252 CBNEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HiSTOkY. children, ten of whom grew to maturity, Mr. Martin being the seventh child and fourth son. He remained at home until his majority, coming to Iowa with the family. The first active work he engaged in was the teaching profession, which he followed for two or three years previous to the war. In 1861, however, he put aside all considerations of business and was found a loyal citizen who valiantly espoused the cause of the Union. He was among the first to enlist, entering the army in 186 1 as a private soldier of Company D, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. In this company he served three years, and passed through some of the most hotly contested battles of the army of the Cumberland. The first of these battles was Shiloh, then came the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg ; after which he was on the Atlanta campaign and in other minor engagements. At the battle of Shiloh he received a bullet wounds but it did not incapacitate him for duty. He was also wounded in front of Atlanta. He received an honorable discharge from the service on the ist of Noveriiber, 1864, and returned to his home with the consciousness of having served his country faithfully and well. After the war he continued ia the teaching profession until 1886, when he in company with his sons, W. D. and C. J., established the Martinsburg Journal. This plant they conducted until 1889, when they removed to Hedrick and consolidated it with the Hedrick Enterprise, the name of the paper since that time having been the Hedrick Journal. This enterprise has been very successful, the paper having one of the largest circulations in the state and being a power in the moulding of public opinion in its various departments. Mr. Martin and his sons also do a very large business in job printing. The marriage of Mr. Martin occurred in Keokuk county, Iowa, on
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 255 15th of January, 1865, when he led to the altar Martha J. Hampton. This lady is a native of Tennessee, from which state her family removed to Kentucky and in 1856 to Iowa. To the union of Mr. ands Mrs. Martin three children were born, Walter D. and Charles J., both in business with their father, and Anna who is the wife of A. A. Buck, of Fremont, Nebraska. The Martin family has been a very prominent one in this section of the state of Iowa ever since their removal here. The father, Daniel Martin, leaves, his name to posterity in the name of the town of Martinsburg, Iowa, which he laid out in 1855. He was a man of much public spirit, which he bequeathed to his son, who has a live interest in every movement affecting the welfare of his fellow-townsmen and advocates and assists to the extent of his ability every measure which in his judgment tends to the advancement of the interests of his county aid state. WILLIAM E. HARDING. One of the prominent fanners and resident citizens of Adams township is William E. Harding, whose home is on section 7. A native ol the Buckeye state, he was bom in Morrow county, Ohio, on the 25th of Sq)tember, 1859, and is a son of J. H. Harding, whose birth occurred January 8, 182 1, in what was then Richland county, Ohio, but is now Morrow county. The paternal grandfather was Mordica Harding, who was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1796, and died March 21, 1870. At an early date he removed with his parents to Richland county, Ohio, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that locahty. His father was Amos Harding, who was of English descent. In his family were seventeen children, Mordica being the ninth in order