H.W. MARTIN & SON
10553 Swamp Road, Hebron, Ohio  43025    Tel: (740) 928-4000   Fax: (740) 928-4008
THE HISTORY OF THE MARTIN FARM AND THE FORMATION OF             
                    H. W. MARTIN & SON CO.


In April of 1885, Abram Lewis Martin of Fredericktown, Ohio purchased from the estate of Samuel Dewees a 340 acre
farm in Hebron Ohio.  During the next 40 years he and his family worked the farm.  In 1925 Abram Lewis split his  
farm between his sons Harold Wise and Avery Joseph.  Harold Wise's share is still in the family, now owned by his  
great grandson, H. Jeffrey Martin and his wife Christine and their children, Heather, Andrea and Christopher.

Harold Wise and his wife Elta, farmed his land and founded the H. W. Martin & Son Company in 1936 by  
marketing hybrid seed corn and clovers.  They had four children that helped on the farm, Lewis, Harold Robert, Mary
Louise and Mildred.  Due to the untimely death of Harold Wise, in a 1939 auto accident, his youngest son, Harold          
Robert, then a junior at The Ohio State University, stepped in to help operate the business with his mother.  As the      
years passed, the farm and seed business grew.  H. Robert married and purchased the farm directly across the road   
from the business.  H. Robert and his wife Doris, had two children, Harold William and Janice.

With H. Robert's interest in agriculture, he became a leader in the research and introduction of hybrid corn
varieties and the development of small grain, soybean and forage crop varieties in Licking County, Ohio.  His
endeavors gave him the opportunity to expand his business beyond Licking County to several surrounding states.

In 1966, after years working as a youth with his father, receiving a degree in Agronomy from The Ohio State            
University, and completing his military service, Harold William joined his father and grandmother in the business
full-time.  With Harold Robert selling seed and Harold William involved in the crop planning and growing, the  
business expanded and  farm chemicals were added to the list of products sold to compliments seed sales.

After Elta's retirement, Harold William purchased his grandmothers share of the business and over time took on  
the roll of President of the company.  Harold William is the 4th generation of the family to work on the farm and soon  
was able to contribute to the growth of the operations, expanding the farm acreage and improving the yields of the  
crops grown by implementing many new and advanced growing methods and techniques.  H. Robert was a strong  
promoter of conservation methods: No-till farming, planting cover crops and testing herbicides for cost
effectiveness.  Prior to his death in 1995, H. Robert was one of the first inductees into the 1994 Licking County
Agriculture Hall of Fame.

The 5th generation of the family, H. Jeffrey and Robert D. also worked on the farm as youths and after finishing
college, Jeffrey at The Ohio State University and Robert at Wilmington College joined the company.  Jeff handles the   
sales, warehouse and deliveries and Robert handles the crops and livestock.

Currently the company sells the items listed on the home page, livestock, excavating services and farms
approximately 2100 acres of family and rented land.

Harold William lives in Millersport with his wife, Mary Jane, who is a substitute teacher.  He is a member of The
Professional Agrarian Club, where he just finished serving as President, Ohio Quarter Horse Association and
American
Quarter Horse Association, Southwest Licking Historical Society and member of Kirkersville United Methodist Church.

Jeffrey resides across from the business, on the original farm with his wife Christine and their children, Heather,
Andrea and Christopher.  Christine works in the company office with Jeff and as a substitute teacher/secretary for
the school district.  They are members of The Agrarian Club, Licking County Agronomy Committee, Farm Bureau,
4-H, 4-H advisors, Ohio Quarter Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Ohio Palomino Horse
Association, PTO, Licking County Horse and Pony Council and Youth Advisors.  Jeff serves as a member of the Board
of directors for the Ohio Seed Improvement, Advanced Genetics and Ohio Foundation Seeds.  He also serves on a
number of committees for these associations.  They are also members of the Kirkersville United Methodist Church.

Robert lives in Millersport.  He is a member of The Professional Agrarian Club, currently serves as President of the
Licking County Farm Bureau, works on the Tri-County Field Day Committee and is a member of Kerkersville United
Methodist Church.

H. W. Martin & Son Company is proud to be a charter member of the Advanced Genetics Inc. and members of
Ohio Seed Improvement Association and Ohio Foundation Seeds.