Background
William T. Martin was born on March 25, 1823 in Glasgow, Kentucky. His father was John (Henderson) Martin (1789-1841) and his mother, Emily (Monroe Kerr) Martin (1800-unknown).
Businessman General lawyer military
William T. Martin was born on March 25, 1823 in Glasgow, Kentucky. His father was John (Henderson) Martin (1789-1841) and his mother, Emily (Monroe Kerr) Martin (1800-unknown).
He graduated from Centre College in 1844 and was admitted to the bar in Mississippi.
He served multiple terms as district attorney before the war. While himself opposing secession, he raised the Adams County cavalry troops, when war broke out, riding with them to Richmond, Virginia, the new Confederate capitol. He quickly rose to colonel of the Jeff Davis Legion, and served with J.E.B. Stuart"s command through Autumn 1862.
Promoted to brigadier general, he was ordered to the Western Theater, where he commanded divisions at the Tullahoma Campaign and the Battle of Chickamauga and served as cavalry commander under James Longstreet at Knoxville.
After Longstreet"s return to the east, he was promoted to major general, led a division under Joseph Wheeler at Atlanta and rose to command of the military district of Northwest Mississippi by war"s education After the war, he returned to his law practice in Mississippi, becoming a trustee of both University of Mississippi and Jefferson College in Washington, Mississippi.
He served in the state senate, and was a delegate to Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1872, 1876, and 1880. He was the president of the Natchez, Jackson, and Columbus railroad, of which he oversaw the construction in 1884.
Personal life
They resided at Montaigne, a mansion in Natchez, Mississippi, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
They had eleven children:
Margaret (Spencer Martin) Shields (1855-1932). Emily (Monroe Martin) Lanneau (1856-1900). Jane (Gustine Martin) Balfour (1857-1936).
Mary (Conner Martin) Chase (1859-1944).
William (Conner) Martin (1861-1938). Ellie (Lee Martin) Luckett (1866-1938).
Lewis (Randolph) Martin (1867-1929). Spencer (Wood) Martin (1869-1870).
Farar (Conner) Martin (1871-1913).
Caroline (Ker) Martin (1873-1939). John (Henderson) Martin (1874-1957). Death
He died on March 16, 1910 in Natchez, Mississippi.
He is buried in Natchez City Cemetery.
"Peculiar institution" of slavery was not only expedient but also ordained by God and upheld in Holy Scripture.
Stands for preserving slavery, states' rights, and political liberty for whites. Every individual state is sovereign, even to the point of secession.
Served from captain to major general Confederate States Army, 1861-1863. Member State senate, 1882-1894. Trustee State University, 1876-1888.
Member State Constitutional Convention, 1890.
Completed in 1884, as sole president of the company, the New Jersey&C. Railroad from Natchez to Jackson.
Married Margaret Dunlop Conner, January 5, 1854.