Over two decades ago I had gone looking for the gravesite of Elizabeth Martin in Perry County, where a great uncle thought it might be. Unable
to find it, I had decided that she was probably buried on a farm someplace in an unmarked grave. I did not know her maiden name, and I only knew that
she was buried with one or two children, all of whom the great uncle thought had died in a typhoid epidemic.
In May 2003, I unexpectedly connected by Internet with an unknown distant distant cousin-in-law, who had just received some family records from her
husband's people. From those ancient records passed down in Kansas, I learned that Elizabeth's maiden name was also Martin, and that she and her
baby and her mother were all in Pleasant Grove Cemetery "near Mt. Vernon." I hurried to the Jefferson County web site, and there were their names and information matching what I had just received from Kansas. A visit to the cemetery brought forth this poem.
Elizabeth (Martin) Martin Wife of William Felix Grundy Martin 5-1-1827 to 10-6-1857
Elizabeth came from Tennessee To marry her cousin In Illinois country. An only daughter With six brothers, Her sister Margaret had died at three. She helped out at home down there, Content with others' lives. Then Felix's dreams became her own Which they must realize. Though sad to leave her parents, William Felix was a prize. A preacher like her daddy, Felix filled her heart with love. Baby Margaret came along, A second blessing from above. Glorious sunshiny summer Must end as all things do. A horse threw off its rider And troubles began to brew. Her uncle, Felix's father, Was killed by that hard fall. She comforted her husband Who cried but still stood tall. Her death not three weeks later Brought him to the ground. For such excess bereavement No comfort could be found. Baby Margaret without her mother Could not survive here long. A third time family gathered And sang a sadder song. Beloved bride. Beloved babe. He must ride to Tennessee To tell her parents what they'd lost Here in Illinois country. Time passed and much to his surprise William Felix loved once more And the sun began to rise. The Civil War called him from home, And all three brothers too. For it seemed right that men must fight When things were all askew. Elizabeth had three brothers Who'd moved up from Tennessee And like the other cousins, they marched Back home with Lincoln's grand army. Nine Martin cousins Volunteered to join the fray. Six came back and three died young Their hair to never gray. The war was finally over. William returned to Louisa Jane. He smiled to see son Will so big And horse and farm again. A three-room house they built with pride Joys and sorrows came their way. But he had learned when Elizabeth died, That neither come to stay. It was Elizabeth's father's turn to die, Her mother Nancy was alone. A younger son brought their mother up To make an Illinois home. Nancy saw the graves from long ago Of the daughter still so dear Of the babe she had yet to rock And she shed another tear. Nancy too returned to dust A long way from Tennessee, She was glad to join Elizabeth Here in Illinois country. I place blooms on these three graves Where William Felix sobbed in grief, Their early deaths gave me my life, My great-grandmother was his second wife Copyright Sue Glasco 2003
Wilderness Bound -- Fire-fighter and paramedic, Matthew Standing Deer returns to the past, to the Lakota, only to find himself hurtled into danger, uncontrollable greed, and searching for a serial killer. Danger looms over everyone's head. How will h
“We’re going to use nine megaton warheads in space and we’re not sure they’re large enough to be effective. Why would you even consider using kiloton-range surface-to-air warheads as back-up?” The answer was succinct. “Because they’re all we have.”
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