Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
James W. Martindale
James W. Martindale is of the fifth generation removed from his paternal ancestor who founded the Martindaie family on the shores of America. Little is known of the founder of the family in America, save that he came from Wales, and possessed the sterling qualities which have characterized all of his descendants. His son William, the great-grandfather of the subject of this biography, was born in South Carolina, and the next in the line of descent was James, who was born in North Carolina and located in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1809. He made a home on a tract of land, the southeast quarter of section 26, in what is now Clay township. This place, adjoining the present village of Green's Fork, is now in the possession of his namesake, our subject. The first wife of James Martindaie died before he became a resident of this state, and their two daughters were Mrs. Martha Benson and Mrs. Rebecca Martindaie. For his second wife he chose Elizabeth Addington, a Quaker, whose sweet, gentle face and winning and lovable disposition won the high esteem of all who knew her,—not the least among her admirers being her grandson, James W., who cherishes her memory. The grandfather, who survived her several years, likewise possessed numerous noble traits, and to his enterprise and hardihood the little colony of pioneers in Clay township were indebted in many material ways. He was identified with the Baptist church and was ever ready to lend a helping hand to his fellowmen. The two sons of James and Elizabeth Martindale were John and William. The latter, a man of ability and zeal, was carried away by the Mormon doctrines in his early manhood, and accompanied that peculiar people in their wanderings until they settled in Utah. Subsequently he removed to Southern California, where he died. That he was truly sincere in his religious views no one that knew him could doubt, but his attitude on the subject was a great grief to his friends.
John and William Martindale were born in a humble log cabin which stood but a few rods from the present residence of our subject. John, father of the latter, was born in 1810, and though he had no educational privileges such as is afforded the youth of this generation, he read everything he could find, and was a great student. So well did he succeed in the task of self-edncation that he taught school for some time, and met with gratifying returns for his efforts. All great moral and public questions were studied deeply by him, and he joined the Washingtonian Temperance Society soon after its organization. Though he was a Democrat of the old school, he was strongly anti-slavery in his views and was favorable to the free-soil movement. He died while in the prime of young manhood, March 30, 1849. Religiously he was not associated with any church, though his life was not at variance with the precepts of Christianity, and, without question, the influence and teachings of his sainted mother were all-powerful with him, causing him to leave an honored name and blameless record. For a wife he chose Lydia Hatfield, and three children were born of their marriage. The daughters are Mrs. Sarah J. Dean and Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, both of whom are residents of this township.
James W. Martindale, an only son, was born near Green's Fork December 5, 1829, and when he was about seven years old he accompanied the family to Cass county. His father was in very poor health and it was hoped the change would prove of benefit to him, but, after remaining there for two or three years, they returned and thenceforth dwelt upon the old homestead. In his childhood, when the country was very wild and the red men were more numerous here than the white settlers, James W. played with the Indian lads, and in this immediate section of the state all of the relations of the two races were peaceful and harmonious. Within his recollection most remarkable changes have been brought to pass, as the forests were felled and prosperous farms and villages took the place of the trackless wilderness. In this mighty work he has done his full share, aiding also in the establishment of law and good government, and upholding whatever has been calculated to advance the welfare of the community in which his lot was cast. He expects to pass the sunset days of his life on the old homestead, which has now been in the possession of his family for ninety years.
On the 20th of November, 1S4S, Mr. Martindale married Miss Lydia King, a daughter of Isaac and Ann (Davisj King. Mr. King was one of the pioneers of Dublin, Wayne county, where he built the first house, and there Mrs. Martindale was born, August 13, 1830. Her father died in Hancock county, Indiana, where he had lived for a few years, and the wife and mother departed this life at Richmond so ne years ago. Two sons and a daughter were born to our subject and wife, namely: John and Eden, and Emma, who is the wife of Alpheus Baldwin, of Richmond, this county.
The first vote of Mr. Martindale was cast for John P. Hale, but since the organization of the Republican party he has been loyal to its principles. For seven years he acted in the capacity of trustee of Clay township, and for the same length of time he was a commissioner of Wayne county. The influence and teaching of his beloved grandmother and the advice of his father, who late in his life counseled him to follow the precepts of the Quaker church, have largely molded his religious ideas, and recently he allied himself with the Society of Friends, of which his faithful wife has been a member since her early years. They are sincerely admired and loved by those who have known them a lifetime, and in peace and content are passing their days, surrounded with the comforts and lu.xuries which are the fruits of their former years of industry and good management.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899