Daniel Martin

Daniel Martin, grandfather of the compiler of these records [Agnes Immele Meriwether], was the fourth son and fifth child of Bernhard Martin and Ursula Schulz Martin. Born in Ruppertsberg, Bavaria May 28, 1821, he died near Pilot Grove, Mo. Oct. 5, 1879. On April 16, 1853 he married Regina Fischer, daughter of John Fischer and Margretha Klam, born in Niederkirchen, Bavaria May 16, 1834, and lived the next two years in Unterhaching, near Munich, Bavaria.

On Oct. 12, 1855 he left his homeland, Bavaria, with his wife, Regina Fischer Martin, for America to join others of his family who had already settled here. After a three-month sea voyage in which they were harassed with many real and imagined dangers and no small amount of apprehension, they arrived in New Orleans Jan. 20, 1856, remained there until after the birth of their first son, George Adam Martin, then proceeded by steamboat up the Mississippi to St. Louis, Mo., subsequently to Cooper County, Mo., arriving in Boonville April 15, 1856. He settled near Pilot Grove, Mo., where he spent the remainder of his life.

Along with farming the acreage which he acquired, he operated a coal mine on his property, with the assistance of a group of faithful colored people in the neighborhood, who depended on him for their every need. It has been related that he not only furnished them the wherewithal to acquire food and clothing, but likewise provided a school and a church for their use. One member of a family in this group still lives on land which was at one time his. She is "Aunt" Lillie Kinner, a near centenarian, and she remembers Daniel Martin from her girlhood days. Of him she says: "He was kindness itself."

He not only befriended the colored folks but any neighbor or friend in need. He was the epitome of goodness and generosity, to the point of detriment to his own welfare. During his lifetime he guaranteed payment on notes for so many people who defaulted that at the time of his death, he was himself almost destitute. It is said that on his deathbed he gathered his children around him and admonished them: "Learn to say the word NO-that is what ruined me."

But one object of his generosity still stands as a lasting monument to him, and that s St. Martin's Church, known as Martinsville, located about four miles northeast of Pilot Grove, Mo., for which he donated the land for the first church and cemetery. Reprinted below is a short history of St. Martin's Parish taken from a diocesan paper, which would be of interest not only to the Martin family but many in the Martinsville community.

"The history of St. Martin's parish, Chouteau Springs, Mo., began when John Martin came to Cooper County in 1860 [sic] and settled a half mile west of the present town. Daniel Martin, a brother, moved into the neighborhood shortly afterwards and these two families were the only Catholics in a radius of several miles. They attended services at Boonville and Clear Creek.

In 1870, the number of Catholics at Chouteau Springs had increased to thirteen families, mostly of German origin. They decided to build their own church and Daniel Martin donated the property. A log structure was first erected (18x24 feet).

While it was being built, services were held in the Daniel Martin home once a month for four months, beginning in May of 1870. So when the church was completed, it was named St. Martin, chiefly because the Martins were the first Catholic settlers and also donated the site. Adjoining the church a cemetery was laid out and is still maintained.

The log church became a mission from Boonville. Father Hildner was the first priest to attend it. He continued to come once a month, not always on Sundays. In 1877, St. Martin's was attached as a mission to Clear Creek and a second church on the same property was decided on. It was a frame structure of larger dimensions.

Shortly the people felt the need of a parochial school and hte old church was used for the first classes. Laymen taught for about three months every spring. John Immele was one of the first teachers. When the Kansas City diocese was established, Bishop Hogan obtained Benedictine Fathers from Conception Abbey to take charge of Clear Creek and Chouteau Springs. No rectory was ever built there.

A third church at a more convenient site was begun in 1908. The present rectory near the new church was constructed mainly of material taken from the second church. Father Pius Conrad, O.S.B. was rector when the last church was built."

Daniel Martin and Regina Fischer Martin were the parents of four children: 1. Magdalena Martin, b. Aug. 19, 1854, d. Oct. 13, 1854 in Unterhaching, Bavaria ; 2. George Adam Martin, b. Feb. 2, 1856, d. Sept. 24, 1944, m. Josephine Wilhelmina Smith ; 3. Margaret (Rachel) Martin b. Dec. 8, 1858, d. May 31, 1915, m. Lorenz Esser ; 4. Mary Martin, b. Dec.30, 1861, d. July 12, 1942, m. Louis Meyer.

Regina Fischer Martin died May 30, 1863 and Daniel Martin married second Louise (Elizabeth) Esser June 25, 1864. She was the daughter of Bertram Esser and Agnes Felton Esser and was born near Cologne, German Nov. 25, 1843 and died in Pilot Grove, Mo. Nov. 10, 1934. They were the parents of nine children, who, for purposes of genealogical sequence, will be numbered 5 to 13. They are: 5. John D. Martin, b. March 2, 1865, d. Aug. 2, 1910, m. Hattie Elizabeth Graves ; 6. Agnes Martin b. Sept. 26, 1866, d. March 7, 1870. She was the first person buried in St. Martin's Cemetery, the land for which was donated by her father ; 7. Bertram Martin b. April 12, 1868, d. Sept. 17, 1952, m. Mary Anastasia (Mamie) McMahon ; 8. Leonard George Martin, b. Nov. 17, 1869, d. Dec. 19, 1941, m. Margaret Mary Weis ; 9. Joseph Herman Martin, b. Dec. 16, 1871, d. Jan. 20, 1939, m. Nora May Acord Johnson ; 10. Anna Catherine Martin, b. Nov. 9, 1873, d. Feb. 23, 1960, m. John Baptist Immele ; 11. Bernard Jacob Martin, b. Sept. 15, 1875, d. Dec. 24, 1934, m. Margaret Agnes McGrath ; 12. Barbara Elizabeth Martin, b. Sept. 18, 1877, d. July 2, 1957, m. William Edward, Brisbois ; 13. Magdalena Isabella Martin, b. May 7, 1879, d. Oct. 31, 1905. Did not marry.

About ten years after the death of Daniel Martin, his second wife, Elizabeth Esser Martin, married second John Weis of Marshall, Mo. on Jan. 2, 1889. He preceded her in death and she spent the last years of her life with her daughter, Anna Martin Immele in Pilot Grove, Mo. where she died.

(Taken from "Bernhard Martin and His Descendants" by Agnes Immele Meriwether, 1962)