Martin V. Ensley, retired farmer, is a native of Shelby County, Ind., born on the 19th day of December, 1830. Isaac Ensley, the father of Martin V. Ensley, was born in New York, and accompanied his parents to Shelby County, Ind., where he grew to manhood. He married, in that county, Martha A. Brown, daughter of Harvey and Patience Brown, who were among the earliest settlers in Jackson Township. Isaac and Patience Ensley were the parents of the following children, viz.: Pauline, Bailor and Martin V., the subject, being the only member of the family now living. Mr. Ensley died in 1832. Mrs. Ensley subsequently married Hugh Smiley, an early schoolteacher of Johnson County. She departed this life in May, 1842. Being thus early deprived of his only friend and protector, young Martin Ensley was placed under the especial care of a guardian, John J. Lewis, and for two or three years thereafter was compelled to work from place to place by the month, in order to obtain a livelihood. In 1849, when nineteen years of age, he began farming for himself on the old home place, and on March 21, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Smock, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Burch) Smock, a union blessed with the birth of four children, namely: Sarah, wife of William H. Jones; W. A.; Rachel, wife of George Lewis, and Emma, wife of Byron Duffey. Mr. Ensley has made the pursuit of agriculture a life work, and has been more than ordinarily successful in his chosen calling. He has added to his farm until he has become the owner of several valuable tracts of real estate, some of which he divided among his children. He still owns the old farm of 280 acres in Jackson Township, Shelby County. In 1881, Mr. Ensley retired from active life, since which time he has been a resident of Edinburg. He is a democrat in politics, and since 1876, has been an active member of the Methodist Church. His first wife died in August 1877, and on the 20th day of November 1879, his second marriage was solemnized with Miss Selina Varner, of Hamilton County, Ohio, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Lefeber) Varner. Thomas and Martha Varner were early residents of the above county and state, and were the parents of the following children, viz.: Saline, Eliza, Sarah (deceased), Amanda, and T. Henry Varner. By his second marriage, Mr. Ensley is the father of one child, to wit: Edgar E. Ensley.