Page 151 - Arkansas Confederate Women

SKETCH OF MRS. JARED C. MARTIN.

By Miss Mollie D. Martin, of Little Bock.

Mrs. Mary Martin was born near Gallatin, Tenn., January
10, 1809. Her parents, John and Sarah Douglass, with other
relatives came in a keel boat to Arkansas territory in 1819.
They settled near where Little Bock has since been built. There
was only one little log cabin here then, and it was occupied by
the man who ran the ferry boat, and was near a spring that

is in the old state house grounds.

In this sparsely settled country Mary Douglass grew up.
She improved the few opportunities of attending the country
schools ; she had a remarkable memory, and could talk for hours
of the old settlers, all over the State, and of her large connec-
tion in Tennessee. Here in her happy home she was married
to Jared C. Martin, January 25, 1827. They built a comfor-
table home in Pulaski county and raised a large family. Her
husband died November 7, 1857, and the care of her children
and slaves devolved on her; she bravely did her best to make
all dependent on her comfortable and happy. She was a sin-
cere Christian, and sang sweet old sacred songs as she went
about her household work. Her beloved father, John Douglass,
died January, 1861. She was very desolate with husband and
father both gone; but the dark days of war came soon and there
was not time to think of self, or our own trouble. Her hus-
band had been a patriotic, public spirited man, and had often,
said to her that he feared a Civil war was coming soon, and he
thought a war with some foreign nation would be a blessing in
uniting the people of the United States. She loved quiet and
peace, and the idea of war was dreadful, but when it came
there was no one more willing to do all she could for the Con-
federate soldiers. Her home was just two miles from Little
Eock, near the river. The Confederate army often camped in
a wooded part of the farm; they called the place Camp Texas.
Her home was a home for Confederate soldiers and often it was