Mrs. [Montgomery] Martin
One of the Very last of the Old Native Texas Passes Away – Was

Died at 7 pm at the residence of Mrs. John J. Cox (daughter) on south 3rd street, Mrs. Siani Montgomery Martin. Interred at [Mullin] Monday am beside husband – Rev. Geo. W. Templin, assisted by Rev. Moore, officiating.
Siani Montgomery Martin was born at Old Washington, the first Capital of the Republic of Texas, May 23rd, 1831. She was the daughter of William and Katie Dever who were Texas pioneers. She was married to Jerome B. Porter, an Uncle of Mrs. R. I. McKnight of this city [Temple], in the year 1847, who only lived a short while and by whom she had one child, Mrs. Kate Robinson who resides in this city. After the death of her first husband she was married to Captain John E. Martin who died at Mullin, Mills County in the year 1895, by whom the following children were born: J. W. Martin, of Waxahachie, Texas; Miss Annie Martin, who died some years ago in Mills County, ed. W. Martin of Sheffield, Pecos County, Texas; Mrs. John J. Cox of this city; Mrs. I. W. Arnold of Morgan, Texas; and R. D. Martin of Mullin Texas.
Mrs. Martin is also survived by the following brothers and sisters: W. P. Dever of Georgetown, Texas; N. E. Dever of Brenham, Texas; Mrs. Mary M. Hawley, of Lometa, Texas and Mrs. C. M. Campbell, of this city.
Since the death of her last husband and her daughter, Mrs. Martin has, the greater part of her time, made her home with Mrs. John J. Cox at Goldthwaite and Temple. Mrs. Martin has lived a remarkable life, more properly speaking she has lived during a historic period in Texas history; as already stated she was born nearly 80 years ago while Texas was under Mexican rule. Dr. Anson Jones, afterward president of the Republic was the family physician of her parents at the time of her birth. When she was married to her first husband, Mrs. Anson Jones who died at Houston a short time ago almost a hundred years old, spent some time at her home and assisted her in the wedding preparations. Mrs. Martin’s mind remained clear and distinct (particularly as to occurrences in her early life) up to within a few weeks of her death. She remembered the battle of San Jacinto on April 21st, 1836, and often related with much interest incidents in Texas history. She recalled the story of “the runaway” as she called it just before the Texan victory on the field. Detachments were sent back from the Texas army to carry the women and children East, so in the event of a Mexican victory by General Santa Anna, they would not become the victims of the outrages and brutality of the Mexican soldiers who had by this time become notorious in this respect. Her father William Dever who was a soldier under General Houston, was one of the last detachments sent back for the purpose stated When he arrived at Old Washington as she recollects, the families besides his own and one other had fled East. When Mr. Dever reached home he hurriedly got together sufficient horses to carry the family and some bedding and other family necessities, which were thought to be indispensable, all of which had to be carried horseback. Mrs. Martin rode astride, behind her mother who carried an infant in arms in her lap. Their progress was made slow and difficult on account of no roads, and swollen streams. They were forced to cross the Brazos and Trinity rivers and other water courses, in improvised boats and rafts and in several instances had to swim their horses across. The refugees were forced to graze their animals on the grass, as there was no other feed for them; also to depend on the wild game they were able to kill for their main food supply. It was several days before the fleeing families were overtaken by victorious soldiers and told of the success of the Texas patriots of this decisive struggle for Texas freedom and liberty The settlers, upon returning to their homes, found everything the same as left, so they took new hope and fresh courage and wrought this splendid citizenship and land of the free that the present generation are now enjoying so generously.
Captain John E. Martin, the late husband of this sketch, was a soldier under Col. Jack Hays in the war of 1846 and in 1847 between the United States and Mexico; he was also a veteran of the Civil War and commanded a company in the regiment of that gallant old Confederate patriot, Col. Wash Jones. One of the members of his company still living is Rev. H. B. Carroll of Waco.
The Dever family were pioneer members of the Southern Methodist Church. Captain and Mrs. Martin’s house was the home of many of the early ministers of that denomination and she delighted in recalling her pleasant recollections of many of them among whom were Homer S. Thrall, O. Fisher, Robert Alexander and ____ Dashiell.
Mrs. Martin had lived in Texas all of her life – nearly 80 years and had never crossed its borders, but had lived under three flags. She was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, living native Texans at the time of her death.

The Temple Daily Telegram (Temple, Tex.), vol. 3, no. 220, ed. 1, Tuesday, 2 August 1910, page 1