The quiet little town with a population of about 175 is about 16 miles south of Monroe along the Pecatonica River.
Martintown, however, was once a busy little community in Green County's southwest edge.
The village was founded by Nathaniel Martin and came to be called "Martintown" in 1888 when the railroad reached the community. Martin was such a wealthy man that he was able to give 80 acres to each of his three children who lived to adulthood. His daughter, Nellie, and her husband, John Warner, farmed the land along the northern bank of the Pecatonica River, directly across from the main part of the village.
Like many small villages that sprung up in the mid- to late 1800s, everything people needed to get by was found in the village. Travel from village to village was not an easy journey. Trips to bigger cities, such as Monroe, could take several hours by wagon and often times the roads weren't in good condition. Rain, snow and cold temperatures made traveling even more difficult.
Martintown once included a depot, a casket company and several stores.
Martin built the Martintown Community Church in 1879 for $1,200. The church was the only public meeting place in the village. It remains the only church in Cadiz township.
Martintown, however, was once a busy little community in Green County's southwest edge.
The village was founded by Nathaniel Martin and came to be called "Martintown" in 1888 when the railroad reached the community. Martin was such a wealthy man that he was able to give 80 acres to each of his three children who lived to adulthood. His daughter, Nellie, and her husband, John Warner, farmed the land along the northern bank of the Pecatonica River, directly across from the main part of the village.
Like many small villages that sprung up in the mid- to late 1800s, everything people needed to get by was found in the village. Travel from village to village was not an easy journey. Trips to bigger cities, such as Monroe, could take several hours by wagon and often times the roads weren't in good condition. Rain, snow and cold temperatures made traveling even more difficult.
Martintown once included a depot, a casket company and several stores.
Martin built the Martintown Community Church in 1879 for $1,200. The church was the only public meeting place in the village. It remains the only church in Cadiz township.