Abraham Wenger Martin

From The History of the Town of Clarence-by Oneta M. Baker-published-1983

It was in 1829 that VanTine's Corners had another visitor from Pennsylvania. This was Abraham Martin who, accompanied by a nephew, rode horseback from Goodville, Pennsylvania, to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, intending to visit relatives who had settled there. Their journey brought them to VanTine's Corners.

Mr. Martin was impressed with the fine level farm lands, the rich timber, and the water supply in this particular area. Stopping for a few days to look over the land, he bought the farm of his choice from Abraham Carmer. There was already a house on the property (now the home of Mrs. Nelson Carter) and wide acres of land through which flowed Ransom Creek.

This land and many acres farther west along the old Indian trail that is now Stahley Road had been purchased earlier from Wilhelm Willink by the Carmer family, Nicholas, Noah and Abraham.

After acquiring his new farm, Mr. Martin then returned to Pennsylvania, and the following spring, he brought his family back to VanTine's Corners. Among the household goods brought on the the wagon trip was a highboy grandfather clock which had been in the family since 1764, and is now the property of Albert Martin of California. The remarkable old clock still keeps good time and, as far as it is known has never been in a repair shop.

Soon after setttling here, Abraham Martin planted many fruit and nut trees on his farm. The nut trees he planted on hilsides where the land was too steep to farm. Hickory-nuts, butternuts, chesnut and walnut trees provided a rich harvest when frosts came. Years later, Mr. Martin's grandchildren gathered nuts from those same trees, and still recall the fun, for when the trees were shook, the nuts rolled down the hill.

Along the road leading to the four corners, Mr. Martin planted a long row of cherry trees, a beautiful sight in blossom time, and abundantly productive. The townspeople were often invited to pick the fruit on shares, and in no time at all, huge old-fashioned washtubs were filled to overflowing. Mrs. Martin dried her share of the cherries for winter use.

A nine-acre apple orchard, quince, peaches, pears, and grapes were among the fruits planted by Abraham Martin. He was an industrious and thrifty man and his well-kept farm became a showplace. White-washed fences were lined with red peonies. Heavy-bearing grape vines covered home built arbors, and the smoke house was always kept well filled with hams, bacon, sausage and dried beef.

Herald of Truth Obituary-March 1871

MARTIN-On the 29th of December, 1870, at the residence of his son, Moses Martin, in Clarence Centre, Erie County, N.Y., Abraham Martin, aged 76 years, 9 months, and 10 days. Buried on New Years's day, in the mennonite burying ground in this place. Text, Rev. 22:13. He was a faithful member of the Mennonite Church for many years. A few days previous to his death he desired to partake of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and observe feet-washing, which he also did. He removed to this place from Lancaster County, Pa. in 1832.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 30 2016, 15:00:45 UTC