Over a century of farming for the Martin family

KELSEY BENT

Marmeadow Farms Ltd. is a family-owned dairy operation in Britton, Perth County. The farm is currently owned by fourth-generation farmers Bob and Susan Martin, and operated by fifth-generation farmers, Tim and Jenn Martin.

The farm was purchased in 1893 by Ezekiel Martin, Bob’s grandfather, and it has remained in the Martin family name for 129 years.

As far back as anyone can remember, the Martin farmers have always had livestock.

Before falling under Martin ownership, this plot of land only had two other owners.

Two generations of the Alexander family owned the land from 1854-93 when they sold to Ezekiel.

Bob recalls that his ancestors immigrated from Ireland in the early 1860s and settled in Edgecomb (located at the corner of Line 72 and Road 131).

He recalls they owned a small farm there before purchasing their second farm in Britton.

Ezekiel Martin and his large family – wife, four sons and five daughters – would farm the property until he passed away in 1912. His son, William Martin, bought the property and continued to farm until he passed away in 1937. His brother, David Martin, who was Bob’s father, took over the farm while also operating a threshing machine syndicate.

It is said that this machine traveled the neighbourhood through summer and winter.

David lived on the farm until 1948 when he sold it to his nephew, Clarence B. Robinson. Although still related to the family, this was the first time in 55 years that this farm was not owned by a Martin.

David and his family moved across the road where they raised their family of three sons and two daughters.

David’s son, Bob, married Susan (Long) in 1971. Bob had worked with his Uncle Clar- ence for many years and eventually had the opportunity to buy the farm. The two lived together for two years in Listowel, before they moved in with their relatives while they built their home elsewhere.

“We just moved in with them, it’s funny to think about that now,” Susan said in an interview.

Bob explained that his aunt and uncle were building a house in Britton, so they lived together for a couple of months until it was completed. Bob and Susan took ownership of the farm in April 1973. That summer, Bob gutted the tie-stall barn and reconfigured it.

“The original barn was first set up for 14 cows,” he said.

“I took everything out of the inside and lowered the floor because the ceiling was quite low, you could hardly stand up straight. I built the milk house and changed the barn to have two long rows and set it up for 40 cows.”

Only two years later, Bob added a silo. Between 1978-82, Bob had built additions to the barn on either side, as well as a shed. “The only thing that is still here is the silo,” Tim said. “The rest is all new.”

Barn Fire

On Sunday, April 25, 1993, Bob and his children had left the farm to go to church. Susan was at the Palmerston Hospital, where she worked as a nurse.

“When they came out of the church they saw the fire truck rush by and when they came home they saw the barn on fire,” Susan said. Bob said his brother, who lived across the road, was the first one to see the smoke. He went over to the barn and saw that smoke was coming from the top of the straw mow.

“It was just burning on top of the mow, so he went and got the fire extinguisher, and as soon as he hit it with the fire extinguished it just spread,” Bob said. “The fire burned down into the middle of the hay mow and just grew.”

At this point all the neighbours had come to the farm to help get the cows out, as well as the fire department. Despite their efforts, the barn was completely lost, and Bob said the animals that did survive died within the year.

“There were two doors open See MARTIN page 4

Ready to move from that ride-around mower to a real working tractor? Step up to the Massey Ferguson® GC1700 Series, with the largest engine in its class, professional quality mowing deck - and two models that come with a front end loader and backhoe standard. See how this subcompact’s integrated loader joystick and quick on/off implements make every job easier and more fun.