Finding Frank

FRANK MARTIN is the last of the Martin line that I have traced and I know very little about him.

BIRTH DATE: Frank was born in November 1824 according to the 1900 census, family members state he was born 4 October 1823. The 1895 Iowa census puts his birthdate at 1829. And the possible arrival record I have for him gives his birthdate as 1826.

BIRTH LOCATION: Passenger list states they came from Hungary. 1895 census states he is Bohemian. 1900 census states he is Austrian. 1905 census does not state place of birth. Son Michael Philip's naturalization papers list Austria as place of birth.

MARRIAGE DATE: Frank was married to Barbara (Cernowski, Chrinstota??) in the "old country". According to the 1900 Census, they were married for 46 years which means their marriage date would be 1854. Family lore says they were engaged for 7 years and were in their 30s when married.

ARRIVAL IN THE US: The 1900 census listed his arrival in the US at 1893. He was obviously here by 1895 as he is listed in the Iowa State Census. A New York Passenger List found in 1893 shows a Franz Martnick age 67, Barbara Martnick, age 56 and Michaly Martnick, age 16 arriving on the S.S. Lahn. I suspect this could be accurate for several reasons.

1. The 1900 census information listed Michael Philip's arrival in 1893.
2. On Michael Philip' naturalization record, he states he was 16 when he arrived.
3. Family lore again says the name was probably Martinek or something similar before it became Martin.
4. Franz and Barbara are the correct ages.
5. Origination is listed as Hungary. Again, family lore says they were Bohemian/Austrian and moved to Hungary.

Some things that are possibly conflicting include:

1. Frank is not noted as Franz in any other records.
2. No mention on this record of their other three sons. Michael is the youngest. The others most likely traveled separately.
3. Family lore states that Frank emigrate to avoid military conscription. At age 67 this was highly unlikely but it might explain why they possibly moved from Austria to Hungary early in their lives. Or perhaps they emigrated to assist Michael Philip in avoiding military conscription?
4. The 1900 census lists their arrival in 1895.

DEATH DATE: Frank is listed in the 1905 Iowa census. There is no record in the 1910 census. There does not appear to be a death record or cemetery record. Frank is not listed in the St. Mary's Cemetery census in Albia which is where the rest of the family members appear to be buried. Is there any possibility that Frank and Barbara went back to the old country?

This is not a family that left many records behind. And at this time they continue to be a mystery.

Mike Martin

George "Mike" Michael Martin was my grandfather. At some time after 1940 he was injured while working in the coal mines so my memories of him are colored by his crippled leg and the constant pain he was in. Although he could be gruff and short-tempered, as a grandpa he was always loving and kind. My main memories are of him sitting in his recliner by the large picture window, watching what was going on in the neighborhood and watching tv.

Parents: Michael "Mike" Philip Martin^1,2 and Mary Theresa Kausalick². He was their 2nd child but 1st son.

Birth Date: Probably 20 September 1900². Also listed as 28 September 1900¹² and May 1900¹. No record has been found for birth except for the FamilySearch index record. The SSDI ¹⁴ lists 20 September 1900 as his birthdate. Apparently one must show a birth certificate or some proof to verify birth date when applying for a social security number.

Birth Place: Hocking, Monroe County, Iowa.^1,2All sources appear to agree that Hocking is the correct birth place.

Baptism: Mike was baptized on 6 October 1900 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albia, Monroe, Iowa². His parents were listed as Mike Martin ad Mary Kausilick and his sponsors were George Sherba (Sherbo) and Anna Brobouski. It is unknown what the relationship is with the sponsors. Is it possible that Mike is named after George?

Marriage 12 September 1925 at Albia, Monroe, Iowa. Married Florence Edwards⁸, nee Halliday. Florence had been previously married to Harold Edwards and was divorced from him. She had a son, Richard Eugene Edwards, who was living with Florence's mother.

Death 1 January 1973, West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois in the Union Hospital in West Frankfort. George died 4 days after his first great-grandson was born.

Children

1. June Lorraine Martin, B. 31 January 1926, Albia, Monroe, Iowa. ¹³ Died January 1978 West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois. Never married.
2. George Robert Martin, Still Living.

Residences

1. 1905 - Hocking, Monroe, Iowa³. No age listed. Living with grandparents Frank and Barbra, parents Mike and Mary and siblings Tressie and Mary Martin.
2. 1910 - Hocking, Monroe, Iowa⁴. Aged 9. Living with parents Mike and Mary, siblings Theresa, Mary B. Frank and Carl. Living next door to grandparents Wenzel and Theresa Causlic.
3. 1915 - Hocking, Monroe, Iowa ⁵. Aged 14.
4. 1917 - Missouri - brother Eugene was born in Missouri in 1917.
5. 1920 - DeKalb, DeKalb County, Iowa ⁶ Living with parents Mike and Mary, siblings Bertha, Francis, Carl, James, Barbara, Vincent, Eugene and Dorothy. Also with his brother-in-law Emil Pesut and Emil's daughter Theresa. (Husband and daughter of sister Theresa who died in childbirth.)
6. 1925 -Albia, Monroe, Iowa⁷. Living with mother Mary, siblings Frank E., Carl W, James E., Barbara L., Vincent, Eugene, and Dorothy. Father has died. Also married in Albia in 1925.
7. 1927 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ⁹
8. 1930 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ¹⁰ Living with wife Florence, daughter June and brother James. Son George Robert who was born 1929 is missing.
9. 1940 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ¹¹ Living with wife Florence, daughter June and son George.
10. 1973 - West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois ¹²

Occupations:

• 1915 - Clerk (not at work)
• 1920 - Miner Coal Mine
• 1927 - Received Certificate of Competency of Coal Miner
• 1930 - Coal Loader - Mine
• 1940 - Miner - Coal Mine
• Worked Old Ben No 15, Pershing, Illinois
• Member UMWA Local 8317

Sources
¹"Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XVH9-R8X :accessed 09 July 2013), Michael Martin, 1900.
² St. Mary's Catholic Church (Albia, Monroe, Iowa), Baptismal Certificates (privately held by Cathy Naborowski, 1960), George Michael Martin baptismal Certificate (1900), issued 1960.
³ Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925, Monroe County, Iowa, Troy Township, p. 1, number 8, Mike Martin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:///www.Ancestry.com: accessed 8 July 2013).
⁴ 1910 U.S. census, Monroe County, Iowa, population schedule, Troy Township, p. 5951, dwelling 144, family 144, George Martin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com; accessed 8 July 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, Roll 414.
⁵Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925, Monroe County, Iowa. Troy Township, Card No. A992, Mike Martin: digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 July 2013); microfilm of Iowa State Censuses.
⁶ 1920 U.S. census, Dekalb County, Illinois, population schedule, Dekalb City, p. 2B, dwelling 31, family 42, George Martin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8 July 2013); Microfilm T265, roll 303.
⁷ Ancestry.com, Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925 (Provo, UT, USA, The Generations Network, Inc., 2007), www.ancestry.com, Line 8 Roll: IA1925_1854.
⁸Certificate of Marriage for George M. Martin & Florence Edwards, This certifies that on the 12 day of September 1925 at Albia in Monroe County, Iowa, according to law I joined in Marriage George M. Martin and Florence Edwards, 12 day of September 1925. E.M. Gillaspie, Justice of the Peace. Witnesses: Mary Halliday and Robert Smillie.
⁹ Certificate of Competency of Coal Miner, State Miners' Examining Board, West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois, Certificate No. 88203. (privately held by Cathy Naborowski), Mike G. Martin, 1927.
¹⁰ Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626,), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1930; Census Place: Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: .. Birth date: abt 1901 Birth place: Iowa Residence date: 1930 Residence place: Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois.
¹¹Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1940; Census Place: West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois; Roll: T627_803; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 28-22.. Birth date: abt 1901 Birth place: Iowa Residence date: 1 Apr 1940 Residence place: West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois, United States.
¹² Various unsourced obituaries. (privately held by Cathy Naborowski). George M. Martin, 1973.
¹³ Monroe County, Iowa, birth certificate, Book 5, Page 126 (1926), Female Martin; Monroe County District Court, Albia
¹⁴Ancestry.com, Social Security Death Index (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.Original data - Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security D), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Number: 343-07-7625; Issue State: Illinois; Issue Date: Before 1951.. Birth date: 20 Sep 1900 Birth place: Death date: Jan 1973 Death place: West Frankfort, Franklin, Illinois, United States of America.

What Does it Take to Be a Good Genealogist

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed today. Due to a windstorm, we were without power for 6 days - and worse yet, without internet for 12. Of course I had my droid and could keep tabs at a high level on my Facebook friends, emails, etc. But now that it's been almost two weeks since I've done any real genealogy, I'm unsure where to start. It got me thinking about all the things that go into being a genealogist.

There was an interesting discussion on a FB page regarding various spellings of names and how to come up with a good list of possibilities. Myra Vanderpool Gormley suggested to make sure you sound out the names. That led me to wondering about dialects in the 1700s and 1800s - especially in the south. A genealogist needs to be a linguist.

Recently I was studying Tennessee County maps using the AniMap tool to understand how far apart certain locations were. Trying to pinpoint locations on a map can be challenging. And understanding the terrain and features of the area are equally important to understanding why a family member settled where they did and did what they did. A genealogist needs to be a geographer and a cartographer.

Of course, it is important to understand what made your family migrate to wherever they migrated to (or what made them stay where they were.) Did all their children die from a measles outbreak? Did the coal in the mines run out? Was there a universal crop failure/drought/earthquake or other natural disaster that impacted their lives. A genealogist needs to be a historian.

Organization and documentation are key to creating and maintaining good records and tracking your family through the years. These are skills that can be developed by taking classes, attending webinars, reading books. A good genealogist needs to be an organizational specialist, a careful note taker and citation specialist. (And a good multi-tasker and time-management expert.)

Working through a family tree is like putting together a puzzle, piece by piece and working through a mystery. A good genealogist has to have the ability to see both the small picture and the big picture. But above all, they must be careful, reasoned thinkers who document and back up their conclusions. Once this is done, they must be able to write out those conclusions. A genealogist must be a writer.

Today's genealogy involves using technology. Understanding how to search records to find what you are looking for, using various pieces of technology to manage your genealogy projects, using a genealogy application and writing your story - all these require technology. A genealogist must be a technology specialist.

One of the challenges of genealogy is to find the resources you need, searching online, searching through library catalogs, searching through archives, courthouses, and wherever records might be found. Knowing how to locate information is a skill that is developed through practice. A good genealogist must be a reference librarian.

A genealogist must be a diplomat when working with others. Often what you find might not be what the family really wants to find. A good genealogist can help the family understand that all  information is important and that all families have black sheep and white sheep.

If all these things seem like a lot (and this is just the tip of the iceberg) I would agree. There are a lot more areas where a strong knowledge base is important - -  law, genetics, religion, foreign languages, handwriting, problem solving and so on. Thomas W. Jones states in Mastering Genealogical Proof  that "Genealogy's knowledge base and skill set are comparable to those of disciplines with graduate-level curricula at reputable colleges and universities." 1

 

And one last thing - a good genealogist needs lots of time in which to learn all these things and put them all into practice. Sigh!

 

^{1  Jones, Thomas W. Mastering Genealogical Proof. (Arlington Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2013), page 2.}