Family news & events.
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The young family of Thomas Jefferson Martin and Adaline 'Adda" Keffer Martin. The six children, plus his daughter by a previous marriage comprised the heads of this family. These we would know as our parents, grandparents &
great-grandparents.
TIMELINE: The early years
May 8, 1836
Rushville, Indiana. The marriage event linking Jonathan Martin of Indiana & Anna Cook of Kentucky. How long they lived there & other details of their lives in Indiana are not known.
1850 Census Records
New Berlin, Sangamon County, Illinois​. The Jonathan Martin family is listed as living in this community though little esle is known about them there. Local history in New Berlin seems to have begun in the 1870s, and the Martins were gone by then!
Where it all began!
Civil War Involvement (to 1865)
Jonathan and son, James? fought with the Union forces in Missouri. Though MO was a divided state, their regiment was Union and appears to have formed from the Sedalia, MO area. Both were taken prisoners of war and were marched to the Camp Ford prison camp near Tyler, Texas. Both remained imprisoned here until they were released at war's end. There Jonathan, like many of the other prisoners, developed scurvy.
After the War (1870s)
Sedalia, MO is where the Martins returned home to, following their release from prison camp. Eventually, Jonathan's widow was listed as a pensioner's survivor. Jonathan and Anna are buried in Calvary Cemetery, Sedalia.
T. J. Martin & Adaline 'Keffer' Martin ​(Railroad & pioneer years)
Thomas Jefferson began his career with the railroad in Sedalia. Their oldest son, Alva Richard, would be born there. By the time son, Leo 'Lee' Bennett was born, the railroad work had taken the family to Stafford, Kansas. It was while living here that T. J. took the opportunity to participate in the Cherokee Strip Land Run of Sept. 1893. He staked a claim a mile south of present day Alva, OK. Yet, without his family present, his only option was to sell the claim, rather than retain it, which he did for a wagon & mule team. Impressed with this new land, however, he returned to Kansas, collected the family & located in the Green Valley area of Woods County, OK.
TIMELINE: The "Greatest Generation"
1930s-50s, The families settle
The siblings and their spouses eventually settled in Oklahoma City (3), in Colorado Springs, in Watonga, OK, and at the location of family roots near Dacoma, OK.
1945, World War II
One of the family's finest, Garnett Quinn, served overseas in the War. Thankfully, he was
returned safely to his family.
HERO
1955
The family reunion began, first held at Roman Nose State Park, Watonga, OK, then later at Boiling Springs State Park, near Woodward, OK. After moving to Canyon Camp, Hinton, OK for only a few years, the reunions ended in 1986.
TIMELINE: The 21st century & families mature
Sept. 2009
Family Reunion renewed in Branson -- a first in more than 20 years!
Sept 2011
Family Reunion with torrential rain -- Saturday activities dampened!
Sept 2013
Family Reunion in Branson -- beautiful weather!
Sept 18-20, 2015
Make your plans now, so you won't MISS it!