Martin, Benjamin S
Benjamin Stephen MARTIN (1843-1899) and Sarah Washington SPRUILL (1843-1911)
my gg-grandparents
Ancestors of Sarah Washingtom SPRUILL.
(I need to update this chart, since I had the wrong William MEDCALF. See the William MEDCALF 1743 page.)
Benjamin Stephen MARTIN was born 25 Apr 1843 in De Kalb County, Georgia, just north of what is now Atlanta. He first appears in the 1850 US Census as Benjamin MARTIN, with his parents Stephen and Sarah MARTIN, in Shallowford, DeKalb, GA, and then as B. S. MARTIN in the 1860 US Census, again with Stephen and Sarah in Shallowford. See the Stephen G MARTIN page for this.
Benjamin S. MARTIN enlisted on 26 Sep 1861, in the 38th Georgia Infantry, Logan Regiment, Company A, and transferred to Company K in Jan 1862. He was wounded in one arm, at Spotsylvania, VA, and the arm was amputated below the elbow, on 12 May 1864. The record also says "Absent, wounded August 31, 1864, to close war." More about his military record can be found on the Civil War page. It's interesting that he was wounded at Spotsylvania, just a few miles from the site of the Germanna Colony, where his gg-grandfather Johan Jost MARTIN had settled.
In 1879 Benjamin MARTIN applied for an artificial arm.
He married Sarah Washington SPRUILL on 25 SEP 1863 in De Kalb County, according to state records. This was 2 years after he enlisted, but before he lost his arm. He must have been home on leave. Sarah W. SPRUILL was born 14 Jan 1843, also in De Kalb County, daughter of James Thomas SPRUILL (1819 - 1899) and Amelia "Millie" ADAMS (1821 - 1896).
Plaque on the grave of Benjamin S. MARTIN, at Liberty Cemetery, Magazine, Logan County, Arkansas
The Stephen MARTIN farm, where Benjamin MARTIN was born and raised, was in the northern tip of De Kalb County, GA. In 1853, Fulton County was formed from the western part of De Kalb, and the MARTIN farm remained in De Kalb, although Benjamin and his young family were in Fulton at the time of the 1870 US Census (below). However, before and after 1870, Benjamin was in Milton County (which only existed from 1857 to 1931, at the north tip of De Kalb and Fulton). Bejnamin had 120 acres in the Alpharetta District of Milton County, from 1866 into the 1870s. The 1880 US Census (below) has the family in Newtown, Milton, GA. At any rate, the city of Alpharetta (formerly called Milton), presumably located in Alpharetta District, is about 10 miles north of the MARTIN farm. So Benjamin stayed in the same area where he grew up, until 1881.
1873 map of Fulton, De Kalb and Milton counties
The family is found in the 1870 US Census for Fulton County, Georgia. All of Fulton County was grouped together in 278 pages, so we can't tell which township or district the family was in. Benjamin was listed as a farmer, with real estate valued at $150.
This 1930 map of Milton County, GA shows the New Town (Newtown) district in the south, bordering DeKalb County. [source]
The family was in Newtown, Milton County, GA in 1880, with 4 boys and a girl. Benjamin was a farmer, and with one arm, he must have needed help from his sons, even at age 14 and 10.
The 1880 Census is the key link that we have between Benjamin S. MARTIN and Stephen M. MARTIN. It lists the 5 children of Benjamin and Sarah. Some have said that the 6th child is Benjamin Washington MARTIN, born in 1881. Many other records have the second child as Charles S, not C.
De Kalb County itself was formed in 1822. Today, De Kalb County contains a large part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The city of Atlanta, which now dominates the region, was only established in 1837, and grew to be a major city after the Civil War.
Several facts lead to the conclusion that the Benjamin S. MARTIN who showed up in Arkansas is the same one we have been following. He does not appear in any census after 1880, since the 1890 US Census was destroyed in a fire, and no state censuses from Georgia or Arkansas cover that period. So we rely on other evidence.
If all the records here are correct, the MARTIN family was in Milton County, GA, for the 1880 US Census, taken 25 Jun 1880, and Benjamin Washington MARTIN was born in 1883 in Arkansas, so the move from GA to AR took place between those dates.
Benjamin and Sarah left their siblings and Sarah's parents behind in DeKalb County, GA. I believe the reason for the move was to take advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862. However, I don't know how Benjamin could have qualified, since the law required applicants to be adults who had never taken up arms against the United States, so former Confederate soldiers were explicitly ineligible. At any rate, he was granted 160 acres in Benton County, AR on 23 Feb 1888.
Benton County is in the northwest corner of Arkansas. This 1876 map show the sections. Benjamin S. MARTIN's 160 acre farm was in section 19 N 29 W. It's the square with the O in BENTON.
Modern topographic map of the Beaver Lake area, about 8 miles southwest of Rogers, Benton County, AR.
Benjamin's farm in Benton County was in the square-mile sections 25 and 36, in the map above. (A square mile contains 640 acres.) Most of the farm is now covered by Beaver Lake, a man-made lake created by a dam, in 1960-66, on the White River. I believe the original channel is indicated by the blue dashed curve. To see this map and others, go to the Arkansas Geologic Survey. Click the map and select the Quad Name: Rogers. Select "Topographic Map of Rogers". This will give you a pdf copy of the map that the one shown above is cropped from.
Benjamin's 160-acre farm was in 3 parts. In Section 25, the E half of the SE quarter makes up 80 acres, and the SW quarter of the SE quarter is another 40 acres. In Section 36, the NW quarter of the NE quarter makes up the remaining 40 acres. On the peninsula in the center of the map above, is the Horseshoe Bend Public Use Area, so we can actually visit the Martin farm, in a sense.
Benjamin must have sold his farm, because he was in Logan County in 1892 when he applied for his veteran's pension. However, he must have lived on the land at least 5 years before being granted ownership. There was a Benjamin C. MARTIN who applied for the homestead act on 3 Feb 1883, in Benton County. That was for 40 acres in section 18 N 29 W, which is just south of the section mentioned above. I'm not sure how these land deals worked, but it looks like the family worked the farm from 1883 to 1888. By this time, his older children would have been able to help, as I'm sure that life was difficult for a one-armed farmer!
Benjamin's widow Sarah is found in 1900, living with her daughter and family, in Arkansas.
This census has a lot of useful information. Sarah W. MARTIN is a widow, born Jan 1843, in Georgia. Both of her parents were also born in Georgia. This matches what we knew before. She is listed as Mother-in-Law, so Sarah L. HALL is her daughter. This matches Sarah L. MARTIN from the 1880 census, when she was about 7 months old. Sarah L. MARTIN has married Amos M. HALL, almost twice her age, from Kentucky. They have been married about 1 year, and have a 9-month-old daughter. In fact, they were married on 23 Oct 1898, in Sebastian County, the western neighbor of Logan.
Logan County, Arkansas in 1895
Logan County in present day Arkansas
The 1900 US Census also says that Amos M. HALL was a dentist. Sarah L. MARTIN had 6 children, all living. Only 5 of them were listed in the 1880 Census, so they must have had 1 more after 1880. Sarah L. Hall had only 1 child, Alleaner. They lived in a rented house, not on a farm.
Benjamin S. MARTIN brought his wife and children from Georgia to Arkansas, some time between 1880 and 1899. His wife, Sarah Washington SPRUILL, was probably the only SPRUILL to make the journey. It is strange to find a William H. and Dora M. SPREWELL (a common alternate spelling of SPRUILL) in the 1900 Census for Driggs, Logan, AR, right next to William and Mary BOWERS, the parents of Stephen M. MARTIN's wife, Lina BOWERS. I have not found a connection between William H. SPREWELL and Sarah Washington SPRUILL, so maybe it is just a coincidence.
MARTIN gravestones in Little Walnut Cemetery (a.k.a. Cumberland Cemetery) in Douglass, Butler County, KS
Descendants
The descendants of Benjamin Stephen MARTIN and Sarah Washington SPRUILL have scattered to the four winds. James Thomas MARTIN is the one who stayed in Arkansas, and all his 8 children (7 by his 1st wife, Malissa L. ELLISON, one by his 2nd wife, Nancy JENKINS) lived in Arkansas or Oklahoma. Brothers Charles Samuel MARTIN and Stephen Mannon MARTIN both married and started families in Arkansas, but then moved to Butler County, Kansas. Ambrey MARTIN led a very colorful life, starting with a child out of wedlock, who he kidnapped from its mother. Ambrey and his new wife went to California, where his son died at age 17. Sarah Lavada MARTIN married Amos M. HALL, a dentist, and they had 2 children in Arkansas, as described above. I don't know what happened to Amos, but Sarah married Jefferson Davis ISOM in 1908, and they had 6 children. Some of these children were born in Arkansas, and the first one was born before the marriage. Around 1915, the family moved to Colorado. Benjamin W. MARTIN married, had 1 child, and lived in Arkansas.
1 Benjamin Stephen MARTIN b: 25 Apr 1843 in DeKalb, GA, d: 12 Aug 1899 in Reveille Valley, Logan, AR
+ Sarah Washington SPRUILL b: 14 Jan 1843 in DeKalb, GA, m: 18 Oct 1863 in DeKalb, GA, d: 22 Jan 1911 in Magazine, Logan, AR
......2 James Thomas MARTIN b: 14 Mar 1866 in GA, d: 20 Aug 1922 in Cavanaugh, Sebastian, AR
...... + Malissa Lee ELLISON b: 14 Mar 1870 in GA, m: 19 Dec 1889 in Logan, AR, d: 26 Mar 1910 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR
...... + Nancy Adeline "Sis" JENKINS b: 1871 in AR, m: 17 Jan 1913 in Logan, AR, d: 23 May 1931 in Logan, AR
......2 Charles Samuel MARTIN b: 23 Jun 1870 in Milton, GA, d: 13 Aug 1942 in El Dorado, Butler, KS
...... + Rachel Mary "Molly" SMITH b: 07 Sep 1866 in IL, m: 24 Dec 1890 in Sebastian, AR, d: 05 Jan 1942 in Butler, KS
......2 Stephen Mannon MARTIN b: 25 Feb 1875 in Milton, GA, d: 25 Dec 1953 in Douglass, Butler, KS
...... + Lucinda Caroline "Lena" "Linnie" BOWERS b: 28 Feb 1875 in Magazine, Logan, AR, m: 08 Mar 1893 in Magazine, Logan, AR, d: 03 May 1955 in El Dorado, Butler, KS
......2 Ambrey Salathel Andrew MARTIN b: 03 Feb 1877 in Milton, GA, d: 09 Apr 1964 in Visalia, Tulare, CA
...... + Luella Maria Fredricka KLOTH b: 10 Sep 1883 in Maine, Cook, IL, m: 04 Jul 1944 in Visalia, Tulare, CA, d: Nov 1973 in Visilia, Tulare, CA
...... + Clara Mozelle JAMES b: 02 Feb 1880 in Montgomery, Hickory, MO, m: 1911 in Visalia, Tulare, CA, d: 18 Jul 1942 in Visalia, Tulare, CA
...... + I. B. COURTNEY b: 1871 in USA, m: 20 Aug 1896 in Driggs, Logan, AR
......2 Sarah Lavada MARTIN b: 08 Oct 1879 in Milton, GA, d: 12 Sep 1931 in Denver, Denver, CO
...... + Amos M. HALL b: Aug 1860 in KY, m: 23 Oct 1898 in Sebastian, AR, d: AR
...... + Jefferson "Jeff" Davis ISOM b: 02 Jun 1861 in DeKalb, GA, m: 03 Mar 1908 in Logan, AR, d: 17 Dec 1929 in Aguilar, Los Animas, CO
......2 Benjamin Washington MARTIN b: 22 Dec 1881 in Driggs, Logan, AR, d: 07 Jun 1918 in Little Rock, Pulaski, AR
...... + Lucinda "Cindia" A. STAFFORD b: 02 Dec 1876 in Revilee, Logan, AR, m: 29 Jul 1903 in Logan, AR, d: 10 Jul 1947
1. James Thomas MARTIN was born 14 Mar 1866 in GA, and died 20 Aug 1922 in AR. These dates and the middle name appear on his gravestone in Barn Hill Cemetery, Magazine, Logan, AR. He shares a stone with his wife, Malissa L. ELLISON, born 4 Mar 1870 in AR, and died 26 Mar 1910 in AR. The marriage record below has her name spelled EDLESION and EDLESON, but earlier census records indicate that she was the daughter of Johnathan and Nancy ELLISON. The marriage record says they were married on 16 Dec 1889 in Logan County.
The 1910 US Census has the family in Driggs. The census tells us that James and malisy had been married 10 years, so about 1890. Malisy had 4 children, all still living, so they are the 4 listed here. James was a Farmer, and owned his farm, free of mortgage.
Several families of interest appear in this census. James MARTIN was head of family #111. Nearby in Driggs, family #137 headed by Amos HALL, included James' mother Sarah MARTIN and his sister Sarah (MARTIN) HALL. Family #92 was headed by William SPREWELL, probably Sarah's 1st cousin, and family #93 was headed by William BOWERS, father of Lina BOWERS, who married James' brother, Stephen Mannon MARTIN, my g-grandfather. Family #133, headed by John W STAFFORD, included his daughter Lucinda STAFFORD, who married James' brother, Benjamin MARTIN in 1903.
James's wife Malissa had died, on 26 Mar 1910, less than a month before the census was taken. She left behind 7 children, ranging in age from 1 to 19. Also with the family was Sarah W. (SPRUILL) MARTIN, James's mother. Recall that Sarah had lived with her daughter, Sarah, in 1900, but in 1910 she was probably needed more by James.
James’s Diversified Farming
James Thomas MARTIN, who has a mountain farm, nine miles southwest of Paris, AR, and about three miles from Driggs, AR, has one of the most unique displays of products from his land that was ever seen in this county. Mr. MARTIN has a section to himself and starting with a bale of cotton, you will find 76 articles form his farm. Among these are cotton, cotton seed, wheat, winteroats, spring white oats, cow peas, sorghum cane, sorghum molasses, butter, eggs, honey, seven varieties of apples, watermelons, okra, three varieties of corn, rice, popcorn, peanuts, dried peaches, dried apples, a stalk of winter pepper, tomatoes, Kaffir corn, cowpeas, hay, wild grass hay, corn grass, crab grass, and canned goods in variety: peaches, apples, sweet potatoes, grapes, okra, cucumbers, beets, beans, and other canned products too numerous to mention, making the 76 articles.
Among the lot is a pumpkin that grew outside in the woods from a vine that measures 75 feet. Mr MARTIN's exhibit, while hastily prepared, would be a great advertisement for our county if taken to the State Fair and the Panama Exposition.
It is wonderful what can be done on our mountain land with intelligent cultivation and this remarkable exhibit demonstrates that a farmer can raise here an abundance of eveything he needs for his family and his stock.
In addition to all this, Mr MARTIN raises sweet potatoes for market, has a concrete house, and a gasoline engine, and is prepared to care for this crop through the winter.
Mr MARTIN raises hogs and has home-made bacon and lard the year round.
What this farmer is doing is only what others farmers can do; and those who are not making a living on their farms ought to get busy and diversify. The exhibit at the fair shows that Mr MARTIN is living like a king, feasting on good things produced and manufactured on his own farm. Why do not more farmers do the same thing?
Source: Unknown, but likely a Logan County newspaper
Posted 20 Nov 2009 by CarolBenge
James remarried on 17 Jan 1913, to Nancy JENKINS, born 17 May 1871 in Logan, AR. They moved to Marion, Sebastian County, AR by 1920.
Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
Name: J T Martin
Gender: Male
Age: 47
Birth Year: abt 1866
Residence: Chismville, Logan, Arkansas
Spouse's Name: Nancy Jenkins
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 42
Spouse's Residence: Magazine, Logan, Arkansas
Marriage Date: 17 Jan 1913
Marriage License Date: 15 Jan 1913
Marriage County: Logan
Event Type: Marriage
FHL Film Number: 1027140
The 1920 US Census has the family in Marion Township, Sebastian County, AR. James is called Claude, but I think this is a mistake by the census taker, giving James the same name as his son. The names and dates of the children match the 1910 US Census, above. James was a Farmer, and owned his farm, located at Ft Smith and Hockett road.
James Thomas MARTIN died on 20 Aug 1922, and is buried beside his first wife, in Barnhill Cemetery, Magazine, Logan, AR. His second wife, Nancy, died 23 May 1931, according to her gravestone in Jenkins Swillings Cemetery, Revilee, Logan, AR.
James had 7 children by his first wife, and 1 more by his second.
1 James Thomas MARTIN b: 14 Mar 1866 in GA, d: 20 Aug 1922 in Cavanaugh, Sebastian, AR, age 56
+ Malissa Lee ELLISON b: 14 Mar 1870 in GA, m: 19 Dec 1889 in Logan, AR, d: 26 Mar 1910 in Six-Mile Valley, Logan, AR, age 40
.........2 Bertha Mae MARTIN b: 14 Oct 1891 in Six-Mile Valley, Logan, AR, d: 05 Dec 1965 in Booneville, Logan, AR, age 74
.........2 Jonathan "John" Samuel MARTIN b: 04 Nov 1893 in Six-Mile Valley, Logan, AR, d: 22 Mar 1968 in Henryetta, Okmulgee, OK, age 74
......... + Miranda JONES b: 14 Sep 1896, d: 02 Dec 1922 in Sebastian, AR, age 26
.........2 Grace Lee MARTIN b: 20 Mar 1895 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: 03 Nov 1986 in Oklahoma City, OK, age 91
.........2 Elsie Edith MARTIN b: 10 Mar 1900 in Logan, AR, d: 31 Mar 1932 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, age 32
.........2 Claud Edmond MARTIN b: 15 Mar 1904 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: Nov 1977 in Rogers, Benton, AR, age 73
.........2 Carl Herman MARTIN b: 24 Mar 1907 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: 30 Sep 1991 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR, age 84
.........2 Clarence Vernon MARTIN b: 10 Jan 1909 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: 08 Aug 2005 in Rogers, Benton, AR, age 96
.... + Nancy Adeline "Sis" JENKINS b: 17 May 1871 in Logan, AR, m: 17 Jan 1913 in Logan, AR, d: 23 May 1931 in Logan, AR, age 59 or 60
.........2 Thelma Reba MARTIN b: 04 Jun 1915 in Cavanaugh, Sebastian, AR, d: 14 Mar 1997 in Magazine, Logan, AR, age 81
Johnathan Samuel MARTIN (4 Nov 1893 - 22 Mar 1968), son of James Thomas MARTIN and Malissa Lee ELLISON.
Miranda JONES (14 Sep 1896 - 2 Dec 1922) wife of Johnathan Samuel MARTIN
2. Charles S. MARTIN has a gravestone in Little Walnut Cemetery, Douglass, Butler County, KS. He was born 23 Jun 1868 and died 13 Aug 1942. After a few years in Sebastian County, AR, Charles moved his family to Butler County, KS, between 1897 and 1900, and his brother Stephen followed, about 1909. There are more maps and information about Butler County on the Stephen M. MARTIN page.
Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
Name Charles S Martin
Gender Male
Age 20
Birth Year abt 1870
Residence Sebastian, Arkansas
Spouse's Name Rachel M Smith
Spouse's Gender Female
Spouse's Age 18
Spouse's Residence Sebastian, Arkansas
Marriage Date 24 Dec 1890
Marriage License Date 22 Dec 1890
Marriage County Sebastian
Event Type Marriage
FHL Film Number 1034074
Charles S. MARTIN married Rachel M. SMITH on 24 Dec 1890, in Sebastian County, AR. They had 3 children, all born in AR from Aug 1891 to Nov 1894. They must have lived in MO briefly, between Nov 1894 and Jun 1900. By 1900 they had moved to KS. They were in Plum Grove Township, northwest of El Dorado, when the 1900 US Census was taken.
In 1900, Charlie and Rachel MARTIN had been married 9 years, so they were married between 14 Jun 1890 and 13 Jun 1891, consistent with the marriage record, above. Charlie was employed as a Farm Laborer. Rachel had had 3 children, all still living, and they are the ones listed here. They had lived in Arkansas at least in Aug 1891, Mar 1893 and Nov 1894. So the move to Kansas took place between Nov 1894 and 13 Jun 1900.
The 3 children of Charlie and Rachel alternated between their first and middle Names. Sarah Margaret (Aug 1891) was Sarah M in 1900, M in 1905, and Margaret after marriage, about 1910. Charles Francis was Chas F in 1900, and Frank after 1900. Chancie William was Chancy W in 1900, and Willie after 1900.
Charles Martin rode a bicycle
Chas. Martin rode to Douglass yesterday on his wheel. He reports a good rain at Haverhill this morning.
The Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 31 Aug 1900 page 3
In the article above, "rode ... on his wheel" is an old expression which means that he rode his bicycle. Hence, Charles MARTIN owned a bicycle in 1900. Haverhill is 5 miles east of Augusta. See the map on the Stephen M. MARTIN page.
In 1905, the family is found in Towanda Township, just west of El Dorado, where Charles is a farmer, and has a farm with a mortgage. The census also tells us that Charles came to Kansas from Missouri.
A rural phone line running into Augusta included C. S. MARTIN in 1906.
The El Dorado Republican ran a column of local interest for Gordon and the surrounding area, basically Walnut township, about 1904-7, written by U. No. It had several interesting notes on Charles, who became known as C. S. MARTIN.
Notes from the "Gordon" column in the El Dorado Republican
Mr. Martin, brother to C. S. Martin, south of town, moved up from Oklahoma last week and will reside on Lark Snodgrass’ farm. Lark is talking of moving to Douglass. Friday, 5 Feb 1904 page 6
C. S. Martin has purchased Charles Dugan’s property and his brother has moved into one room. Friday, 19 Feb 1904 page 3
Mr. and Mrs. Smith, parents of Mrs. C. S. Martin and Mrs. Powers came from Waggoner, I. T., last week to visit. Monday, 15 Aug 1904 page 2
C. S. Martin has moved to his farm east of town.… A. S. Martin of Wagoner, I. T., is visiting his brother, C. S. Martin. Friday, 23 Dec 1904 page 3
C. S. Martin and family and A. S. Martin at Christmas dinner at Frank Powers.’ Friday, 30 Dec 1904 page 6
C. S. Martin is building a nice barn on his farm east of Gordon. Thursday, 2 Mar 1905 page 2
Mr. and Mrs. Smith, north of Augusta, visited their daughter, Mrs. C. S. Martin, Sunday. Friday, 12 May 1905 page 3
Mrs. C. S. Martin has a new range cook stove. Thursday, 14 Dec 1905 page 2
Charles Martin and family spent Sunday with Mrs. Martin’s mother, Mrs. Smith. Friday, 16 Aug 1907 page 6
This tells us that the youngest brother of Charles and Stephen MARTIN, who was Ambrey Salathiel MARTIN, had lived in Wagoner, Oklahoma, in the I. T. (Indian Territory), and came to Butler County in 1904, and lived on a farm belonging to Lark SNODGRASS. The SNODGRASS family had several large properties in southeast Walnut township. Ambrey stayed throughout 1904, but he eventually went to California. See the Ambrey MARTIN section, below.
We have two conflicting facts about the parents of Rachel M. SMITH, the wife of C. S. MARTIN. On 15 Aug 1904 they visited, from Wagoner, I. T. Rachel must have had a sister, who married a Mr. POWERS. On 12 May 1905, they lived north of Augusta. There is a 160-acre farm about 5 miles northwest of Augusta, owned by H. C. SMITH.
The C. S. MARTIN farm and surrounding area, 1905, in Walnut Township, Butler County, KS. C. S. MARTIN has 80 acres in Section 23. A. M. BAUM has 80 acres in Section 24. Jno. W. SHREVE has 80 acres in Section 11 and 80 acres in Section 14.
The Standard Atlas of Butler County, Kansas, 1905 contains plat maps of all the townships. In Walnut Township, Section 23 lies the 80-acre farm of C. S. MARTIN, near the small village of Gordon.
The 1910 Census has Charley in family #75, and his brother in family #79 (see the Stephen M. MARTIN page), Walnut, Butler, KS. Charley owned his farm, free of mortgage. Charley and Rachel had been married 19 years, and it was the first marriage for both. Rachel has had 2 children, both still living. It could be that Frank in 1910 was Chas F in 1900, and Willie in 1910 was Chancy W in 1900, but Sarah M. MARTIN, age 18, had married Ernest Louis SHREVE. Ernest and Margaret SHREVE can be found in Walnut, Butler, KS in 1910, and then in Augusta, Butler, KS in 1920 and 1930. (I have no evidence of this marriage, except that several other researchers have recorded it, but everything seems to fit.)
In 1910, the young married couple was living in Walnut Township, probably near his or her parents, on a rented farm, and Ernest was a Farmer.
Injury in 1911
C. S. Martin, who was injured in the abdomen last week by a load of hay passing over his body, is reported in a serious condition. The accident happened near Augusta.
El Dorado Daily Republican (El Dorado, KS) Wednesday, 6 Sep 1911 page 1
Recovering from Fall.
C. S. Martin, who was severely injured by falling from a load of hay coming down the Palmer hill near town, four weeks ago, and it was thought by some he could not get well, has so far recovered as to dispense with his nurse—Augusta Gazette.
El Dorado Daily Republican (El Dorado, KS) Wednesday, 27 Sep 1911 page 2
C. S. Martin, who was so seriously injured by a load of hay running over him, about two weeks ago, is convalescent. His many friends rejoice at his recovery.
The Butler County Democrat (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 29 Sep 1911 page 5
The 1915 Kansas State Census has Charles, Rachel and their 3 grown children in Walnut Township.
Family #83 is Charles and Rachel MARTIN, with their son Willie still at home. The family had come to KS from MO. They must have lived in MO some time between 1895 and 1900. Family # 33 was headed by Stephen MARTIN, brother of Charles. So they lived together, or nearby. This family is not shown here - see the Stephen M Martin page. Family # 56 includes the parents of Ernest L. SHREVE, who heads family #56, including Margaret (MARTIN) SHREVE. Both J. W. and Ernest are farmers, who own their farms, free of mortgage. J. W. had come to Kansas from Indiana, and Margaret had come to Kansas from Arkansas. Family # 32 is Frank, son of Charles and Rachel, and his wife and son.
The SHREVE family tomb is in Elmwood Cemetery, Augusta, Butler, KS. Inscribed there, we find S. Margaret SHREVE, b. 5 Aug 1891, d. 16 May 1938, and Ernest Louis SHREVE, b. 26 Sep 1887, d. 26 Mar 1940.
When the El Dorado oil field was discovered on 5 Oct 1915, life in Butler County changed almost overnight. The MARTINs were right in the middle of it!
Oil Lawsuit
C. S. Martin has leased to the Southwest Petroleum company and Ralph Hochstetter, lots 3, 4, and SE quarter of SW quarter of 18-25-5; $230. El Dorado Republican (El Dorado, KS) 17 Dec 1915, page 4
Leases.
C. S. Martin to Vaniman & Davison SW NE 27-28-4. Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, KS) 28 Sep 1917, page 4
Rich Oil Land is Bone of Contention in District Court
Three hundred and sixty acres of land in the heart of the oil field between Augusta and Gordon, and belonging to R. N. and C. S. Martin, is the bone of contention in a suit filed in district court Saturday by the Prairie Oil & Gas company against the owners of the land, in which they ask for a restraining order prohibiting the defendants from interfering with them in proceeding with drilling operations on said land. The restraining order was granted.
The land in controversy is described as the E½ SW¼ 23 and S½ NE¼ 27; and NE¼ SW¼ 27 and N½ NE¼ 27 and S½ SW¼ 27-28-4.
That the suit will be hotly contested is evidenced by the action of the defendants in getting Aikman & Aikman of this city to defend them. Their defense will be that the lease is null and void, because terms of the lease have not been fulfilled.
A stipulation in the lease provided that a well should be put down on the land and completed within six months. The lease was dated October 30 and the six months expired yesterday, thereby making it impossible for the plaintiffs to complete the well within the specified time.
El Dorado Republican (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 5 May 1916 page 7
… W. J. Snodgrass is in from the Gordon neighborhood. He reports new rigs on the Henry Cease, Charles Martin and Silas Hays farm.
El Dorado Republican (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 19 May 1916 page 6
[The first part of the article concerns the case of B. M. Cloud vs McMan Oil Co.]
It is expected that the case of the Prairie Oil & Gas company against C. S. Martin and others, also involving a lease in the Augusta field, will be tried Friday. Yeager & Cox are counsel for the plaintiff and Aikman & Aikman represent the defense.
Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, KS) Thursday, 21 Sep 1916 page 1
The case of the Prairie Oil & Gas Company against C. S. Martin and others, also involving a lease in the Augusta field, is for hearing this afternoon. There is talk of a settlement.
El Dorado Daily Republican (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 22 Sep 1916 page 1
M’MAN COMPANY WINS IT’S CASE FOR RICH LEASE
JUDGE AYRES SUSTAINS DEMURRER IN BIG OIL SUIT—ANOTHER ON TRIAL.
[The first part of the article concerns the case of B. M. Cloud vs McMan Oil Co.]
Judge Ayres Friday is hearing the case of Prairie Oil & Gas company against C. S. Martin and others. It is alleged that the lease required the Prairie to drill within a period of six months. It is stated that a few days before the expiration of the time limit, material was sent to the location, but Martin refused to permit it to be unloaded, using a gun to enforce his refusal.
Following that incident, both went into the court securing restraining orders, one prohibiting Martin from interfering and the other restraining the Prairie from drilling. Development of the property stopped at that point.
Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 22 Sep 1916 page 1
ATTORNEYS IN OIL CASES COMPROMISE
In the case of the Prairie Oil & Gas Co. vs. C. S. Martin set for trial in district court Friday, the litigants effected a settlement out of court.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff to enjoin the defendant from preventing the plaintiff from drilling on his farm, on which plaintiff held a lease. Included in the terms of settlement was the payment by the plaintiff of $3,500 in cash, all back rentals and the costs and the defendants is to allow the plaintiff to drill oil wells upon the premises.
Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 29 Sep 1916 page 1
COURT CASES WHICH INVOLVE OIL LAND WERE COMPROMISED
Many cases of importance were disposed of in district court Friday.
The case of the Prairie Oil & Gas Company vs C. S. Martin in which the plaintiffs were bringing action to enjoin Mr. Martin from prohibiting them from drilling on his land in the Augusta oil field, was compromised. The company paid Mr. Martin $3,500, all back rental and the costs of the action, and were permitted to enter upon the land and commence drilling operations.
The company leased Mr. Martin’s land and were to complete a well within a certain time. Two days before the time expired the company started building a rig. Mr. Martin protested for the reason that it was impossible for them to complete the well within two days. Aikman & Aikman and Kramer & Benson, of this city, represented Mr. Martin.
El Dorado Republican (El Dorado, KS) Friday, 29 Sep 1916 page 1
Releases.
S. W. Pet. Co., to C. S. Martin, lots 3, 4, SE SW 18-28-5. Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, KS) 20 Oct 1916, page 7
In 1920 we have 2 families sharing a household. The census taker has only given us initials, but C S and R M are clearly Charles and Rachel. For some reason Charles' parents are said to have birthplaces in NC, but they were both born in GA. Charles is still owner of the farm, free of mortgage (and the 1920 Butler County Directory says he owns 480 acres). C W MARTIN is Chancie William, who was called Willie in previous censuses. In 1920 he had a wife and son. We will see by other evidence that Chancie's wife was Grace Pearl KEELEY.
Sarah Margaret (MARTIN) SHREVE and family were in Augusta Ward 4 in 1920. The census taker was sloppy, and the transcriber at Ancestry has the name as SHUOE, but I think this is the SHREVE family. Also, Sarah's father was born in GA, but this census seems to say Austria. Again, the writing is sloppy. Ernest is owner of a garage, and his mechanic is living with the family. Ernest also owns the home, free of mortgage, at 1035 Dearborn, Augusta.
The 1920 US Census has Charley F MARTIN, with his wife and 2 children, in Bloomington Township. Charley was a Farmer, with a rented farm.
The 1920 Butler County Directory has C. Frank MARTIN with a 120-acre rented farm, in Rt 2, Augusta Township. This directory also tells what kind of cars people had. I guess even having a car was a bit of a novelty in 1920. Charles S. MARTIN had a Dodge, and his brother, Stephen M. MARTIN had a Ford, probably a Model T. Charles "Frank" MARTIN, age 27, drove an Anderson. This was a manufacturer in Rock Hill, SC, the most successful auto maker in the South. [AAC] Not saying much, I guess. They produced 7,000 cars from 1916 to 1925, and cost a lot more than the Model T. There are only 13 known in existence today, so this car would be a museum piece, if it's sitting in a junkyard somewhere! In the 1950s, the MARTINs ran a Dodge dealership in El Dorado, KS. And they were auto mechanics at an early date. I'm sure the Anderson was the talk of the town in Augusta, 1920. To my untrained eye, the two automobiles pictured below are very similar!
In the 1925 Kansas State Census, Charley and Rachel were living by themselves, in Bloomington, Butler, KS. He was still a farmer. Their 3 grown children, and their families, were still in Butler County, in 3 different townships.
In 1925, Ernest and Margaret (MARTIN) SHREVE were still at 1035 Dearborn, Augusta. The census taker has written SREAVES, but this is clearly the same family as in 1920. Ernest owns the home, free of mortgage, and he has returned to farming, although the location of his farm is not stated. I suspect that he was a farm worker, not a farmer. The census says that Margaret was born in KS, but other records say AR.
In 1925, Charles Francis "Frank" MARTIN was a farmer, with a rented farm in Walnut Township, who had come to KS from AR.
Chancie William MARTIN and family were living in Plum Grove Township in 1925. They had a rented home, and Chancie was a Mechanic. The record seems to say he came to KS from AL or AR, but other records say MO.
The 1930 US Census has Charles and Rachel in Bloomington Township, where they had lived in 1925. Charles was a farmer, and owned his farm, and a radio. Their 3 grown children were all still in Butler County, with their families.
In 1930 Ernest and Margaret SHREVE and their 2 children were in Augusta, where they lived in 1920 and 1925. They had moved from 1035 Dearborn, and now lived at 234 7th Ave. Ernest owned the home, valued at $3,500, and they did not own a radio. Ernest was an automobile salesman.
In the 1930 US Census, Charles Francis "Frank" MARTIN is called Frank G. MARTIN. He is a farmer, with a rented farm, in Walnut Township. He is the proud owner of a radio, and not a veteran. The census also tells us that Frank and Leora were 20 and 19 at first marriage, so they were married about 1913. Also with the family is Leora's father, Marshall A. BAUM, so her maiden name was Leora E. BAUM.
A headstone in Little Walnut Cemetery, in Douglass, Butler, KS is shared by C. W. "Bill" (1894-1965) and Grace P. (1900-1970) MARTIN.
The 1930 US Census has Chancie William MARTIN as Willie G. MARTIN. He was a farmer, with a rented home, and no radio.
Charles and Rachel had 3 children, and 11 grandchildren, listed below. For brevity: El Dorado, Augusta, Gordon, Douglass are cities or townships in Butler County, KS.
Charles Samuel MARTIN b. 23 Jun 1870-Milton, GA d. 13 Aug 1942-El Dorado
sp: Rachel Mary "Molly" SMITH b. 7 Sep 1866-IL m. 24 Dec 1890 d. 5 Jan 1942-Butler, KS
2. Sarah Margaret MARTIN b. 5 Aug 1891-Auburn, Sebastian, AR d. 16 May 1938-KS
sp: Ernest Louis SHREVE b. 26 Sep 1887-Augusta, m. 7 Jan 1909 d. 26 Mar 1940-KS
3. Mary Lovicy SHREVE b. 3 Dec 1911-KS d. 24 Feb 1995-Augusta
3. Delmer Ernest SHREVE b. 16 Sep 1914-Augusta d. 26 Aug 1992-Federal Way, King, WA
2. Charles Francis "Frank" MARTIN b. 26 Mar 1893-Auburn, Sebastian, AR d. 12 Jul 1988-Gordon
sp: Leora Erma BAUM b. 19 Aug 1893-KS m. 19 Jun 1913 d. 12 Mar 1967-Gordon
3. Melvin Ray MARTIN b. 30 Mar 1914-KS d. 26 Apr 1987-Augusta
sp: Florence May WAKEFIELD b. 18 Aug 1915-Douglass, m. 12 Jul 1941 d. 26 Dec 1987-Ellinwood, Barton, KS
3. Helen Maurine MARTIN b. 11 Jun 1916-KS d. Apr 1981-Wichita, Sedgwick, KS
3. Mary Ann "Ruby" MARTIN b. 22 Sep 1920-Walnut, d. 19 Jun 2003-El Dorado
2. Chancie William "Willie" MARTIN b. 15 Nov 1894-Auburn, Sebastian, AR d. 1965-KS
sp: Grace Pearl KEELEY b. 10 Dec 1900-Douglass, d. 17 Oct 1970-KS
3. Marvin William MARTIN b. 19 Feb 1919-Augusta, d. 6 Oct 2002-Columbia, Boone, MO
sp: Phyllis b. 1932
3. Troy Harold MARTIN b. 9 Nov 1920-Gordon, d. 29 Oct 2005-Russell, Russell, KS
sp: Mary ALICE b. 1926
3. Doris Grace MARTIN b. 27 Feb 1922-Augusta, d. 3 Mar 2005-Kelso, Cowlitz, WA
sp: Jess Frederick BEAVERS b: 16 Jun 1911-OK, d: 16 May 1989-Longview, Cowlitz, WA (Mechanic, own shop in Walnut, 1940)
3. Ronald Merton MARTIN b. 6 Sep 1927-Augusta, d. 9 Dec 2010-Wichita, Sedgwick, KS
sp: Barbara b. 1927
3. Virginia Lois MARTIN b. 23 Jan 1932-Augusta, d. 2 Apr 2003-Longview, Cowlitz, WA
3. Audrey Luella MARTIN b. 15 Sep 1933-Augusta
3. Stephen Mannon MARTIN was born 25 Feb 1874 near Dunwoody, De Kalb, GA, and died 25 Dec 1953, in Butler, KS. He married Carolina "Lina" BOWERS on 4 Mar 1893, in Logan, AR. Stephen and Lina were my great-grandparents.
See the Stephen M. MARTIN page.
4. Ambrey S. MARTIN led a very colorful life, starting with a child out of wedlock, who he kidnapped from its mother. Ambrey and his new wife went to California, where his son died at age 17.
His gravestone is engraved 1877-1964, and his memorial says he was born 3 Feb 1877 in Georgia, and died 9 Apr 1964 in Visalia, Tulare, CA. The gravestone is shared with Clara M. 1880-1942.
Ambery had lived in Wagoner, Oklahoma, in the I. T. (Indian Territory), and came to Butler County in Feb 1904, where his brother Charles lived with his family. He stayed around Butler County at least throughout 1904. See the section of Charles S. MARTIN, above.
Andrew Salatha "Ambrey" "Sam" MARTIN-Man of Mystery
Ambrey was a handsome, mustachioed man throughout most his life. He had numerous photographers record him, but the clearly striking photographs do not disclose the layers of mystery surrounding him.
Andrew Salatha Ambrey MARTIN, the fourth son of Benjamin Stephen MARTIN & Sarah Washington SPRUILL, was born 3 Feb 1877 in Milton, GA. He migrated with his family around 1890 from GA to Logan, AR.
Next he appeared in the Logan, AR, marriage records as having married an older woman, I B or L B COURTNEY, age 26. Ambrey was age 19, & both lived in Driggs, Logan, AR. I T ROSE married the couple, & J W PARKER served as security. Now events become complicated. There existed a child belonging to Ambrey. He was named Charles "Charley" Andrew MARTIN. He was born 16 Jul 1893. This was clearly three years prior to Ambrey's marriage. Was Charley, I B COURTNEY's child or not? Who exactly was I B COURTNEY? I cannot locate records about her or her family.
The mystery becomes even murkier. According to family anecdotes, Ambrey kidnapped Charley from his mother & fled from Logan, AR. I think he purposefully obscured any trail of his son & himself because I cannot locate them anywhere in AR or OK.
Next, the records show Ambrey with Charley in Redlands, San Bernardino, CA. Unfortunately, the records document Charley's death. Charley died while a student at McKinley School, age 17. He died, as stated on the death certificate, of scarlet fever, an "acute febrile disease caused by a hemolytic streptococcus and characterized by inflammation of the nose, throat, & mouth, generalized by toxemia, & a red rash."[Webster's Dictionary] Contributing to his agony was pericarditis, "inflammation of the sac encircling the heart," with effusion. He is buried in Hillside Memorial Park in Block D, curbside, #462. A short obituary was listed in the Citrograph of 12 May 1911: "Died in Redlands, 11 May 1911, Charley A MARTIN, son of Mr & Mrs A S MARTIN, a native of Oklahoma (not true) & a resident of Redlands for seven months. Funeral service Saturday afternoon at 2:30 from the chapel of Turner & Turner with Rev E J INWOOD officiating. Internment at Hillside." [Thanks to Ardith JAMES for supplying this.] One other confusing piece of data appears on Charley's death certificate; Ambry cited Charley's mother as being: Arbell Kendell. Who is this? Is it just a further piece of ambiguity that Ambrey left us, or is it a partial truth?
Further investigation on Ardith JAMES's part discovered in the Redlands City Directory for 1910-1911, Andrew now known as "Ambrey" was listed as a worker in a shooting gallery. In the 1911-1912 Redlands City Directory, Andrew S A MARTIN was living with Clara JAMES/ MARTIN at 9 Brookside Ave. I now believe that after Charley died in 1911, Ambrey married Clara JAMES. The MARTINs are not present in the 1912-1913 Redlands City Directory. The couple, as did many others, left Redlands after a "terrible freeze killed young orange trees and destroyed most of the crop. Such a disaster had not been anticipated. Hundreds of people moved away. The population shrank alarmingly." [Redlands History by Frank Moore]
Next, I discovered, Ambrey & Clara JAMES/MARTIN in Visalia, Tulare, CA. The first record is Ambrey's WW I Draft Registration which is difficult to see, but it clearly noted Ambrey lived with his wife Clara at 24 E Tulare Street. The California Voter Registration Record in 1916-1924 revealed Ambrey SA, a laborer, & Clara as Republicans. The 1926-1930 CA Voter Registration Record disclosed them still being Republican but now living at 916 S East. In the 1930 Census for that area, Ambrey was a 53-year-old milling laborer, probably at the Lally Milling Company, & Clara was age 50. The Census showed her as being born in MO with her father's place of birth being VA and her mother's place of birth as AR. The final notation for Ambrey & Clara as a couple was in the 1932-1936 CA Voter Registration Record with them living at 616 S Garden.
Looking further back into Clara's history, I discovered her in the 1900 Census at age 19 living in Dist 97, Montgomery, Hickory, Missouri, with her widowed mother, Lucy PEABODY/JAMES, age 47 & her brother, Lawrence, age 16. By 1910, the Census shows the James family has migrated to Vislaia, Tualre, CA. Lawrence James at age 25 is farming & has assumed the role of the family's head. His sister Clara is age 31, and their mother Lucy is now age 56. The final information for Clara M JAMES/MARTIN appeared on her CA Death Index Record. Clara was born 2 FEb 1880 & died 18 Jul 1942. The record noted her mother's surname was PEABODY. All this information still leaves me wondering how Ambrey met Clara. She was a resident of Visalia while he was a resident of Redlands. Does anyone have any answers?
Ambrey remained in Visalia & married Luelle KLOTH/WALDHART/SCHUENEMANN on 4 Jul 1944. While married to Luella, Ambrey adopted the nickname of "Sam." Ambrey & Luelle were members of the Frist Christian Church. They resided at 211 N Giddings. Ambrey celebrated his 86th birthday in Visalia. In attendance were Ambrey's nephew, Clarence MARTIN, with his wife, Ethel BOLTON/MARTIN, residents of Pomona, Los Angeles, CA.
On 9 Apr 1964, Andrew Salatha Ambrey MARTIN, age 87, died. His funeral was held at the Hadley Funeral Chapel on Saturday morning, 11 Apr 1964 with Rev Howard FOWLER officiating. The soloist was Earl FELEAY accompanied by the organist, Marilyn RUSSELL. The casket bearers were: William HOPPER, Tom GRIFFIN, Carl SWITZER, Ormal RUNYON, Roy SWITZER, & Henry COBB. Internment was at the Visalia District Cemetery.
Ambrey's obituary reflects the layers of fabrication he felt complelled to use after he took his son from his son's mother &/or her family:
"Ambrey A S MARTIN, 87, a native of Georgia, died yesterday [9 Apr 1964] afternoon at his home at 211 North Giddings.
Mr MARTIN moved to Fayetteville, [Washington], AR, as a child & received his education there. [I can find no evidence for this. His parents resided with him in Revilee Valley, Logan, AR, until their death.] He came to California in 1915 & made his home in Redlands until 1919 [It appears he left closer to 1913 because his name and Clara's no longer appeared in the city directory.] He worked for the Lally Milling Company for many years.
He was a member of the First Christian Church of Visalia.
He and the former Luella SCHUENMANN were married here on 4 Jul 1944. She survives him.
Other survivors are his two [step-]daughters, Mrs Lily HASH & Mrs. Bertha KRIEGER, both of S Visalia; one nephew, Clarence MARTIN of Pomona [also nieces, Bertha MARTIN/WHITE of Booneville, AR; Grace MARTIN/BLACKBURN; other nieces in KS] [other nephews: John MARTIN of Henryetta, OK; Claud MARTIN of OK; Carl MARTIN of Ft Smith, AR; other nephews in KS]; & six [step-]grandsons. His only [step-]granddaughter preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the Hadley Funeral Chapel of Visalia. The Rev Howard FOWLER will officiate.
Burial will be in the Visalia Cemetery.
The family prefers that memorials be in the form of donations to the First Christian Church of Visalia."
(source unknown)
Andrew Salatha "Ambrey" MARTIN was the GA-native who revisted his GA relatives more regularly than others in his family. He "loved" his son Charley enough to risk imprisonment by kidnapping him from his mother. His only child died tragically at the tender age of 17. Ambrey married two other wives & seemingly was a well-loved husband & step-father. He kept in touch with his relatives in AR, OK, KS, & GA, but for all his contacts with his family, much about him still remains a mystery.
Posted by Carol Benge
5. Sarah Lavada MARTIN married Amos M. HALL, a dentist, and they had 2 children in Arkansas, as described above. I don't know what happened to Amos, but Sarah married Jefferson Davis ISOM in 1908, and they had 6 children. Some of these children were born in Arkansas, and the first one was born before the marriage. Around 1915, the family moved to Colorado.
Arkansas Compiled Marriages 1851-1900
Name A. M. Hall
Spouse Sarah L. Martin
Marriage Date 23 Oct 1898
County Sebastian
State AR
In 1910 Jeff ISOM was a Farmer. Jeff and Sarah had been married 3 years, the 3rd marriage for him, the 2nd for her. Sarah had 4 children, with 3 still living. Clearly, Liner and Millie are Sarah's children from her 1st marriage; Hurbert and Raymon are Jeff's from one of his previous marriages, and Lloyd is the son of Jeff and Sarah.
6. Benjamin Washington MARTIN was born in Arkansas, 1883, and died in 1918. I have not found any records verifying that Benjamin was the child of Benjamin and Sarah, but other researchers have him as the 6th child. I believe this is true, because one of his descendants is my close DNA match. Benjamin married Lucinda A. "Cinda" STAFFORD on 29 Jul 1903 in Driggs, Logan, AR.
Arkansas County Marriages Index 1837-1957
Name B W Martin
Gender Male
Age 19
Birth Year abt 1884
Residence Driggs, Logan, Arkansas
Spouse's Name Lucinda Stafford
Spouse's Gender Female
Spouse's Age 26
Spouse's Residence Driggs, Logan, Arkansas
Marriage Date 29 Jul 1903
Marriage License Date 28 Jul 1903
Marriage County Logan
Event Type Marriage
FHL Film Number 1027139
In 1910, Ben MARTIN was a Farmer. Ben and Lucinda had been married 6 years, both in their first marriage. Lucinda has had one child, still living. There must be a mistake, since it says that Ben was born in Arkansas, and Almead was his daughter, and her father was born in Missouri.
If Ben W was born in AR (or MO), then his father Benjamin S. MARTIN and family were already in AR (or MO) in 1884.
Benjamin "Benny" Washington MARTIN's Short Saga
Posted 12 Mar 2011 by CarolBenge, used with permission
The story of Benny's life was one that his niece & nephews through the James Tomas MARTIN line sought to hide for years: Grace MARTIN/BLACKBURN, Carl Herman MARTIN, & Clarence Vernon MARTIN. From their point-of-view, Benny's story was best summed up as, "Benny went hunting one day in Six-Mile Valley & a rabid bat bit him, and he died." My second-cousin, Carol SUDICK/ ROBINSON/CHAMUS/MOORE through Grace' MARTIN/BLACKBURN's line, & I heard these versions of Benny's story for years whenever we inquired about Benny at family reunions during the 1980's.
Finally, at one reunion great-uncle Carl started telling me the pre-arranged fabrication about Benny when he suddenly broke into his own rhetoric & said, "Honey, I am going to tell the truth about Benny." The story he told me was incredibly sad. Benny developed epilepsy circa 1907 & suffered with it for six to eight years. Some of his family in desperation accompanied Benny to Kansas City where they believed he might find a cure.
Benny returned from his treatment, about which I know nothing, relieved of epilepsy. However, shortly thereafter, he began to have episodes of violence especially towards his brothers & even his wife, Cinda STAFFORD/MARTIN. He would leave the house at night barefooted, and would travel two or three miles from home. He even made death threats towards his family. This was a drastic change of nature for Benny, & everyone was in crisis about a finding a solution.
The families in desperation agreed to send Benjamin "Benny" Washington MARTIN to the Arkansas State Hospital for Nervous Disorders in Little Rock, Pulaski, AR. Logan County records disclose a document where Fred N CARTER, County & Probate Judge of Logan, AR, had two physicians:W N BENNETT & J J SMITH, evaluate Benny on 2 Oct 1913. By 3 Oct 1913, Benny was admitted as patient "7075" to the Little Rock facility. His brother, James Stephen MARTIN, was listed as a contact in Driggs, Logan, AR.
Benny died at the state hospital about five years later on 14 Jun 1918. My third-cousin, Susan KELLY/CHACON, acquired records from the hospital which indicated that Benny died of tuberculosis. The records indicated that no one had visited Benny during his five-year stay. They also mentioned as a possible contributing factor to Benny's condition that his father, Benjamin Stephen MARTIN had a serious drinking problem. ( I do not see any possible connection between Benny's epilepsy & his father's alcoholism, but I thought the data should be shared.)
The place of Benny's burial is in some dispute. I feel he was probably buried at the state institution, but a headstone with his dates of birth & death (1883-1918) does exist in Barnhill Cemetery, Six-Mile Valley, Logan, AR. The headstone is shared with the vital statistics for Benny's wife: Lucinda "Cinda" STAFFORD/MARTIN (1876-1947).
In the 1920 US Census, Lucinda is widowed. She and her 2 children live with her mother, who is also widowed. Mary J. STAFFORD owns the home, free of mortgage. Mary can read but can't write, and Cinda can't read or write. There must be a mistake, because Almeda has aged 15 years from 1910 to 1920.
The 1930 Census has Lucinda in Sebastian County, living with her daughter Irene, and Irene's husband, Ergle O. PAMPLIN. They rent a home for $5/month. Ergle and Irene were 24 and 16 at first marriage, so they had already been married 2-3 years on 17 Apr 1930. Lucinda was 26 at first marriage, which agree with the 1903 date for her marriage record (above). Ergle is a day laborer at a rock crusher, and is not a veteran.
In 1940, Lucinda was living with her daughter, Almeda, and her husband, Dewey QUINALTY.
In the 1940 US Census, the QUINALTY family is found at 1209 Highland Park Street, Seminole, OK. Dewey QUINALTY owns the home, valued at $400. All present had lived at the same place in 1935. Included in the household were Dewey and Almedia and their 4 children, and the husband of the eldest daughter, and Almedia's mother Cinda MARTIN, and Dewey's brother Ress, and a nephew. Dewey and Ress were engaged in the furniture business. The second word in unclear, but it looks like "furniture repair".
1 Benjamin Stephen MARTIN b: 25 Apr 1843 in DeKalb, GA, d: 12 Aug 1899 in Reveille Valley, Logan, AR
... + Sarah Washington SPRUILL b: 14 Jan 1843 in DeKalb, GA, m: 18 Oct 1863 in DeKalb, GA, d: 22 Jan 1911 in Magazine, Logan, AR
......2 James Thomas MARTIN b: 14 Mar 1866 in GA, d: 20 Aug 1922 in Cavanaugh, Sebastian, AR
.... + Malissa Lee ELLISON b: 14 Mar 1870 in GA, m: 19 Dec 1889 in Logan, AR, d: 26 Mar 1910 in Six-Mile Valley, Logan, AR
.........3 Bertha Mae MARTIN b: 14 Oct 1891 in Six-Mile Valley, Logan, AR, d: 05 Dec 1965 in Booneville, Logan, AR
.........3 Jonathan "John" Samuel MARTIN b: 04 Nov 1893 in Six-Mile Valley, Logan, AR, d: 22 Mar 1968 in Henryetta, Okmulgee, OK
......... + Miranda JONES b: 14 Sep 1896, d: 02 Dec 1922 in Sebastian, AR
.........3 Grace Lee MARTIN b: 20 Mar 1895 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: 03 Nov 1986 in Oklahoma City, OK
.........3 Elsie Edith MARTIN b: 10 Mar 1900 in Logan, AR, d: 31 Mar 1932 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR
.........3 Claud Edmond MARTIN b: 15 Mar 1904 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: Nov 1977 in Rogers, Benton, AR
.........3 Carl Herman MARTIN b: 24 Mar 1907 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: 30 Sep 1991 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, AR
.........3 Clarence Vernon MARTIN b: 10 Jan 1909 in Six-Mile, Logan, AR, d: 08 Aug 2005 in Rogers, Benton, AR
.... + Nancy Adeline "Sis" JENKINS b: 17 May 1871 in Logan, AR, m: 17 Jan 1913 in Logan, AR, d: 23 May 1931 in Logan, AR
.........3 Thelma Reba MARTIN b: 04 Jun 1915 in Cavanaugh, Sebastian, AR, d: 14 Mar 1997 in Magazine, Logan, AR
......2 Charles Samuel MARTIN b: 23 Jun 1870 in Milton, GA, d: 13 Aug 1942 in El Dorado, Butler, KS
...... + Rachel Mary "Molly" SMITH b: 07 Sep 1866 in IL, m: 24 Dec 1890 in Sebastian, AR, d: 05 Jan 1942 in Butler, KS
.........3 Sarah Margaret MARTIN b: 05 Aug 1891 in Auburn, Sebastian, AR, d: 16 May 1938 in KS
......... + Ernest Louis SHREVE b: 26 Sep 1887 in Augusta, Butler, KS, m: 7 Jan 1909 in Gordon, Butler, KS, d: 26 Mar 1940 in KS
.........3 Charles Francis "Frank" MARTIN b: 26 Mar 1893 in Auburn, Sebastian, AR, d: 12 Jul 1988 in Gordon, Butler, KS
......... + Leora Erma BAUM b: 19 Aug 1893 in KS, m: 19 Jun 1913 in KS, d: 12 Mar 1967 in Gordon, Butler, KS
.........3 Chancie William MARTIN b: 15 Nov 1894 in Auburn, Sebastian, AR, d: 1965 in KS
......... + Grace Pearl KEELEY b: 10 Dec 1900 in Douglas, Butler, KS, d: 17 Oct 1970 in KS
......2 Stephen Mannon MARTIN b: 25 Feb 1875 in Milton, GA, d: 25 Dec 1953 in Douglass, Butler, KS
...... + Lucinda Caroline "Lena" "Linnie" BOWERS b: 28 Feb 1875 in Magazine, Logan, AR, m: 08 Mar 1893 in Magazine, Logan, AR, d: 03 May 1955 in El Dorado, Butler, KS
.........3 Mamie Sarah Lavada MARTIN b: 26 Jun 1894 in AR, d: 22 Sep 1908 in Logan, AR
.........3 William Ezra MARTIN b: 12 May 1896 in Paris, Logan, AR, d: 19 May 1960 in Wichita, Sedgwick, KS
......... + Bertha "Byrd" Adora HARTENBOWER b: 28 May 1885 in Butler, KS, m: 10 Jul 1951 in Pittsburg, Crawford, KS, d: 21 Jul 1957 in KS
......... + Isel Aldura HUNTLEY b: 30 Aug 1897 in Lone Rock, Baxter, AR, m: 24 Jan 1915 in Yell, AR, d: 25 Apr 1966 in Chicago, Cook, IL
......... + Hazel L HATCH b: 1890 in KS, d: 1971 in KS
.........3 Omer D. MARTIN b: 19 Mar 1898 in Paris, Logan, AR, d: 29 Nov 1981 in Augusta, Butler, KS
......... + Dellena PRIMM b: 26 Nov 1898 in Butler, KS, d: 09 Dec 1955 in home, Augusta, Butler, KS
.........3 Elmer Mannon MARTIN b: 17 Oct 1900 in Magazine, Logan, AR, d: 23 Nov 1982 in Augusta, Butler, KS
......... + Thelma Marie CARR b: 24 Feb 1902 in Douglas, Butler, KS, m: 15 Jun 1920 in El Dorado, Butler, KS, d: 09 Oct 2003 in Watonga, Blaine, OK
.........3 Odie Otis Grant Curly MARTIN b: 26 Nov 1902 in Magazine, Logan, AR, d: 06 Jan 1977 in Booneville, Logan, AR
......... + Lera A. FOSTER b: 18 Oct 1903 in Carolan, Logan, AR, m: 28 Dec 1931 in Logan, AR, d: 07 Dec 2000 in Booneville, Logan, AR
.........3 Artie Mae MARTIN b: 11 Feb 1906 in AR, d: 02 Sep 1977 in Hutchinson, Reno, KS
......... + William Melton WHEELER b: 12 Feb 1901 in AR, m: 23 Jan 1936 in Newton, Harvey, KS, d: Mar 1969 in Hutchinson, Reno, KS
......... + Albert C DEES b: Abt. 1896, m: 23 Jul 1933 in Stone, AR
.........3 Otho L MARTIN b: 29 Jan 1908 in AR, d: 02 Aug 1935
.........3 Ernest Francis MARTIN b: 25 Dec 1909 in KS, d: 02 Feb 1990 in El Dorado, Butler, KS
......... + Florence A. LOOMAN b: 30 Mar 1916, d: 29 Dec 1978
.........3 Virgil Bowers MARTIN b: 21 Dec 1911 in KS, d: 27 Apr 1980 in Augusta, Butler, KS
......... + Alberta May WILSON b: 27 May 1896 in KS, m: 31 Jul 1942 in KS, d: 12 Feb 1996 in Augusta, Butler, KS
......... + Opal Dell MYRES b: 28 Oct 1907, m: 29 May 1934, d: 08 May 1941 in El Dorado, Butler, KS
.........3 Aubrey Edward MARTIN b: 09 Jan 1916 in Douglas, Butler, KS, d: 14 Jan 2004 in Augusta, Butler, KS
......... + June Colleen MURDICK b: 28 Jun 1918 in Minneapolis, Ottawa, KS, m: 20 Sep 1939 in Augusta, Butler, KS, d: 28 Dec 2011 in El Dorado, Butler, KS
......2 Ambrey Salathel Andrew MARTIN b: 03 Feb 1877 in Milton, GA, d: 09 Apr 1964 in Visalia, Tulare, CA
...... + I B COURTNEY b: 1871 in USA, m: 20 Aug 1896 in Driggs, Logan, AR
...... + Clara Mozelle JAMES b: 02 Feb 1880 in Montgomery, Hickory, MO, m: 1911 in Visalia, Tulare, CA, d: 18 Jul 1942 in Visalia, Tulare, CA
...... + Luella Maria Fredricka KLOTH b: 10 Sep 1883 in Maine, Cook, IL, m: 04 Jul 1944 in Visalia, Tulare, CA, d: Nov 1973 in Visilia, Tulare, CA
......2 Sarah Lavada MARTIN b: 08 Oct 1879 in Milton, GA, d: 12 Sep 1931 in Denver, Denver, CO
.... + Amos M. HALL b: Aug 1860 in KY, m: 23 Oct 1898 in Sebastian, AR, d: AR
.........3 Dorothy Allener "Lena" HALL b: 19 Aug 1899 in Driggs, Logan, AR, d: 31 Jan 1996 in Denver, Denver, CO
.........3 Mildred Calhoun "Millie" HALL b: 31 Oct 1905 in Driggs, Logan, AR, d: Dec 1994 in Somerset, Gunnison, CO
......... + William CORNISH b: 1888, m: 08 Mar 1930 in Trinidad, Las Animas, CO, d: 1971 in Trinidad, Las Animas, CO
.... + Jefferson "Jeff" Davis ISOM b: 02 Jun 1861 in DeKalb, GA, m: 03 Mar 1908 in Logan, AR, d: 17 Dec 1929 in Aguilar, Los Animas, CO
.........3 Floyd Calhoun ISOM b: 28 Jan 1908 in Logan, AR, d: 15 Mar 1998 in Lakewood, Jefferson, CO
.........3 Mabel Scott ISOM b: 1911 in AR, d: 1964 in CO
.........3 Katherine "Kate" Nell ISOM b: 22 Apr 1913 in AR, d: 1978 in CA
.........3 Eva Lorena ISOM b: 22 May 1916 in OK, d: 13 Sep 1957 in Los Angeles, CA
.........3 Ella Louise ISOM b: Abt. 1917 in CO, d: 15 Jun 1925 in Trinidad, Los Animas, CO
.........3 Susan "Susie" May ISOM b: 23 Feb 1919 in CO, d: 01 Sep 1985 in Rosamond, Kern, CA
......2 Benjamin Washington MARTIN b: 22 Dec 1881 in Driggs, Logan, AR, d: 07 Jun 1918 in Little Rock, Pulaski, AR
...... + Lucinda "Cindia" A. STAFFORD b: 02 Dec 1876 in Revilee, Logan, AR, m: 29 Jul 1903 in Logan, AR, d: 10 Jul 1947
.........3 Almedia Hasselltine MARTIN b: 26 May 1906 in Magazine, Logan, AR, d: 30 Apr 1996 in Seminole, Seminole, OK
......... + Dewey QUINALTY b: 04 Jan 1899 in Cypress, Harris, TX, m: 06 Mar 1921 in Booneville, Logan, AR, d: 26 Mar 1967 in Seminole, Seminole, OK
.........3 Irene Fay MARTIN b: 02 Jun 1911 in AR, d: 21 Mar 1932 in Logan, AR
......... + Ergle O. PAMPLIN b: 1903 in TX
Sources
[AAC] Anderson Automobile Co
[ASH] Gravesites at the Arkansas State Hospital
[GAVV] Georgia Archives Virtual Vault
[HMG] Historical Maps of Georgia
[KM] Kansas Maps
Updated 1 Feb 2022 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.