• His health became impaired and he crossed the plains to California in 1850. After three years, having regained his vigor, he returned to his old post in Rock River Seminary. In 1858 he joined the Rock River Conference remaining in the pastorate until 1864, when he became President of the Minnesota Female College. Two years later, being again in poor health, he was providentially led to return to California and connected himself with that Conference. He was happy in his pastorates in Grass Valley, Marysville, and San Francisco, but again his health was impaired, and with his family he went East for a visit. Hardly had he returned to the coast when an imperative and unanimous call came to him from the University of the Pacific, and he entered that institution as Professor of Latin and Greek. After eighteen happy years in that position, he retired in 1890 and became Professor Emeritus, which relation he has since held. Most of the time for the last eighteen years he has resided in Seattle, and large numbers of us have found his presence a benediction.1335, p 21

• An event of special significance was the coming to the University, at the beginning of Gibbons’ second term, of J. N. Martin, who for many years proved to be a tower of strength - he was far more than a professor of any single department; he became a central figure for the entire institution - it might be said, he himself was an institution.1357, p 42

• Of no professor in the entire history of the University of the Pacific could it be said with more complete sincerity that he was universally esteemed than of Prof. James N. Martin, who was called to the chair of ancient languages and literature in 1872. He served under three administrations - those of Presidents Gibbons, Stratton, and Hirst, and was made Professor Emeriturs in 1890. During his eighteen year incumbency he was recognized as a leader in the faculty and helpful counselor to each succeeding president; but even more important than that, he was always a true friend and wise consultant and confidant to the students, who trusted him fully and held him in affectionate regard. He understood the students with a sympathetic understanding - they felt free to call upon him for fatherly advice. He was a Christian teacher and minister in whom there was no guile. His influence on the student body was most salutary and of character that abides throughout life.
Dr. Martin was born in Ontario in 1823, but with his parents he went to Illinois in 1838. After graduation from Wesleyan University, he taught in Galena Seminary, and entered Rock River Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858. He was a devoted minister, but is best remembered as a Christian educator.1357, pp 76-7

• 1102 Boylston Av., Seattle, Was.
May 11, 1905.
Being the oldest pioneer of the Martin stock of necessity places me in the van of the royal host of relatives. It is befitting then, that I from the milestone of 81 years, 7 months and 1 day, send down along the procession of the coming years my heartfelt greetings and fervent God bless you all. And though the experience of Moses, Psalm XC, 10, may be true of me in the main, yet I may perhaps, justly except the minor strain since many of the marks of senility are absent. I am not much stiffened, nor am I bent with the years. I walk without a cane, erect as ever,. and as a man ought, "who can lift up his face without spot." My head is not yet crowned like polished silver. My eyes seldom need the use of glasses. My brain works fairly well in grinding out common sense and sound judgment. My memory trips me only occasionally. My appetite and digestion are all that I could desire and my general health correspondingly good.
I love Mary. I love my home and all the very dear ones in it. I love the Church and all its blessed ordinances. I love everybody, and that includes any enemy, if I have one, and every neighbor of whom I have many. Above all I love God with all my heart, and, as the certain result, all my later years are the happiest of my life, because filled up with the blessed experiences that make character and with the inspiring hopes that swing wide the gates of immortality.
Now, that all the dear ones to whom these words may come may abide in the atmosphere of the Ninety-first Psalm and verify the 16th verse is the prayer of the affectionate writer,
J. N. Martin.206, p 24

• 1102 Boylston Ave., Seattle, Jan. 19, 1906
Heart deep greetings to all the honored Martin stock. If my arms were as long as my thoughts they would sweep around and gather you all in with a hearty “How do ye” embrace. The pleasure of hearing from the several households personally is no small satisfaction and evokes from my heart of hearts an earnest “God bless them all.” I may say that I am in health, carrying around on foot often miles a day an avoirdupois of 156 pounds, a pretty good weight for me. The religion I enjoy is of an inspiring character, enriched with a satisfaction growing and deepening with the years and brightening with the radiance from the gates of pearl. And now I wish all my Brothers and Wives and Babies to consider themselves invited to be in Seattle on the 2nd of next July, 1906, for r-e-a-s-o-n-s. Till then “Adios” and love to all.
J. N. Martin206, pp 65-6

• James N. Martin was chairman ancient languages, The College of the Pacific, then located in Santa Clara, now in Stockton, CA. The listing of his child Elvert is new to me.1358

• 1840 Census: Washington Pct., Ogle, Illinois. 1111001/001001.1344
• 1860 Census: Rockton, Winnebago, Illinois. Age 37, b Canada. M. E. Clergyman. $1000; $550.1359
• 1870 Census: Marysville, Yuba, California. Age 45, Minister, M. E. C., $600; $0, b Canada.1360
• 1880 Census: Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California. Age 56, b Canada. Prof. of Language. Parents b Canada.1361
• 1900 Census: Seattle, King, Washington. Age 75, b Oct 1824, Canada Eng. Professor, Greek & Latin. Father-in-law in household of Alexander Stewart.1362