History
of Thomas C. Martell
Thomas C.
Martell was born April 4, 1823 in the city of New Castle, Emlyn,
in the county of Carmarthen, South Wales; becoming the son of John and Lucy
(Charles) Martell. His mother Lucy Charles Martell was the daughter of Mr.
William Charles of Deri, near St. Clears in said
county and niece of the renowned Rev. Thomas Charles of Bala,
North Wales, the institutor of the Sabbath School
in the principality of Wales.
(Baptist) He was the only member of his family to come to the United States.
Thomas C.
Martell received his education at the schools in his native country where he
learned the drapers’ trade. He became a clerk in one of the largest drapery
establishments in the world at that time, located in London
and after just four years advanced himself to the position of manager of a
large drapery establishment in Lanelly, South Wales where he remained for six years.
However
Elder Walter Roach, a missionary for the Mormon Church, was no doubt the
inductive factor that transformed Thomas C. Martell’s life into one of heroic
pioneering, of spirited leadership, and of great accomplishments. For it was
December 31, 1849, that Elder Walter Roach of Spanish Fork, Utah baptized great grandfather Martell at
the age of twenty-six a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints. And the following four years were spent serving an LDS mission while
still in his native country, establishing several branch churches there and
presiding over the Carmarthen Conference until his trek to America and into Utah in 1854.
After
sailing from Liverpool on the Golconda, landing
at New Orleans, by boat to St.
Louis and overland to Kansas City,
he joined a group of emigrants at the church headquarters and prepared himself
to make the trek across the plains to Salt
Lake City. It was a courageous trek by ox team under
the leadership of Job Smith; a story of struggle and hardship which demanded
faith, strength and courage from those pioneers. Thomas C. Martell was chosen
and served as Captain of the Guard during the trip.
He reached Salt Lake City that fall and remained there just two
years, engaged in hauling salt from the lake and selling it in Utah County.
Then in 1856 he settled in Spanish Fork.
Thomas C.
Martell was a very religious leader and was acclaimed by the residents of
Spanish Fork and neighboring communities for his devout faith. Numerous
incidents have been held sacred and related down through generations by
families who have had seemingly fatal illnesses befall one of their members;
Brother Martell was called upon to administer to them and through his
tremendous faith he would speak words of encouragement, assuring them of
recuperations and through the will of God, health was again restored to acres
of people who it was feared should die.
Besides
fulfilling two missions himself, Grandfather Martell’s three sons all fulfilled
missions for the Mormon Church.
Thomas C.
Martell was given a blessing by one of the Patriarchs of the Mormon Church
which stated that he should have control over the elements of the earth. While
in route to his second mission to Wales in 1875, the boat came into
difficulty and it was feared by all the people aboard that they would be
drowned. Remembering the blessing which had been given to Mr. Martell, his
missionary companion, Elder Thomas Evans, requested that he try stopping the
storm. Great grandfather Martell quietly knelt in prayer at the edge of the boat, then arose to his feet and again it was the will of
the Lord for the storm disappeared from their course.
No doubt
interlocking with Thomas C. Martell’s great religious devotion was his love for
the Welch people. He was very instrumental in establishing the Cambrian Society
in Spanish Fork and presided as President of the organization for many years
there, taking charge of the weekly meetings which were held every Sunday night;
and the main activities at these meetings were translating the Bible teachings
from Welch to English and beautiful spirited singing for hours of all their
favorite Welch songs. Mr. Martell was a great lover of the Welch people here in
America,
but used often. A great deal of his life was devoted to the cultural
improvement of his Welch people, and the Welch people of Spanish Fork are known
the country over for their fine voices and love for music.
Thomas C.
Martell also took a great interest in civic affairs. He assisted in establishing
the first co-operative store in Utah
County on March 23, 1868.
T. C. Martell was appointed sales manager and general manager of the business
of Big Co-op Store. The business prospered exceedingly under his able
management. He also helped establish a co-operative saw mill, which produced a
large art of the lumber used in erecting houses and public buildings in Spanish
Fork. For a number of years he was a member of the City Council and in the
early days served for some time as Alderman. He was also on the School Board
for more than twelve years, and also Justice of the Peace. He assisted in
building the first school house in Spanish Fork, and also the first city hall-
known as Social Hall- which was used for many years for
all meetings of a public character. He also took an active part in establishing
the East Bench Canal Company, of which he was secretary for a number of years,
and was also secretary of the West Field Irrigation Company and the Building
Society of Spanish Fork. Thomas C. Martell was noted for his beautiful
penmanship and this, no doubt, was one of the important factors governing his
installation as secretary of these numerous organizations. Thomas C. Martell’s
name also appeared among the organizers of the first theatrical company in
Southern Utah County and he took part in their performance. He was also owner
of a fine 160 acre farm and had one of the most comfortable homes in Spanish
Fork- of which he was justly proud.
Thomas
Martell was a man of tall stature, broad shoulders and a trim body. He carried
his head erect denoting dignity and demanding respect. He was very fastidious
about his appearance. His full head and beard of wavy auburn hair were always
kept well brushed and trimmed. He had sparkling eyes from which intelligence
radiated and he was honest, energetic, dependable, and willing to be a friend
to everyone.
Four years
after arriving in this country on January 15, 1858, our subject married Eliza
Jenkins who was the daughter of Morris and Margaret (Reese) Jenkins, natives of
South Wales. Eliza Jenkins Martell came to Utah in 1856 with her
parents. She was known as a very beautiful woman with rich glossy dark hair, a
fair creamy complexion and rosy cheeks. She was also noted for her charming
personality. On October 2, 1880, Eliza Jenkins Martell died from complications
following the birth of her tenth child, thus preceding her husband in death by
twenty-four years.
From a
family of ten children, seven were reared to maturity, and two are now living
(this was written and presented on July, 1953). They are:
Margaret “Magg” Martell-wife of John Robertson and
Eve
Martell-wife of Benjamin F. Hodson
Deceased
are:
Elizabeth Margaretta-wife of Henry A. Gardner
Thomas
Charles, who died while still a child
Morris
Jenkins, my grandfather who married Mary Almira Riley
William
Charles, whose wife was Mahala Kearns
Lucy Ann,
died as a child
Catherine,
also died in infancy
James A.,
who married Sarah Morgan and later married Iva Winward
Mary Ellen
“Mell” Martell-wife of Jasper Bird
His
posterity includes (in 1953) thirty-four grandchildren, eighty-five great
grandchildren and over one hundred great grand-children.
Thomas C.
Martell died suddenly on September 23, 1905 in Spanish Fork, Utah, having been blessed with good health
until just a few hours before his death.
Oh,
pioneer, in all you found to do,
You builded better than you knew;
For guided
by the architect supreme,
The desert
lands became a golden dream.
You started
churches, schools and tilled the soil,
Each disappointing year but challenge to your toil.
With spirit
that undaunted saw afar,
With faith
in God, and ever guiding star,
This empire
that you founded yields
A monument to all your high ideals.
Your
parentage, your teachings so divine,
Became this
heritage of mine,
Entrusted
now to me I only ask,
That I
prove worthy of this sacred task.
To carry on
with eager faithful hands,
O, Mother,
Father of these western lands;
And if the
world shall find my standards true,
In
humbleness, all grace I give to you.
Dated: July
19, 1953
-Merling D. Clyde
