Jesse Martin, son of Reuben Martin and Delilah Morris was born in Green County, Kentucky.  The published family history reported he was born in 1823; the date carved on his tombstone is April 8, 1824. The Martins left Kentucky in 1845 and settled in McDonough County, Illinois. Four years later Jesse married Paulina Coe Kirk. McDonough County marriage license #864 was issued on December 1, 1849, to Jesse Martin and Miss Paulina C. Kirk.  Accompanying the license was a note written by Dickson Kirk on November 27th, witnessed by Reuben Martin Jr. (Jesse's brother) and George Ray.  The note gave Dickson's permission for his daughter to marry. Marriage Documents Jesse's elder brother, William, had married Paulina's elder sister, Martha Caroline, before both families left Kentucky. We believe that Jesse and Paulina initially lived with his parents.  He later purchased 160 acres in Section 26 of Hire Township.  Their first home on that property was a log house which was later replaced. In 1855 both Jesse and Paulina were witnesses at The Dye Murder Trial. They spent the rest of their lives in Hire Township.  It's poignant to note that Jesse passed away on March 23, 1908, less than two months after Paulina's death. They are both buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Colchester, McDonough County.   Clipping from the collection of Okle Campbell Browning

The Martin children were probably all born in Hire Township:

i.	Francis Marion Martin, born November 6, 1850, died April 29, 1923, at Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri.  He married Sarah S. Westfall about August 24, 1871.  The daughter of Beverly Westfall and Ellen Hays, Sarah was born in McDonough County on January 16, 1851.  She died June 28, 1926, at Maryville.  Both are buried at Miriam Cemetery, Maryville.
ii.	John Calvin Martin, born in 1852.
iii.	Mary Elizabeth Martin, born in 1854.
iv.	Rachel Penelope "Nellie" Martin, born in 1856.
v.	James Douglas Martin, born in 1858.
vi.	Stillborn infant son, 1861, burial location undetermined.
vii.	William Franklin Martin, born in 1862.
viii.	Joseph Edward Martin, born December 11, 1864, died September 15, 1950, in McDonough County, burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
ix.	Lucy Adeline Martin, born in 1867.
x.	Henry Kirk Martin, born November 13, 1869.  He died March 11, 1943, died in McDonough County near Colchester, burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
xi.	Susan Alice Martin, born May 8, 1873, died January 19, 1935, at Colchester, burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Household of Reuben Martin
Males 15 thru 19 - 3
Males 30 thru 39 - 1
Females 50 thru 59 - 1
Total - 5
Persons employed in agriculture - 3

Rhuben Marten, 49, male, farmer, value of real estate 500, born VA
Delila, 60, female, born VA
Jore ?, 17, male, farmer, born KY [probably Jesse]
Lina, 18, female, born KY

Jesse Marten, 36, male, farmer, value of real estate 1900, value of personal estate 425, born KY
Paulina, 27, female, born KY
Frances M, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
John C, 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary E, 5, female, born IL
Rachael, 4, female, born IL
James, 1, male, born IL

Martin, Jesse, white, male, 56, married, farmer, born KY, both parents born VA
Paulina, white, female, 47, wife, married, keeps house, born KY, both parents born KY
William, white, male, 18, son, single, works on farm, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Joseph E, white, male, 15, son, single, helps on farm, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Lucy A, white, female, 13, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Henry K, white, male, 10, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Susan A, white, female, 7, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY

Martin, Jessee, head, white, male, Apr 1824, 76, married for 50 years, born KY, both parents born VA, retired farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his home free of mortgage

Paulina, wife, white, female, Nov 1832, 67, married for 50 years; mother of 10 children, all living; born KY, both parents born KY, could read, write and speak English

Henry, son, white, male, Nov 1869 ? [looks like 79 with 6 written over the 7], 30, single, born IL, both parents born KY, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 55

Alice, daughter, white, female, Apr 1873, 27, single, born IL, both parents born KY, could read, write and speak English