• Rockford, March 8, 1905.
I am a son of John and Annis Martin, and I am proud to call them Father and Mother.206, p 9

• He was a minister and was the district superintendant of the Rock River Conference of the Methodist Church.1367

• He married our Family [7 marriages listed].592, p 28

• KINDLY SPIRIT OF REV. HENRY MARTIN TAKES ITS FLIGHT
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EARNEST PREACHER OF METHODIST FAITH FOR PERIOD OF SIXTY YEARS
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MAN OF STERLING WORTH
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Rev. Henry Leslie Martin D. D., prominent in the councils of the Methodist Episcopal church for sixty years, beloved by several generations of Rockford friends, passed peacefully from the land of questions to the world of answers yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock at his home of many years, 723 Mulberry street.
He had been failing rapidly during the past year from infirmities incidental to his advanced age and a fall last Thursday which fractured his left hip was followed by an attack of capillary pneumonia which brought his long and useful career to an end.
Mr. Martin was born at Prescott, Ontario, Canada, May 29, 1827, the son of John and Annis Martin, and was therefore 88 years of age. The family came to Ogle county by wagon in 1838 and located at Lighthouse Point, where the son passed his childhood. He graduated from Rock River seminary at Mt. Morris in 1847 and on Nov. 1, 1849, was joined to Miss Jane Goldthorp, a fellow student at “Old Sandstone,” in a union which only grew closer with the years until the passing on of the wife Jan. 10, 1914.
Converted at Early Age.
The pioneer boy had been converted at the age of ten years and had educated himself with a view to making school teaching his pursuit, but he felt a call to preach the gospel and was ordained as a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church by Rev. Luke Hitchcock and preached his first sermon at Lighthouse Point in 1852.
He was appointed to the pastorate at Lee Center in 1852, to Cherry Valley and New Milford in 1853, to Lighthouse Point in 1855, to Oregon in 1861 and to Sycamore in 1863. In 1865 he was recalled from the Christian Commission to serve as presiding elder of the Rockford district conference. He was assigned to the pulpit of the Winnebago Street church, Rockford in 1868 and to Waukegan in 1871.
In 1876 he was again chosen presiding elder of the Rockford district conference. He assumed the pastorate of the Embury church, Freeport, in 1880, was assigned to Mendota in 1883, to Lena in 1885, to Polo in 1890 and to the Ninth Street church, Rockford in 1891.
Closed Career at Rockford.
He was appointed pastor of Court Street church, Rockford, in 1893, served as city missionary in Rockford for the two years ending with 1898, became again associate pastor of Court Street church in 1900 and in 1902 retired from the active ministry after sixty years of devoted and effective service. He had owned property in Rockford and claimed it as his home since 1865.
He last attended divine service Sunday, Dec. 20, when he participated in the exercises to the extent of offering a prayer of unusual eloquence and fervor.
He was present at the organization of the Rock River M. E. conference in 1840, which was held in a tent pitched for the purpose on the old Hitt farm near Mt. Morris, at which Bishop Waugh presided.
He roomed when at college with James B. Farwell, who later won fame in Chicago mercantile circles, and was bound in ties of warm friendship to the late Robert R. Hitt and Shelby M. Cullom. He voted the straight republican ticket from the time of the origin of the party to the casting of his last ballot and was firm in the defense of its principles.
True in All Things.
Elder Martin was thoroughly genuine in every relation of life, full of faith in the gospel of Christ and tireless in his zeal to make “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”
He cared more for the coming of that kingdom than he did for the accumulation of wealth and would make any sacrifice, personal or material, for the advancement of the public good and the progress of the denomination of his choice.
Bred in the sturdy pioneer days which developed strong men, mentally and physically, he was well fitted to be a leader of men and there was never any doubt about the righteousness of any course or cause he favored.
His life and works, fill luminous page in the history of the Methodist Episcopal church in this section and his kindly nature and pure character endeared him t all, young or old, who came within the influence of this splendid Christian example. The world is better because he lived and loved and labored in it.
Four Children Survive.
Four children remain to mourn his departure, Mrs. Lois McCabe, whose devoted care during the last five years graced the sunset days of both parties, Mrs. William L. Andres, of Burlington, N. J., Joseph E. Martin, of Kansas City, and William L. Martin, of Minneapolis.
Two brothers also survive, Rev. John Wesley Martin and P. S. Martin, formerly of Rockford, both of whom reside in California. A third brother, Rev. James N. Martin, died at Seattle several years ago.
Funeral arrangements await the arrival, today, of the sons of the departed, but it is certain that the obsequies will be held at Court Street church and the remains will be laid to rest beside those of his life partner for so many years in the West Side cemetery.
The Henry L. Martin Chapter of the Methodist Brotherhood, of which deceased was pastor emeritus, will probably have charge of the services and Revs. Pooley and Frank D. Sheets have been asked to assist Rev. Frank N. Lynch in paying the last tribute of respect to the pioneer preacher they revered.601

• 1840 Census: Washington Pct., Ogle, Illinois. 1111001/001001.1344
• 1850 Census: Nashua, Ogle, Illinois. Age 23, born Canada. School teacher. Married in year. Living next door to parents.603,604
• 1880 Census: Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois. Age 53, b Canada. Grocer. Parents b Canada.1368