THOMAS MARTINDELL. Among the wealthy, enterprising and generally respected citizens of East Bethlehem township, none are more favorably known than this prominent agriculturist. He is a native of the county, born October 28, 1824, in West Pike Run township, where he was reared on his father's farm, and educated at the subscription schools of the vicinity, and a select school in Centreville, taught by John Reid. Thomas Martindell, his grandfather, was of English descent, and one of the early settlers of Bucks county, Penn., where he passed almost his entire life, dying at the advanced age of ninety-five years. His wife was Mary Booth, who was descended from an old and well-known family of Bucks county. Thomas and Mary Martindell were the parents of the following children, all now deceased: Sarah (who married John Van Horn), Rebecca, Mary and William. William Martindell was born September 6, 1793, in Bucks county, Penn., where he was reared to farming pursuits. When a young man he removed to and settled in West Pike Run township, this county, where he learned shoemaking, although he never worked much at the trade, his time and attention being too much taken up on the farm. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Fleming, in his lifetime a prominent farmer of Washington county, and the young couple then took up their home on a farm in West Pike Run township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Their children were Mary Ann (Mrs. McMillan), Catherine (Mrs. Baker) and Thomas. The mother of this family was called from earth April 7, 1833, the father April 6, 1852; he was a Quaker in religious faith, in politics a member of the Whig party. Thomas Martindell left the old paternal home in 1860 to battle with the world on his own merits. He first located in Washington borough, and just previous thereto had been elected to the office of county treasurer by the Republican party. He served one term with complete satisfaction to his constituents, but declined renomination. He was married November 28, 1855, by Rev. George Hudson, to Eliza, daughter of John Thompson, of East Bethlehem township, and four children were born to them, of whom the following is a brief record: John William was educated at Washington and Jefferson College and at Iron City Business College, Pittsburgh; he studied law, was admitted to the bar in Washington county, and is now a rising attorney in Eureka, Kans.; he married Nellie Levering, and they have one son, Donald. Lawrence V. was also educated at Washington and Jefferson College, and also at Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburgh, and is now a progressive young farmer in East Bethlehem township; he married Annie Crawford, and they have one daughter, Fay Louise. Ruth Annetta and Mary P. were graduated in 1883; Ruth Annetta was married December 28, 1892, to John B. Evans; she is a lady of culture, educated at the Washington Female Seminary. Mary P., also a graduate of the Washington Female Seminary, married William Barnard, and they have one son, Loyal M. The family are all members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Martindell's farm consists of nearly 800 acres of the finest arable land in Washington county, all in the very best state of cultivation, where in addition to general farming he is considerably interested in the live-stock business. Thereon stand many commodious and handsome buildings, including an elegant residence erected in 1862, surrounded with carefully kept grounds, all combined bearing evidence of refinement and prosperity.

Text taken from page 35 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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