Luther Rosa, ca. 1900

Luther Jackson Martin was probably born in Hire Township, McDonough County, Illinois.  He was the son of William Giles Martin and Matilda Susan Dixon, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Rosa Levina Knoedler was born February 28, 1882 (not 1872 as misprinted in her obituary), in Hire Township, the youngest child of John Knoedler and Catherine George. John had immigrated from Germany to the United States in 1849; Catherine's parents also came from Germany. Luther and Rosa married on February 7, 1906, and started out farming in Hire Township on a rented farm.  In 1917 they moved to adjacent Hancock County, where they had purchased a 120 acre farm in Section 15 of Hancock Township.  They remained there for a number of years. Wedding portrait Rosa died in Tennessee Township, McDonough County, on April 9, 1941. Luther, pictured at right in 1960, survived her by over two decades; he died in 1965.  They are both buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Colchester, McDonough County. Continue reading Rosa's obituary

The tombstone inscription for Luther is said to read 1882-1965, yet when he registered for the draft in 1918, the following information was recorded.  (We have found numerous Draft Registration forms which bear dates that differ from other sources.)

FIRST, MIDDLE, FAMILY NAME   Luther Jackson Martin
PERMANENT HOME ADDRESS
[NO.] ____    [STREET or R.F.D. #] R.F.D. No 1    [TOWN] Tennessee    [COUNTY] McDonough    [STATE] Ill
AGE   37     DATE OF BIRTH   June 10, 1881
PRESENT OCCUPATION   Farmer     EMPLOYER'S NAME   _____
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT   R.F.D. No 1, Tennessee, McDonough Co, Ill
NEAREST RELATIVE   Rosa L Martin     ADDRESS   R.F.D. No 1, Tennessee, McDonough Co, Ill

FROM THE REGISTRAR'S REPORT - DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT
HEIGHT   Tall     BUILD   Slender     EYES   Blue     HAIR   Black
HAS PERSON LOST ARM, LEG, HAND, EYE, OR IS HE OBVIOUSLY PHYSICALLY DISQUALIFIED   [no entry]

REGISTRAR   Reuben Long
DATE OF REGISTRATION   September 12, 1918
HANCOCK CO. LOCAL BOARD, CARTHAGE, ILLS.

(R.F.D. No. 1, Tennessee, McDonough County, was the family's address for mail service.  They were physically located in Hancock Township, Hancock County.)

Luther and Rosa's children:
i.	Virgil W. Martin, born December 13, 1906, in Hire Township, died June 12, 1981.  Burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
ii.	Irvin "Pete" Martin, born February 16, 1909, in Hire Township.  He died October 4, 1985, at Bowen, Hancock County, burial at Oakwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Hancock County.	Virgil, Irvin and Alma are pictured with a group of Woodville School students photographed in the early 1920s.  Click here to see the complete snapshot.
iii.	Alma L. Martin, born December 28, 1910, died November 11, 2008, at Carthage, Hancock County.  Burial at Webster Cemetery, Webster, Hancock County
iv.	Catherine Alleyne Martin
iv.	Vernon "Barney" Martin, born January 26, 1917, in McDonough County.  He died September 18, 2001, at Macomb, McDonough County.

Martin, William, head, white, male, Feb [? overwritten] 1838, 62, married for 34 years, born VA, father born VA, mother born KY, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, rented his farm home, farm schedule 49

Susan, wife, white, female, Feb 1843, 57, married for 34 years; mother of 10 children, 7 living; born KY, both parents born VA, could read, write and speak English

Luther, son, white, male, June 1881, 18, single, born IL, father born KY, mother born VA, farm laborer, months not employed, could read, write and speak English

Myrtie, daughter, white, female, July 1882, 17, single, born IL, father born KY, mother born VA, at school for 6 months, could read, write and speak English

Martha, daughter, white, female, April [? overwritten] 1884, 16, single, born IL, father born KY, mother born VA, at school for 6 months, could read, write and speak English

Knoedler, Catharine, head, white, female, born Jan 1840, 60, widow; mother of 6 children, all living; born VA, both parents born Germany, could read, write and speak English, owned her home free of mortgage

Amand, daughter, white, female, born Aug 1874, 25, single, born IL, father born VA, mother born VA, seamstress, months not employed - 4, could read, write and speak English

Rosa, daughter, white, female, born Feb 1882, 18, single, born IL, father born VA, mother born VA, could read, write and speak English

Martin, Luther, head, male, white, 28, married (1st) for 4 years, born IL, father born KY, mother born VA, spoke English, farmer, gen farm, working on own account, could read and write, rented his farm home, farm schedule 39

Rosa, wife, female, white, 28, married (1st) for 4 years; mother of 2 children, living; born IL, father born Germany, mother born VA, spoke English, could read and write

Virgil, son, male, white, 3, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Irvin, son, male, white, 1, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Martin, Luther J, head, owner, free of mortgage, male, white, 38, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born VA, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, farm schedule 132

Rosa, wife, female, white, 37, married, could read and write, born IL, father born OH, mother born CA, spoke English

Virgil W, son, male, white, 13, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Ervin E, son, male, white, 11, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Alma L, daughter, female, white, 9, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, born IL, both parents born IL

Catherine A, daughter, female, white, 6, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, born IL, both parents born IL

Vernon, son, male, white, 2 10/12, born IL, both parents born IL

Martin, Luther J, head, owner, [no entry for home value], did not own a radio, male, white, 49, married, age at first marriage- 24, could read and write, born IL, father born VA, mother born KY, spoke English, farmer, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 38

Rosa, wife, female, white, 48, married, age at first marriage - 24, could read and write, born IL, both parents born [unknown crossed out] U.S., spoke English

Virgil, son, male, white, 23, single, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Irvin, son, male, white, 21, single, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Alma, daughter, female, white, 19, single, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, teacher, public school

Alleyne, daughter, female, white, 16, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Vernon, son, male, white, 13, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English