Giles Martin, the father, came from a large family; one of his brothers was Reuben Martin.  Family members infer that William set his feet on the road to McDonough County, Illinois, because Reuben Martin had settled there.

Matilda Susan Dixon was born February 3, 1843, in Kentucky, probably in Greenup County, the daughter of John Dixon and Narrotha Hackworth, both originally from Virginia.  The Dixons arrived in McDonough County, Illinois, sometime between 1850 and 1854.

It was in 1854 that Narrotha Dixon, widowed, married the above mentioned Reuben Martin.  So when Matilda married William Giles Martin 15 years later, she married her stepfather's nephew.  Marriage Documents

In 1870 William and Matilda were counted in Narrotha's household in Tennessee Township, McDonough County, along with all but one of Narrotha's surviving children by John Dixon and Reuben Martin.  The first few years of William and Matilda's married life dealt blows of sorrow. They lost their second, third and fourth-born children, all sons, one each in 1871, 1872 and 1873.

By 1880 William and Matilda had established themselves in Hire Township, McDonough County, where they raised their growing family and farmed until they retired.  In January of 1920 they were counted in Colchester Township, also in McDonough County.

The Martin children, all born in McDonough County, were:

i.	William Franklin Martin, born about 1867.  He died on January 3, 1921, at Colchester, burial location undetermined.
ii.	John E. Martin, born in 1869, died in 1871, burial at Friendship Cemetery, McDonough County.
iii.	Adison Martin, born in 1871, died in 1872, burial at Friendship Cemetery.
iv.	Thomas H. Martin, born in 1872, died in 1873, burial at Friendship Cemetery.
v.	Estella J. Martin, born about 1874.
vi.	Charles Martin, born about 1875.
vii.	Nellie Martin, born about 1878.
viii.	Luther Jackson Martin, born June 10, 1881.  He died in 1965 and was buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Colchester.
ix.	Myrtie Martin, born about 1882.
x.	Martha Martin, born about 1884.

William died on November 14, 1923, in Colchester Township.  Matilda followed him in death a month and a half later, also dying in Colchester Township, on January 2, 1924.  They are both buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

Giles Martin, 51, male, farmer, value of real estate 1500, born VA, could not read or write
Levitha Martin, 45, female, born VA
Mary Martin, 21, female, born VA
Martha Martin, 18, female, born VA
Sarah J Martin, 16, female, born VA
John Martin, 13, male, born VA
William Martin, 11, male, born VA
Flemming Martin, 9, male, born VA
Pleasant J Martin, 7, male, born VA
Nathan P Martin, 5, male, born VA
Louisa F Martin, 3, female, born VA

John Dixon, 54, male, farmer, born VA
[continued on next page]
Narotha S Dixon, 31, female, born VA, could not read or write
George W, 9, male, born KY, attended school within the year
Matilda S, 6, female, born KY
John G, 5, male, born KY
Joseph H, 2, male, born KY
Reuben B, 3/12, born KY

Reuben Martin, 58, male, farmer, value of real estate 2000, value of personal estate 860, born VA, could not read or write
Narrothy, 41, female, born VA, could not read or write
Gerge W Dixon, 19, male, born KY, attended school within the year
John [Dixon] 14, male, born KY, attended school within the year
Joseph [Dixon] 12, male, born KY, attended school within the year
Mary Martin, 4, female, born IL
Lucetta [Martin], 3, female, born IL
Anderson [Martin], 10/12, male, born IL
Matilda Dixon, 17, female, born KY

Martin, Nirotha, 52, female, white, keeps house, value of real estate 7000, value of personal estate 1500, born VA
John G [Dixon], 24, male, white, works on farm, born KY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Joseph [Dixon], 22, male, white, works on farm, born KY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Mary J [Martin], 15, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Lucetta [Martin], 13, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Jackson [Martin], 12, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Lavitha [Martin], 8, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Angeline [Martin], 7, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
William [Martin], 32, male, white, works on farm, born VA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Susan [Martin], 27, female, white, keeps house, born KY
Frank [Martin], 3, male, white, born IL
John [Martin], 7/12, male, white

Martin, William, white, male, 42, married, farmer, born VA, both parents born VA
Susan, white, female, 37, wife, married, keeps house, born KY, both parents born KY
Franklin, white, male, 12, son, single, works on farm, attended school within the year, born IL, father born VA, mother born KY
Stella, white, female, 6, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, father born VA, mother born KY
Charley, white, male, 4, son, single, born IL, father born VA, mother born KY
Nellie, white, female, 2, daughter, single, born IL, father born VA, mother born KY

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

Martin, William, head, male, white, 73, married (1st) for 38 years, born VA, both parents born VA, spoke English, farmer, gen farm, working on own account, could read and write, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 48

Matilda S, wife, female, white, 67, married (1st) for 38 years; mother of 10 children, 7 living; born KY, father born KY, mother born VA, spoke English, could read and write

Martin, William, head, owner, free of mortgage, male, white, 81, married, could read and write, born VA, both parents born VA, spoke English, occupation - none

Susan, wife, female, white, 76, married, could read and write, born KY, father born OH, mother born VA, spoke English

Myrtie, daughter, female, white, 37, single, could read and write, born IL, father born VA, mother born KY, spoke English, stenographer, farm, working for wages