Martin, William Ezra

William Ezra MARTIN (1896-1960) and Isel HUNTLEY (1897-1966)

my (biological) grandparents

William Ezra MARTIN was born about 1896, give or take 2 years, probably in Arkansas. The records are ambivalent as to the time and place.

I have not found William and his parents in the 1900 US Census. William's uncle Charlie had moved to Butler County, Kansas, about 300 miles to the northwest of Logan, AR.

William moved to Kansas with his parents and siblings, between 22 Sep 1908 and 22 Apr 1910, as they are found in the 1910 US Census in Walnut, Butler, KS, which shows that his 3-year-old brother, Otho, was born in Arkansas. Walnut Township is between Douglass and Augusta, in Butler County. See the map of Butler County on the Stephen M. MARTIN page.

William Ezra MARTIN married Isel HUNTLEY on 24 Jan 1915 in Yell, AR. William's residence was Gordon, which was a small community on the Walnut River, in Walnut Township, between Augusta and Douglass. Isel was 17 and William was about 18.

Isel HUNTLEY was born 30 Aug 1897 in Arkansas (probably Sebastian County), the daughter of Adelbert Calvin HUNTLEY and Phebe Alice FISHER. Since William and his family had lived in Logan County, next to Sebastian, and moved to Kansas before 1910, there was probably some connection between the two families. Perhaps William and Isel had known each other in childhood.

Isel's father was Adelbert Calvin HUNTLEY, her brother was Adelbert David HUNTLEY, nicknamed "Uncle Del", and she named one of her sons Adelbert Huntley MARTIN, nicknamed "Lil Del". Uncle Del was a lifelong bachelor, and lived most of his long life with his sister Isel, and the MARTINs. In fact, it seems that Uncle Del was around more than William!

William and Isel married near the bride's home in Yell County, AR, and settled in Douglass, Butler, KS, where William found work as a farm laborer, on the farm of W. M. ECKEL. The first child of William and Isel was Wayne Melton MARTIN, born 4 Jun 1916. See the birth record, below. William signed up for the WWI draft on 5 Jun 1917, a day after his son's first birthday.

The 1919 Butler County, KS census, dated 1 Mar 1919, has the W. E. MARTIN family of 4 in Douglass Township. William doesn't appear in the 1920 directory for Butler County, and the 1920 Census finds them in Michigan. The move must have taken place between 1 Mar 1919 and 5 Jan 1920. Isel's parents also moved from Arkansas to Michigan between 1915 and 1920, appearing in Grand Rapids, Kent, MI in the 1920 US Census. See the Adelbert HUNTLEY page. William's parents and siblings stayed in Kansas, where his brothers became active in the nascent automobile industry, eventually founding The Martin Motor Company, in El Dorado, Butler, KS. See the Stephen M. MARTIN page.

The MARTIN family lived on a rented farm, on County Line Road, Calhoun County, Michigan in 1920. The first 2 children were born in Kansas, so the move to Michigan must have taken place in 1918-9. I don't know the reason for the move, but Isel's father, Adelbert Calvin HUNTLEY, was born in Lapeer County, MI, in Mar 1845, and many of the HUNTLEYs lived in Michigan. (See the HUNTLEY page.)

I have not found the family in the 1930 US Census, or in any state census or list between 1920 and 1940. The next record for the family that I have found is the 1940 US Census, for Chicago.

The family is living in a rented home at 2546 W Monroe St, Chicago. This is about 3 miles west of downtown Chicago, in the Near West Side/East Garfield Park neighborhood. Another mile to the west is the world famous Garfield Park Conservatory, established in 1908.

Their rent was $17 per month. A family of 3 also lived at this address, with head James WARD, but I think this might have been a sort of duplex, rather than the two families living together. William MARTIN is no longer farming, and is listed as a sewer constructor. The eldest son Wayne is also a sewer constructor, with the same income as his father. Wayne MARTIN is listed as married, but his wife is not in the household. Adelbert has been unemployed for 236 weeks.

This 1940 record says that the family had lived at the same place in 1935. The first two children, Wayne (1916) and Ruth (1918), were born in Kansas.. The next two, Adelbert (1920) and Robert (1921), were born in Michigan. Then Lucille (1924) in Missouri. Next, Eugene (1926) in Arkansas. Next, James (1930), and the twins, George (1935) and Gladys (1935) in Illinois. The family moved a lot! It seems that they moved from Michigan to Missouri in 1921-4, then Missouri to Arkansas in 1924-6, and finally from Arkansas to Illinois in 1926-30. I don't know if they first lived somewhere else in Illinois, but they were in Chicago by 1935.

The family was still at 2546 W Monroe St in Chicago when William filled out his WWII draft registration, on 27 Apr 1942. He was working at Allied Chemical, Barrett Division, which was a producer of paving materials, especially asphalt. This was located at 28 So. Sacramento, Chicago. I don't know if this refers to Sacramento Ave, Drive, or Blvd, but the Blvd is only 0.7 miles west of his home address, and the Ave and Drive are 3.5 miles south. Recall that William and his eldest son, Wayne, were employed in sewer construction in 1940, according to the census.

It is curious that William didn't name a family member as a person who would always know his address, but instead named Michael NERI. Also, William's residence and mailing address are different.

Isel, presumably with her younger children, lived at 2303 W Van Buren St, Chicago, when she received mail from her son Robert, who was in the Navy. See below.

The 1947 Chicago street directory has Wayne MARTIN, Isel MARTIN, and Adelbert HUNTLEY at 327 N. Leavitt St. This is 2/3 mile NE of 2546 W Monroe St. Since William is not present, he and Isel must have divorced by 1947.

By 1950 William and Isel were divorced. Isel was unemployed, living in Chicago with her 3 youngest children, at 2432 West Jackson Blvd, basement apartment. This is just 1/4 mile SE of their address in 1940.

Isel and her younger children lived in 4 places from 1940 to 1950, all in the East Garfield Park/Tri-Taylor area.

William later married (2) Hazel L. HATCH, born 1890 and died 1971. I have not found any record of this marriage, besides the obituary (below). William's obituary calls her Hazel HATCH/MITCHELL, and I have searched both names, with no luck, so far. William married (3) on 10 Jul 1951, in Pittsburg, KS, Bertha Adora "Byrd" HARTENBOWER. So William probably moved back to Kansas some time between 1942 and 1951.

William Ezra MARTIN died on 19 May 1960 in a hospital in Wichita, KS. He shares a gravestone with his second wife, Hazel, in Douglass Cemetery, Douglass, Butler, KS. Also in the same cemetery, but not the same stone, is the gravestone of his third wife, Byrd MARTIN.

Isel (HUNTLEY) MARTIN was born 30 Aug 1897 in AR, and died 25 Apr 1966, in Cook County, IL, at age 68.

Descendants

None of the 10 known children of William and Isel are still living, since Eugene passed away on 25 Jan 2022, age 95.

William Ezra MARTIN b: 12 May 1896 in Paris, Logan, AR, d: 19 May 1960 in Wichita, Sedgwick, KS, age 64

+ 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, age 68
......1. Wayne Melton MARTIN b: 04 Jun 1916 in Douglass, Butler, KS, d: 17 Dec 2000 in Blue Island, Cook, IL, age 84
...... + Lillian or Mary
...... + Reba NOLEN b: 19 Jul 1917 in KY, m: 08 Oct 1982 in Robertson, TN, d: 22 Mar 2001 in Kuttawa, Lyon, KY, age 83
......2. Ruth Ellen MARTIN b: 11 Jul 1918 in KS, d: 11 Jan 2009 in Hinsdale, Du Page, IL, age 90
...... + Charles J HIRHAGER b: 13 Jan 1919 in Cook, IL, m: 26 Jul 1941 in Cook, IL, d: Jul 1984 in Elmhurst, DuPage, IL, age 65
......3. Adelbert Huntley "Little Dell" MARTIN b: 12 Apr 1920 in Albion, Calhoun, MI, d: 12 Aug 1985 in Houston, Harris, TX, age 65
...... + Angelina Victoria NOTO b: 29 Nov 1925 in Auburn, NY, m: 17 Jul 1943 in Cook, IL, d: 21 Oct 2009 in Bourbonnais, Kankakee, IL, age 83
......4. Robert William MARTIN b: 22 Aug 1921 in Flint, Genesee, MI, d: 13 Jun 1960 in Cook, IL, age 38
......5. Lucille Alice MARTIN b: 8 Apr 1924 in Poplar Bluff, Butler, MO, d: 14 Aug 2014 in Winfield, DuPage, IL, age 90
...... + Harold PRINCE b: 20 Apr 1920 in Garfield, Calhoun, IA, m: 10 Jun 1965 in Oak Park, Cook, IL, d: 16 Apr 1987 in Villa Park, DuPage, IL, age 66
...... + Unknown ZEIDLER
......6. Eugene Jack "Gene" MARTIN b: 10 Jun 1926 in AR, d: 25 Jan 2022 in CA, age 95
...... + June Ruby WILLIAMSON b: 10 May 1932, d: 17 Sep 2010 in IL, age 78
......7. James Donald MARTIN b: 18 Dec 1929 in Chicago, d: 07 Jun 1992 in Joliet, Will, IL, age 62
...... + Helen DYKSTRA b: 23 Nov 1931 in Berwyn, Cook, IL, m: 08 Jun 1951 in Cook, IL, d: 13 Feb 2011, age 79
......8. George E. MARTIN b: 07 Aug 1934 in IL, d: 10 Mar 1990 in Naples, Collier, FL, age 55
...... + Carol Ruth WESTMAN b: 05 Aug 1938, d: 23 May 2006 in Marinette, WI, age 67
......9. Gladys Louise MARTIN b: 07 Aug 1934 in Chicago, d: 19 Mar 2009 in Las Vegas, Clark, NV, age 74
...... + Richard Levoy LANG Jr b: 25 Oct 1931 in Rienzi, Alcorn, MS, m: 09 Jan 1951 in Chicago, d: 02 Mar 2007 in Davenport, Scott, IA, age 75
......10. Patricia Ann "Patsy" MARTIN b: 30 Oct 1940 in Chicago, d: 15 Oct 1993 in Chicago, age 52
...... + Daniel J SHEDLARSKI b: 18 Feb 1940 in PA, m: 30 Oct 1959 in Cook, IL, d: 06 Dec 2013 in Cook, IL, age 73

+ 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, age 72

+ Hazel L HATCH b: 1890 in KS, d: 1971 in KS, age 81

1. Wayne Melton MARTIN was born on 4 Jun 1916, in Douglass, Butler, KS, and died on 17 Dec 2000, probably in Blue Island, Cook County, IL, which was his last residence.

This record says Wayne was born in Douglas, Kansas, which would mean Douglas County (with one s). I think is is a mistake. One year earlier, when William filled out his draft card, he lived in the town of Douglass, Butler County. Other family members also lived in Douglass. There was no connection with Douglas County. So I believe Wayne was born in Douglass, Butler, KS.

Wayne filled out his WWII draft card on 16 Oct 1940. His marital status is not given. He was living with his parents at 2546 W Monroe St, and working for the Clinton Machinery Company, at 5820 S Wood St, which was 7.6 miles south of home. His job description is not given, but when he enlisted in the Army less than 2 years later, his civil occupation was in the group: plumbers, gas fitters, and steam fitters.

Wayne MARTIN enlisted in the US Army as a Warrant Officer on 11 Jun 1942. He was divorced, with dependents. Recall that the 1940 Census said he was married, living with his parents, and his wife was not present. Some researchers have his first wife's name as Lillian, or Mary. I have not found any information on his descendants.

In 1940 his occupation was "sewer construction" and in 1942 it was "Plumbers, gas fitters, and steam fitters".

Wayne lived in Chicago in 1940, according to the 1940 US Census (above). He enlisted in Chicago, 1942. I have not found any record of him between 1942 and 1982, except family photos provided by family members.

Wayne moved to Tennessee, and married Reba NOLEN on 8 Oct 1982, when he was 66. They married in Robertson County, TN on 8 Oct 1982, and lived in McKenzie, TN in 1990 and 1995. McKenzie is a city at the tripoint of Carroll, Henry, and Weakley counties in northwestern TN.

Reba was previously married to Henry Marshall NOLEN. She survived both husbands, and died 22 Mar 2001 in McKenzie, TN.

It is curious that Reba's maiden name was NALEN, since her father was Harrison NALEN, and her first husband was Henry Marshall NOLEN. The NALEN-NOLEN wedding?

2. Ruth Ellen MARTIN was born May 1918, in KS, and died 11 Jan 2009, in IL. She still lived with her parents and 8 siblings in 1940, at 2546 W Monroe Street, Chicago. She married Charles Louis Joseph HIRHAGER on 26 Jul 1941 in Cook County.

Charles was born 13 Jan 1919 in Cook, IL, son of Charles G. HIRHAGER and Anna S. PLASSMAN.

(There was another Charles HIRHAGER in St Louis, MO, along with an extended HIRHAGER family, but I think our Charles stayed in Cook and DuPage counties all his life, except during his military service.)

Charles was 22 and Ruth Ellen was 23 when they married. Charles worked for J P SEEBURG, a company that manufactured player pianos and jukeboxes. He enlisted in the US Army on 16 May 1944, and was discharged on 8 Jun 1946.

In 1950 Ruth Ellen and Charles were still childless, living with his parents at 2002 W 21st Street, Chicago, the same place where they lived in 1940. It appears that this house was divided into 4 parts, with Charles Sr and wife in 1R, Charles Jr and Ruth in 2F, and the Florean GOSPOCHAREZYK family in 2R. Charles Sr was a jeweler, and Charles Jr was a tecnician at a radio manufacturer. The census also tells us that Charles Jr had completed 2 years of college, earned $4,400 in 1949, and someone else in his household, presumably Ruth, earned $1,800 in 1949.

The house at 2002 W 21st Street was on the Lower West Side, about 3 miles SW of downtown Chicago. It is about 2 miles S and 1/2 mile E of the Martin residence at 2546 W Monroe Street. The house still stands.

The 1962 Chicago directory has Charles C. HIRHAGER, still living at 2002 W. 21st Street. The family moved about 15 miles west, to Elmhurst, DuPage County, IL between 1962 and 1971.

Ruth Ellen and Charles had no children in the first 14 years of their marriage. Then they had a daughter, JoAnn L. HIRHAGER on 2 Nov 1955, and a son, Donald Charles HIRHAGER, on 23 Jun 1959.

Charles J. HIRHAGER died in Jul 1984, age 65. His last residence was in Elmhurst, DuPage, IL. Ruth Ellen died on 11 Jan 2009 in Hinsdale, DuPage, IL.

3. Adelbert Huntley "Dell" MARTIN was born 12 Apr 1920 in Grand Rapids, Kent, MI, and died 12 Aug 1985. In 1940 he lived with his parents and all 8 siblings, at 2546 W Monroe Street, Chicago. He was unemployed.

Adelbert married Angelina/Angeline/Angela Victoria NOTO. A family member told me that the V stands for Victoria, and provided this obituary.

Angelina was a waitress at the Ashkenaz Restaurant and Delicatessen. This business opened in several locations in the Chicago area. She once served Charles H. PERCY, a US Senator from Illinois from 1967 to 1985. The photo above was taken in a back room. Her obituary tells us that she retired from Max and Benny's Restaurant-Deli-Bakery, in Northbrook, IL.

Adelbert registered for the draft on 1 Jul 1941, at age 21. He lived with his mother, and was unemployed, but listed his occupation as "paint sprayer". He served in the US Army in WWII, a little over a year, and it was during this period that he married Angelina.

By 1950, Adelbert and Angeline were separated. She lived with he 4 small children, at 2744 W Harrison St, Chicago, which is 1/2 mile SW of 2546 W Monroe St. Also in the household were Adelbert's brother and uncle. Angeline was working at a mail order house.

4. Robert William MARTIN was born 22 Aug 1921 in MI and died 13 Jun 1960, at age 38. He lived with his parents and siblings in 1940, when he was employed as a "tester inspector, beauty prod. mfg."

(There was a Robert MARTIN who married Mildred (CONKLIN) GRUND, on 3 Nov 1945, in Flint, MI. However, family members say that our Robert never married. Unless maybe he married as an impulse after the war, then divorced, went back to the Navy, and never told anyone. It is tempting, because the Robert MARTIN who married Mildred CONKLIN had parents William MARTIN and Hazel (HOWARD) MARTIN. Recall that Hazel HATCH/MITCHELL was the 2nd wife of William Ezra MARTIN, hence a step-mother of our Robert. Also, Robert and Mildred lived with Hazel MARTIN in 1950, but here he was Robert S. MARTIN.)

Robert served in the US Navy for almost 6 years, as a Shipfitter 1st Class. We know this is the right Robert MARTIN, because the form below was signed by his sister, Lucille M. PRINCE. This establishes Robert's birth and death dates, and his full name.

Robert MARTIN served on the USS Rigel (AR-11/AD-13), at least in Jun 1944. This ship was built in 1918, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was decommissioned in 1946. The US Navy later reused the name, for the USS Rigel (AF-58), and there was a USS Rigel in the Star Trek fleet!

Robert died on 13 Jun 1960, age 38, probably on the west side or west suburbs of Chicago. According to family members, he went to drug store to get pack of cigarettes and was robbed and shot. He only had a quarter or so in his pocket. He is buried in Chapel Hill Gardens West, Elmhurst, DuPage, IL.

5. Lucille Alice MARTIN was born 8 Apr 1924 in Poplar Bluff, Butler, MO, and died 14 Aug 2014 in Winfield, IL. [KM] The obituary of Ruth MARTIN (above) names her sister Lucille PRINCE, and in Robert's headstone application (above) his sister is Lucille M. PRINCE. Her address was 1025 S. Cornell, Villa Park, IL in 1961.

6. Eugene Jack MARTIN was born 10 Jun 1926 in AR. Family sources tell me that his wife was Ruby June WILLIAMSON (1932-2010). He died at a hospice in CA, probably near Roseville, on 25 Jan 2022, age 95. He lived his last years with his daughter Donna (MARTIN) WEIFERT and family, in Roseville, CA.

7. James MARTIN was born on 11 Dec 1929 in IL, according to family info. His wife was Helen DYKSTRA, and they had 5 children, in Chicago. James died in a nursing home in Joliet, Will, IL on 7 Jun 1992, age 62. Helen was born 23 Nov 1931 and died 13 Feb 2011, age 79.

8. George E. MARTIN was born 7 Aug 1934 in IL, and died 10 Mar 1990 in Naples, Collier, FL. [KM] He married on 1 Dec 1956 in Cook County, IL, to Carol Ruth WESTMAN, born 5 Aug 1938 in IL, and died 23 May 2006, in Marinette, WI. So he was 22 and she was 18, and more than 3 months pregnant, when they married. They had 5 children.

In 1959 and 1960, George E. and Ruth MARTIN are found in the City Directory of Waukegan, IL, about 50 miles north of downtown Chicago. They lived at 2221 Northern Ave, and George was an inspector at the Johnson Motor Company, which made outboard motors for boating.

George and Carol divorced in the late 1960s, leaving Carol with 5 young children. George MARTIN retired to Naples, FL where he died on 10 Mar 1990, age 55.

After divorcing George MARTIN, Carol remarried on 2 Aug 1972 in Marinette County, to Everett Daniel McTRUSTY, born 19 Oct 1912 in WI, died 23 Jul 1996 in Marinette, age 83. So he was 60 and she was 3 days shy of 34, with 5 children, when they married.

Everett was a veteran of WWII. He was a teacher in primary school/kindergarten when he enlisted in the US Army on 16 Dec 1942, suffered a fractured tibia in Feb 1945, and was discharged on 14 Mar 1946. Carol and Everett share a gravestone in Amberg Cemetery, Amberg, Marinette, WI.

9. Gladys Louise MARTIN, the twin of George, was born on 7 Aug 1934 in IL, and died 19 Mar 2009 in Las Vegas, Clark, NV. [KM] She married Richard Levoy LANG on 9 Jan 1951, in Cook County, IL.

10. Patricia Ann "Patsy" MARTIN was born 30 Oct 1940 in in Chicago, Cook, IL, and died 15 Oct 1993, in Chicago, age 52. [KM] She married on 30 Oct 1959 in Cook, IL, to Daniel J SHEDLARSKI, born 18 Feb 1940 in PA, died 06 Dec 2013 in Cook County, IL, age 73.

She was born a few months after the 1940 Census. Her sister Ruth's obituary (above) names her Patricia SHEDLARSKI. The obituary of Daniel J. SHEDLARSKI mentions late wife Patricia.

A family member told me that Patsy "was in and out of the hospital all the time because she had polio."

Sources

[EGP] East Garfield Park primer: from 1869 to present

[JB] West on Jackson Boulevard: Traversing Chicago via Garfield Park

[GP] Garfield Park Chicago in Moore's Postcard Museum

[KM] Katie Martin Family Tree on Ancestry.com

[SF] Snowball fight in East Garfield Park, a couple of blocks from 2546 W Monroe St

Updated 2 Aug 2022 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.