A Collection of Memories: A History of Armstrong County, 1876-1965 Page: 37
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Armstrong County
to 18 men set out in the early spring gener-
ally with 2 wagons, one a chuck wagon and
cook, the other, a wagon with bed rolls and
personal effects of the crew. They made
their way across the range, branding cat-
tle, gathering shippers or what ever need-
ed to be done to the stock, and the wagon
boss was a busy man, for this lasted till
late December.
Though Jeff was a busy man, he payed
court to young and beautiful Nora Baker,
She had made a much better impression on
him than he had her at their first meeting
and they eventually married Dec. 8, 1896.
When Jeff and Nora were married in.
1896, he was made manager of the JJ
Ranch. This was the branch of the JA
that was used for the registered herd.
The headquarters for this ranch were on
Rush Creek, where the present Newton
Harrell headquarters are located.
About 1900 Jeff decided to 4uit the J.A.
and move to Claude. He and his brother
Johnny went into partnership and opened
the Claude Mercentile in 1904. In 1904
Charles Goodnight sold 4 buffaloes to be
shipped to Wyoming, the first ones to be
shipped by rail, and Jeff was called to
load them. One of the bulls was a large
contrary brute and it took Jeff and his
men three days to get him to the stock-
yards and ready him to load.
After this was accomplished and they put
him in the car, he did not stop, he merely
pushed the sides out, and jumped to the
ground and ran away, and 2 or 3 days more
were required to get him back; however the
next time he was anchored to the cars with
ropes and was shipped off.
The years between 1900 and 1913 were hap-
py ones for Jeff and Nora Martin. Their
business prospered and Jeff served a twc
year term as county sheriff solely to cap-
ture a gang of cow thieves that were oper-
ating in the country, for he could not toler-
ate a thief to go unpunished. Their three
sons were born during this time.
In 1913, the mercantile business of Jeff and
Johnny's burned down, and tey did not go
back in partnership. Instead, Jeff built his
own business and went into the grocery bus-
iness. He continued in this store until 1919,
at which time he sold out to the late Charles
Patterson.
Jeff and Nora were both ready to get intoranching business. This time they went to
Southern New Mexico, about fifty miles south
of Lordsburg. Here they bought the 4/h
brand and started their ranch life again. As
their sons grew up, they too, started their
own ranches. In 1928, Jeff bought a fine
home in Rodeo, New Mexico and he and Nora
moved there and left ranch operations to
their sons. They lived here until they were
called to their rewards. Jeff passed away
in February of 1938. Nora passed away in
September 1953.
By Forest Bennet
The three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff D.
Martin are Beuford, Talbert and Driscoll J.
Beuford was born July 21, 1900, and mar-
ried Vivian Black on December 20, 1923, at
Silver City, N.M. She was born March 28,
1906, at Hare, Texas. Their children are
Norene and Rita Verne. They reside in Ro-
deo, N.M.
Talbert was born August 9, 1905, and mar-
ried Marguerite Blackwell July 14, 1927,
He passed away July 15, 1928, at Douglas,
Arizona.
Driscoll J. was born January 20, 1907,
and married Alice Yarbrough on October
30, 1928. He passed away February 23, 1965.
Their children are Nancy Lee and Norma
Jean. She continues to live in their home
near Rodeo, N.M.
-- Avis Christian Nelson
The Johnny Martin Family
J. W. or "Johnny" Martin was born in
San Antonio, Texas, in 1867, and came to
work for the JA ranch with his brother Jeff
in 1887. When Goodnight and Adair dis-
solved partnership Johnny went with the
Goodnight ranch as a foreman.
He also established a small ranch of his
own on McClellan Creek.
When Goodnight sold the Cross J and TA
cattle, Johnny became a junior partner with
him,
In the same year, 1895, he was married
to Col. Goodnight's niece, Viola McLaren.
He built a ranch home on Salt Fork for his
bride.
Mrs. Martin came to make her home with
the Goodnights when she was thirteenyears
old, with her three brothers Robert, Walter
and Charlie. She was sent to the Atheneunm,
a girls' school in Columbia, Tennessee, forseven years. After graduation she made
her home with her Uncle Charlie and Aunt
Mary until her marriage. She was born37
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Armstrong County Historical Society. A Collection of Memories: A History of Armstrong County, 1876-1965, book, 1965; Hereford, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91040/m1/45/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .