Martin Plymire
In so brief a sketch as this must of necessity be, the biographer finds it difficult to do justice to the career of a man who has led an active and busy life, who has attained a gratifying degree of success in his chosen vocation and at the same time attained a position of relative distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. Peculiar interest attaches to the subject of this sketch in that he can well claim to be a self-made man, one who by his own efiforts has raised himself from an humble beginning to one of the most prominent citizens of Jasper township, Fayette county, Ohio.
Martin Plymire. who owns a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres located on the Palmer road four miles from Washington, was born near Sabina, this state, on December 4, 1852, being a son of John and Margaret (Wilson) Plymire. The former was a native of Pennsylvania and, when not more than a boy, came to this county in company with several of his brothers who came here to locate. He was the father of a family of ten children, namely; William, Mary (Mrs. Hage), Susan, Samuel and Philip who live in Sabina; Martin, the immediate subject of this sketch; Joshua, living at Goldsmith, Indiana; John W., David, and Ormind, deceased, who was the wife of John Marsh living near Sabina. She was the mother of three children, the eldest of whom was her son Ora, who married.
When a boy, Martin Plymire attended the school of the neighborhood, commonly known as the Locust Grove school. Here he received his elementary education, later attending Sabina high school. He fitted himself for a teacher and for four years was engaged as an instructor of youth. However, this profession was not entirely to his liking and inasmuch as his earliest training had been in the work that relates to a farm he soon turned his attention to agriculture and in that line has been eminently successful.
On July 13, 1876, Mr. Plymire was united in marriage with Sarah Coil, daughter of Elias and Mahala (Rankin) Coil, both of whom were early settlers of the county, having come from their native state of Virginia. The mother was one of the early and faithful members of the Sugar Creek church. To Mr. and Mrs. Plymire have been born four children, Mary E., Elmer and Cora, remaining at home, while Orvil, the youngest, married Osie Ford and lives on the farm. All of Mr. Plymire's children went when small to the Buck school, later attending at Camp View. The family is regarded as one of the leading ones of the community and its members are highly respected by a large circle of friends. Mr. Plymire carries on general farming and also devotes considerable attention to the raising of live stock, in which branch of agricultural work he is highly successful. The family are members of the Methodist Protestant church and are active in circles of the local organization. Politically, Mr. Plymire has always given his support to the Republican party and while never having been an aspirant to office, has always taken a quiet interest in the affairs of his chosen party. While giving himself primarily to forwarding the interests of himself and those nearest to him, he has ever borne in mind his duty to his fellow men and has always been counted upon in the front ranks of those desiring the best good for the community. Strong and quiet in his relations with his fellow men, he has made his presence felt in the community and has gained the good will of all those with whom he came in contact. His reputation among men for integrity and high character is something for which any man might worthily aspire. Consequently, his influence for good in the general life of the community is most potent and he is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is generally held.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)