Joseph Martin, the third child of John and Sarah (Stanley) Martin, was born in Athens County, Ohio, about 1814, and died 6 April 1837 in Meigs County, Ohio (at the early age of 23). He married Eliza (Elizabeth) Sleeper in Athens County on 9 July 1832. She was born in Smithfield, Madison County, New York State about 1816, the daughter of John (or Jonathan) Sleeper and Elizabeth (Parker) Sleeper.

Three children were born to Joseph and Eliza:

• Malinda Martin, 1833–1899 (married Cornelius Norris)
• Oren Branch Martin, 1835–1900 (married (1) Amanda Chase and (2) Rebecca McKenzie)
• Louisa Martin, 1837–1917 (married Samuel K. Lyon)

In addition to these, the 1850 census for Orange Township, Meigs County, Ohio, shows one more child in the household with Joseph's widow, Eliza.  This is "Electa Martin," 5 years old at the time and, hence, apparently born about 1845.  However, I have not listed Electa above, with the children of Joseph and Eliza, because she couldn't possibly be the daughter of Joseph Martin, who died 8 years before she was born.  It is possible that Eliza adopted this girl or that Electa is, indeed, Eliza's natural daughter conceived with some other father; we may never know which is true.

According to the Meigs County marriage records, Electa Maria Martin married Henry H. Knopp on 4 July 1861. The 1870 census for Scipio Township, Meigs County, Ohio, shows Eliza living in the same household with Henry and Electa Knopp, and the census taker included there the notation that Eliza "Lives with daughter."

I have not found Eliza in the 1880 census.  However, according to the Ohio County Death Records, she passed away in Meigs County on 21 November 1890.  Electa died in 1921.

I still have very little information about this branch of the Martin Family. If you can provide any further details of their lives or their descendants, please contact me at the address shown in the image below:

Thanks,       

      —Pete Martin

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