Joseph Martin's Stations
Joseph Martin, Jr worked as an Indian Agent for several States during the American Founding.
In addition to acting as a frontier leader, Martin also served in the State Assemblies of Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.
Note: Today’s subject is unrelated to Joseph Plumb Martin, the noted diarist from Maine.
Joseph Martin, Jr.
Joseph Martin, Jr. was born into an elite Virginia family, but decided to dedicate his life to adventuring out west.
Martin left home and joined a group that established Powell’s Valley in modern day Kentucky.
This was the first settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, even beating Daniel Boone to the area.
Martin’s Stations
Joseph built Martin’s Station as a stopping place for travelers heading west to rest and get supplies.
Unfortunately, the fort was destroyed by an attacking group of Native Americans.
Just as the American Revolutionary War broke out, Joseph built a second Martin’s Station.
This one was also destroyed.
Finally, Martin built a third station that he named after himself (this one right on the Wilderness Road) as the Revolution came to a close.
The last fort survived for many years.
Indian Agent
During the war, Martin was named Indian Agent for the State of Virginia.
In this office, he dealt closely with the Cherokee Nation.
Six years into his service, Joseph was also given this position by North Carolina. He held both offices simultaneously for another six years.
Martin’s most notable contribution to the American Revolution came during this time. Joseph was able to keep the Native Americans in the Southwest neutral in the war. This necessary move opened the Patriots up to win several key victories in the final year of hostilities.
Three Assemblies
Interestingly, while working for both Virginia and North Carolina, Martin was elected to the Georgia Assembly.
Shortly after leaving that legislature, he was elected to the North Carolina Ratification Convention.
This was followed by several years in the Virginia Assembly!
National Rejection
When the United States first began to meet under the Constitution, Joseph Martin fully expected to be selected as the first Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
Regrettably, he did not receive this position.
This was due mostly to a popular contemporary view that he was too lenient on Native American tribes.
There seems to be some truth to this, as he did his best to treat them fairly, but it overlooks the several times he fought with them on the frontier.
In the end, Martin had the last laugh. In 1793, he was commissioned as a Brigadier General in the Virginia State Militia.
If you’d like to read about other FOUNDERS OF KENTUCKY, check out this article:
The Midnight Ride of Jack Jouett
John Filson Puts Cincinnati (And Daniel Boone) on the Map
Richard Henderson, The Transylvania Company and the Cumberland Compact
Want to learn more about the effects of the War of Independence on Native American Nations?
‘Native Americans in the American Revolution’ looks at how the definition of what it meant to be Native American was effected during the war.
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