Martin, Joseph

Joseph Martin was born in Ray County, Missouri, in 1862, to parents William Martin and Emeline Clark. Following his father death in Missouri in 1877, Joseph completed his education and migrated to Fresno County, California, in April 1881. On September 7, 1890, he married Abbygail Woodmansee at Kingsburg, California, who was the daughter of Union Army veteran Oliver Woodmansee and Frances Huddleston.

In Fresno County, Joseph operated leased property near Academy before purchasing an 1,800-acre stock ranch on Fancher Creek in 1900, alongside an additional 556-acre parcel nearby. After serving as a school trustee for the Fancher Creek district, he relocated his family to a 410-acre ranch in the Round Mountain district where he died on February 11, 1911. Following his passing, his widow Abbygail successfully managed their holdings while raising their six children, Harry, Bertha, Walter, Elsie, Hazel, and Joseph.