Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/106
the latter county situated in the southwestern part of the state, bordering North Carolina. There his father, William Martin, was born, son of Riley Martin, a native of eastern Virginia. Riley Martin was born in 1795. moved to Elk Creek when young, and there died in 1875. He married (first) a Miss Vaught, (second) Patsy Wright, who bore him four children, one of whom, Joshua. is yet living at Rural Retreat. Virginia. The Martins came to Virginia from Ireland, while Dr. Martin's maternal ancestors, the Cornetts (originally Connaught), came from Scotland.
William Martin, son of Riley Martin, was born at Elk Creek, Virginia, and died in Kentucky. He was a carpenter and builder, removing to Kentucky several years after the war ended. He served in the Confederate army for four years and bore his full share of the danger and privation of that period. After the war he returned to Elk Creek, resumed his trade, and there resided until his removal to Kentucky. He married, in 1866. Sarah, born at Elk Creek. daughter of Alfred Cornett, also born there, on July 1, 1818. Alfred Cornett married, in Alfred Cornett married, in 1836, Elizabeth Russell, who died aged eighty-five years. he living to the age of eighty-seven years. They had children: Kyre, deceased: Sindy or Lucindy; Sarah; Rosa, deceased; Adeline, Orleans, Martha, Rebecca, Armand, Fleming, Alice, and Reuben, deceased. Alfred Cornett was a farmer, and his sons all served in the Confederate army. William and Sarah (Cornett Martin had two children, a son and a daughter: Betty, born April 29, 1867, married John F. Parks, and resides at Flat Ridge, Grayson county, Virginia, and Alexander L.
Dr. Alexander L. Martin, only son of William and Sarah (Cornett) Martin, was born at Elk Creek, Grayson county, Virginia. April 24, 1869. He obtained a good education in the Grayson county schools, and Elk Creek Academy, then, having decided upon medicine as a profession, entered the Medical College of Virginia, and was there graduated M. D., April 2, 1895. On May 10, 1895, he passed the required examination before the state board of medical examiners and soon afterward located at Elk Creek. He continued in successful practice there for thirteen years, then removed to Richmond, where he began general practice, May 10, 1907, at No. 815 Fourth avenue. Highland Park. He has gained a secure place in public esteem and is rated an honorable, skillful and reliable physician. Dr. Martin is a member of the Masonic order, is an Odd Fellow, belonging to lodge and encampment, a Modern Woodman, a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and of the Order of Owls. In political faith he is a Democrat, and in religious affiliation a Baptist.
Dr. Martin married, at Elk Creek, May 22, 1895. Nettie J. Rhudy, born there November 5, 1872, daughter of William F. and Callie (Cornett) Rhudy, both of Elk Creek. William F. Rhudy, a farmer and veteran of the Confederacy, died in 1912, aged sixty-nine years. His wife survives him. Children of Dr. Alexander L. Martin and his wife, Nettie J. (Rhudy) Martin: Alexander L. Jr., born July 9, 1903: Birchie Fay, born November 24, 1906.
Miss Grace M. Martin, daughter of George W. Martin, was born November 1. 1890, at Elk Creek, Virginia, and was adopted by Dr. A. L. Martin in 1896. Worley S. Cornett, son of Fleming Cornett, was born at Elk Creek, Virginia, August 10; 1892, and was adopted by Dr. A. L. Martin in 1900, and was educated at Richmond, Virginia
John David Hamaker, D. D. The first record of the Hamaker family in America as far as authentically known is of two brothers, John Hubert, aged twenty-seven years (1740) and David, aged twenty-three years, who arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the good ship. "Samuel and Elizabeth," in 1740. These brothers settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, left a numerous posterity which is represented at the present time (1915) in various states of the Union, engaged in the various trades and professions, and it is thought that all bearing the name are descended from these two brothers. Wherever the name is found the men and women bearing it have upheld the honor and dignity of the progenitors. Eighteen of the name are found on the revolutionary records at Washington, D. C., one of whom was the great-grandfather of Rev. John D. Hamaker, of this chronicle.
Rev. John David Hamaker was born in