"Remember me in the family tree
My name, my day, my strife;
Then I'll ride upon the wings of time
And live an endless life."
- Linda Goetsch
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Familial Relation: None
- Luana Dawn Alger, 27 Sep 2016
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Martha's parents are unknown, as is evidenced by information provided by her own son, James, who was the informant on her death certificate.
All of Martha's 7 children were born illegitimately of 3 different fathers. However, under the name Ana Ann Leak, she married William Henry Getts in Page County, VA, on 3 Feb 1877. William was the father of her 5 youngest children... But Martha certainly led a rather colorful life before then, and a lot of mystery has surrounded her for a whole lot of years.
With all pertaining to Martha and her offspring well explained, her children are as follows...
Father, Clifton Jenkins:
-- i. John W. Leake
Father, Abraham Lemuel Alger:
--ii. Jabez Leake (aka Jabez Leake Alger)
Father, William Henry Getts:
--iii. Joseph Franklin Getts
--iv. Reuben H. Getts
--v. Charles W. Getts
--vi. Sarah Catharine Getts
--vii. James Luther Getts
Martha is first recorded in a U.S. Census, enumerated on 4 Oct 1850, as Martha Leak (enumerator error on surname), living in the home of an elderly widower with her 11 month old son, John, who's father was not known. Abraham Lemuel Alger and his recently deceased wife, Ann Magdalena Snyder, are my 4th Great grandparents. He would father a son born of Martha in 1851 and a whole lot of commotion has been made of trying to find whatever happened to the boy by anyone researching this particular Alger or Leake lineage, including myself.
In Abraham's will, recorded in Page County on 25 Dec 1854, he claims Jabez Leake, 3 year old son of Martha, as his son. Abraham wills Jabez 20 acres of land, some household items and allocates funds so that a house can also be constructed on that land for Jabez. Though he did not claim John Leake as his son, Abraham provided for both Martha and John as well. John's father would not be known until he was named on John's 1915 death certificate as a man named Clifton Jenkins.
On 26 Feb 1855, Asa W. Alger, son of Abraham and Ann Magdalena Snyder, received guardianship of his half brother, Jabez Alger, the orphaned son of Abraham (Page County Guardian Book 1). In 1856, when Jabez was just about 5 years of age, Asa sells household items, a cow, and a swine for Jabez. Also, in the 1859 land tax records for Page County, VA, Asa pays taxes for himself and Jabez. It does appear that Asa used his guardianship of Jabez to squander away his half brother's inheritance... But I wasn't there. Things may not have been as they seem.
Martha is next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 23 Jun 1860, as Martha A. Lake (enumerator error on surname), residing with numerous other people in the Page County home of Daniel Getts. Among those in the home are Daniel's brother, Henry (aka William Henry Getts), who later became Martha's husband. Also in the home is her 1 year old son, Joseph L. Lake (Leake). We would later discover that William was Joseph's father, as Joseph takes his father's surname, never to be recorded as a Leake again.
In that same year, in a U.S. Census enumerated in Page County on 18 Jun 1860, Martha's sons, 11 year old John W. and 9 year old Jabez Leake, are documented residing in the home of Asa Algier (enumerator error on surname of Alger). It seems a reasonable assumption that William Getts would not have a child not born of him living in his home and so Martha allowed Asa to take in both boys. Asa would pass away just 3 months after that census was enumerated, which would also become the last record found verifying Jabez's existence. Hence the mystery surrounding Martha and Jabez... But, at least in the case of Martha, the mystery surrounding her is over. She has been rather shifty and hard to pin down, but her lifelong connection with William Henry Getts, as well as with their offspring, is what made tracing her life less problematic.
In a U.S. Census enumerated on 6 Sep 1870 in their Shenandoah Iron Works, Page County, VA, home, Martha has taken William's surname and claims to be his wife even though they are not yet married. She and William, who is employed as a farm laborer, now have 4 children, all with the surname Getts, including the eldest, Joseph, who was a Leake 10 years earlier.
Following their 1877 marriage, William, a laborer, and Martha are next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 3 Jun 1880 in their Shenandoah, Page County, VA, home. Though there are now 5 children recorded as residing in the home, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules reveal that their second born son, Reuben, had very recently passed away from pneumonia at age 18 in May 1880... As a result, a definitively visible line has been deliberately drawn through all the information gathered on him on that 1880 census record. However, it is all still very readable, showing that he was employed at the Iron Works.
Interestingly, though, one of William and Martha's sons marries a grand daughter of Asa W. Alger's. James Luther Gets and Laura Belle Alger, daughter of Andrew J. Alger (Asa's son) and Mary C. Housden, were married in Luray, Page County, VA, on 25 Dec 1893... And, the two families' gene pool makes another run through the spin cycle.
In a U.S. Census enumerated in her Marksville, Page County, VA, home on 4 Jun 1900, Martha is now widowed and living independently right next door to her son, James. Important to note is that she supplied information regarding the children born of her, specifically stating that only 3 of her 7 children, which have all been documented and accounted for, were still alive. Important because this gives us some insight as to what might have happened to Jabez, since records confirm that she was outlived by at least 3 of her sons, John, Joseph and James. Knowing that her son, Reuben, died in May 1880, this means that her remaining 3 children, Jabez, Charles and Sarah, also had to have passed away at some point prior to 4 Jun 1900.
In the last U.S. Census showing her alive, enumerated on 25 Apr 1910 in the Springfield, Page County, VA, home of her son, James, the family's surname has been recorded as Getz. Martha now reports that she has 4/8 surviving children, but this has to be an error. It seems improbable that she would have bore another child in the last decade at her advanced age... But, if there's anything I've learned about Martha so far, is that almost anything is possible when it comes to her. Either way, if she did have another child, which is highly unlikely, it certainly is not documented as such of the three children who are residing in the home. All are recorded as children of James and Laura. Laura, however, does report that she has 3/4 surviving children so, perhaps out of love, devotion and a bond created, Martha is claiming this lost grandchild as her own... Or, perhaps she has simply gone senile.
Martha died of old age at her home in Springfield, Page County, VA. Her time of death was determined to be about 6am on 12 Apr 1914. She was 82 years of age. She was laid to rest two days later.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Disclaimer:
All pertinent information I have included here can be verified by U.S. Federal Census Records for the family in conjunction with various public records, including any documents I may upload to this memorial.
Though I can not prove with 100% certainty that this family's composition and relation status is as I display it to be, I can say that the circumstantial evidence weighs very heavily in favor of the accuracy of these stated familial connections.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
My name, my day, my strife;
Then I'll ride upon the wings of time
And live an endless life."
- Linda Goetsch
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Familial Relation: None
- Luana Dawn Alger, 27 Sep 2016
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Martha's parents are unknown, as is evidenced by information provided by her own son, James, who was the informant on her death certificate.
All of Martha's 7 children were born illegitimately of 3 different fathers. However, under the name Ana Ann Leak, she married William Henry Getts in Page County, VA, on 3 Feb 1877. William was the father of her 5 youngest children... But Martha certainly led a rather colorful life before then, and a lot of mystery has surrounded her for a whole lot of years.
With all pertaining to Martha and her offspring well explained, her children are as follows...
Father, Clifton Jenkins:
-- i. John W. Leake
Father, Abraham Lemuel Alger:
--ii. Jabez Leake (aka Jabez Leake Alger)
Father, William Henry Getts:
--iii. Joseph Franklin Getts
--iv. Reuben H. Getts
--v. Charles W. Getts
--vi. Sarah Catharine Getts
--vii. James Luther Getts
Martha is first recorded in a U.S. Census, enumerated on 4 Oct 1850, as Martha Leak (enumerator error on surname), living in the home of an elderly widower with her 11 month old son, John, who's father was not known. Abraham Lemuel Alger and his recently deceased wife, Ann Magdalena Snyder, are my 4th Great grandparents. He would father a son born of Martha in 1851 and a whole lot of commotion has been made of trying to find whatever happened to the boy by anyone researching this particular Alger or Leake lineage, including myself.
In Abraham's will, recorded in Page County on 25 Dec 1854, he claims Jabez Leake, 3 year old son of Martha, as his son. Abraham wills Jabez 20 acres of land, some household items and allocates funds so that a house can also be constructed on that land for Jabez. Though he did not claim John Leake as his son, Abraham provided for both Martha and John as well. John's father would not be known until he was named on John's 1915 death certificate as a man named Clifton Jenkins.
On 26 Feb 1855, Asa W. Alger, son of Abraham and Ann Magdalena Snyder, received guardianship of his half brother, Jabez Alger, the orphaned son of Abraham (Page County Guardian Book 1). In 1856, when Jabez was just about 5 years of age, Asa sells household items, a cow, and a swine for Jabez. Also, in the 1859 land tax records for Page County, VA, Asa pays taxes for himself and Jabez. It does appear that Asa used his guardianship of Jabez to squander away his half brother's inheritance... But I wasn't there. Things may not have been as they seem.
Martha is next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 23 Jun 1860, as Martha A. Lake (enumerator error on surname), residing with numerous other people in the Page County home of Daniel Getts. Among those in the home are Daniel's brother, Henry (aka William Henry Getts), who later became Martha's husband. Also in the home is her 1 year old son, Joseph L. Lake (Leake). We would later discover that William was Joseph's father, as Joseph takes his father's surname, never to be recorded as a Leake again.
In that same year, in a U.S. Census enumerated in Page County on 18 Jun 1860, Martha's sons, 11 year old John W. and 9 year old Jabez Leake, are documented residing in the home of Asa Algier (enumerator error on surname of Alger). It seems a reasonable assumption that William Getts would not have a child not born of him living in his home and so Martha allowed Asa to take in both boys. Asa would pass away just 3 months after that census was enumerated, which would also become the last record found verifying Jabez's existence. Hence the mystery surrounding Martha and Jabez... But, at least in the case of Martha, the mystery surrounding her is over. She has been rather shifty and hard to pin down, but her lifelong connection with William Henry Getts, as well as with their offspring, is what made tracing her life less problematic.
In a U.S. Census enumerated on 6 Sep 1870 in their Shenandoah Iron Works, Page County, VA, home, Martha has taken William's surname and claims to be his wife even though they are not yet married. She and William, who is employed as a farm laborer, now have 4 children, all with the surname Getts, including the eldest, Joseph, who was a Leake 10 years earlier.
Following their 1877 marriage, William, a laborer, and Martha are next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 3 Jun 1880 in their Shenandoah, Page County, VA, home. Though there are now 5 children recorded as residing in the home, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules reveal that their second born son, Reuben, had very recently passed away from pneumonia at age 18 in May 1880... As a result, a definitively visible line has been deliberately drawn through all the information gathered on him on that 1880 census record. However, it is all still very readable, showing that he was employed at the Iron Works.
Interestingly, though, one of William and Martha's sons marries a grand daughter of Asa W. Alger's. James Luther Gets and Laura Belle Alger, daughter of Andrew J. Alger (Asa's son) and Mary C. Housden, were married in Luray, Page County, VA, on 25 Dec 1893... And, the two families' gene pool makes another run through the spin cycle.
In a U.S. Census enumerated in her Marksville, Page County, VA, home on 4 Jun 1900, Martha is now widowed and living independently right next door to her son, James. Important to note is that she supplied information regarding the children born of her, specifically stating that only 3 of her 7 children, which have all been documented and accounted for, were still alive. Important because this gives us some insight as to what might have happened to Jabez, since records confirm that she was outlived by at least 3 of her sons, John, Joseph and James. Knowing that her son, Reuben, died in May 1880, this means that her remaining 3 children, Jabez, Charles and Sarah, also had to have passed away at some point prior to 4 Jun 1900.
In the last U.S. Census showing her alive, enumerated on 25 Apr 1910 in the Springfield, Page County, VA, home of her son, James, the family's surname has been recorded as Getz. Martha now reports that she has 4/8 surviving children, but this has to be an error. It seems improbable that she would have bore another child in the last decade at her advanced age... But, if there's anything I've learned about Martha so far, is that almost anything is possible when it comes to her. Either way, if she did have another child, which is highly unlikely, it certainly is not documented as such of the three children who are residing in the home. All are recorded as children of James and Laura. Laura, however, does report that she has 3/4 surviving children so, perhaps out of love, devotion and a bond created, Martha is claiming this lost grandchild as her own... Or, perhaps she has simply gone senile.
Martha died of old age at her home in Springfield, Page County, VA. Her time of death was determined to be about 6am on 12 Apr 1914. She was 82 years of age. She was laid to rest two days later.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Disclaimer:
All pertinent information I have included here can be verified by U.S. Federal Census Records for the family in conjunction with various public records, including any documents I may upload to this memorial.
Though I can not prove with 100% certainty that this family's composition and relation status is as I display it to be, I can say that the circumstantial evidence weighs very heavily in favor of the accuracy of these stated familial connections.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
"Remember me in the family tree
My name, my day, my strife;
Then I'll ride upon the wings of time
And live an endless life."
- Linda Goetsch
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Familial Relation: None
- Luana Dawn Alger, 27 Sep 2016
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Martha's parents are unknown, as is evidenced by information provided by her own son, James, who was the informant on her death certificate.
All of Martha's 7 children were born illegitimately of 3 different fathers. However, under the name Ana Ann Leak, she married William Henry Getts in Page County, VA, on 3 Feb 1877. William was the father of her 5 youngest children... But Martha certainly led a rather colorful life before then, and a lot of mystery has surrounded her for a whole lot of years.
With all pertaining to Martha and her offspring well explained, her children are as follows...
Father, Clifton Jenkins:
-- i. John W. Leake
Father, Abraham Lemuel Alger:
--ii. Jabez Leake (aka Jabez Leake Alger)
Father, William Henry Getts:
--iii. Joseph Franklin Getts
--iv. Reuben H. Getts
--v. Charles W. Getts
--vi. Sarah Catharine Getts
--vii. James Luther Getts
Martha is first recorded in a U.S. Census, enumerated on 4 Oct 1850, as Martha Leak (enumerator error on surname), living in the home of an elderly widower with her 11 month old son, John, who's father was not known. Abraham Lemuel Alger and his recently deceased wife, Ann Magdalena Snyder, are my 4th Great grandparents. He would father a son born of Martha in 1851 and a whole lot of commotion has been made of trying to find whatever happened to the boy by anyone researching this particular Alger or Leake lineage, including myself.
In Abraham's will, recorded in Page County on 25 Dec 1854, he claims Jabez Leake, 3 year old son of Martha, as his son. Abraham wills Jabez 20 acres of land, some household items and allocates funds so that a house can also be constructed on that land for Jabez. Though he did not claim John Leake as his son, Abraham provided for both Martha and John as well. John's father would not be known until he was named on John's 1915 death certificate as a man named Clifton Jenkins.
On 26 Feb 1855, Asa W. Alger, son of Abraham and Ann Magdalena Snyder, received guardianship of his half brother, Jabez Alger, the orphaned son of Abraham (Page County Guardian Book 1). In 1856, when Jabez was just about 5 years of age, Asa sells household items, a cow, and a swine for Jabez. Also, in the 1859 land tax records for Page County, VA, Asa pays taxes for himself and Jabez. It does appear that Asa used his guardianship of Jabez to squander away his half brother's inheritance... But I wasn't there. Things may not have been as they seem.
Martha is next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 23 Jun 1860, as Martha A. Lake (enumerator error on surname), residing with numerous other people in the Page County home of Daniel Getts. Among those in the home are Daniel's brother, Henry (aka William Henry Getts), who later became Martha's husband. Also in the home is her 1 year old son, Joseph L. Lake (Leake). We would later discover that William was Joseph's father, as Joseph takes his father's surname, never to be recorded as a Leake again.
In that same year, in a U.S. Census enumerated in Page County on 18 Jun 1860, Martha's sons, 11 year old John W. and 9 year old Jabez Leake, are documented residing in the home of Asa Algier (enumerator error on surname of Alger). It seems a reasonable assumption that William Getts would not have a child not born of him living in his home and so Martha allowed Asa to take in both boys. Asa would pass away just 3 months after that census was enumerated, which would also become the last record found verifying Jabez's existence. Hence the mystery surrounding Martha and Jabez... But, at least in the case of Martha, the mystery surrounding her is over. She has been rather shifty and hard to pin down, but her lifelong connection with William Henry Getts, as well as with their offspring, is what made tracing her life less problematic.
In a U.S. Census enumerated on 6 Sep 1870 in their Shenandoah Iron Works, Page County, VA, home, Martha has taken William's surname and claims to be his wife even though they are not yet married. She and William, who is employed as a farm laborer, now have 4 children, all with the surname Getts, including the eldest, Joseph, who was a Leake 10 years earlier.
Following their 1877 marriage, William, a laborer, and Martha are next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 3 Jun 1880 in their Shenandoah, Page County, VA, home. Though there are now 5 children recorded as residing in the home, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules reveal that their second born son, Reuben, had very recently passed away from pneumonia at age 18 in May 1880... As a result, a definitively visible line has been deliberately drawn through all the information gathered on him on that 1880 census record. However, it is all still very readable, showing that he was employed at the Iron Works.
Interestingly, though, one of William and Martha's sons marries a grand daughter of Asa W. Alger's. James Luther Gets and Laura Belle Alger, daughter of Andrew J. Alger (Asa's son) and Mary C. Housden, were married in Luray, Page County, VA, on 25 Dec 1893... And, the two families' gene pool makes another run through the spin cycle.
In a U.S. Census enumerated in her Marksville, Page County, VA, home on 4 Jun 1900, Martha is now widowed and living independently right next door to her son, James. Important to note is that she supplied information regarding the children born of her, specifically stating that only 3 of her 7 children, which have all been documented and accounted for, were still alive. Important because this gives us some insight as to what might have happened to Jabez, since records confirm that she was outlived by at least 3 of her sons, John, Joseph and James. Knowing that her son, Reuben, died in May 1880, this means that her remaining 3 children, Jabez, Charles and Sarah, also had to have passed away at some point prior to 4 Jun 1900.
In the last U.S. Census showing her alive, enumerated on 25 Apr 1910 in the Springfield, Page County, VA, home of her son, James, the family's surname has been recorded as Getz. Martha now reports that she has 4/8 surviving children, but this has to be an error. It seems improbable that she would have bore another child in the last decade at her advanced age... But, if there's anything I've learned about Martha so far, is that almost anything is possible when it comes to her. Either way, if she did have another child, which is highly unlikely, it certainly is not documented as such of the three children who are residing in the home. All are recorded as children of James and Laura. Laura, however, does report that she has 3/4 surviving children so, perhaps out of love, devotion and a bond created, Martha is claiming this lost grandchild as her own... Or, perhaps she has simply gone senile.
Martha died of old age at her home in Springfield, Page County, VA. Her time of death was determined to be about 6am on 12 Apr 1914. She was 82 years of age. She was laid to rest two days later.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Disclaimer:
All pertinent information I have included here can be verified by U.S. Federal Census Records for the family in conjunction with various public records, including any documents I may upload to this memorial.
Though I can not prove with 100% certainty that this family's composition and relation status is as I display it to be, I can say that the circumstantial evidence weighs very heavily in favor of the accuracy of these stated familial connections.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
My name, my day, my strife;
Then I'll ride upon the wings of time
And live an endless life."
- Linda Goetsch
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Familial Relation: None
- Luana Dawn Alger, 27 Sep 2016
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Martha's parents are unknown, as is evidenced by information provided by her own son, James, who was the informant on her death certificate.
All of Martha's 7 children were born illegitimately of 3 different fathers. However, under the name Ana Ann Leak, she married William Henry Getts in Page County, VA, on 3 Feb 1877. William was the father of her 5 youngest children... But Martha certainly led a rather colorful life before then, and a lot of mystery has surrounded her for a whole lot of years.
With all pertaining to Martha and her offspring well explained, her children are as follows...
Father, Clifton Jenkins:
-- i. John W. Leake
Father, Abraham Lemuel Alger:
--ii. Jabez Leake (aka Jabez Leake Alger)
Father, William Henry Getts:
--iii. Joseph Franklin Getts
--iv. Reuben H. Getts
--v. Charles W. Getts
--vi. Sarah Catharine Getts
--vii. James Luther Getts
Martha is first recorded in a U.S. Census, enumerated on 4 Oct 1850, as Martha Leak (enumerator error on surname), living in the home of an elderly widower with her 11 month old son, John, who's father was not known. Abraham Lemuel Alger and his recently deceased wife, Ann Magdalena Snyder, are my 4th Great grandparents. He would father a son born of Martha in 1851 and a whole lot of commotion has been made of trying to find whatever happened to the boy by anyone researching this particular Alger or Leake lineage, including myself.
In Abraham's will, recorded in Page County on 25 Dec 1854, he claims Jabez Leake, 3 year old son of Martha, as his son. Abraham wills Jabez 20 acres of land, some household items and allocates funds so that a house can also be constructed on that land for Jabez. Though he did not claim John Leake as his son, Abraham provided for both Martha and John as well. John's father would not be known until he was named on John's 1915 death certificate as a man named Clifton Jenkins.
On 26 Feb 1855, Asa W. Alger, son of Abraham and Ann Magdalena Snyder, received guardianship of his half brother, Jabez Alger, the orphaned son of Abraham (Page County Guardian Book 1). In 1856, when Jabez was just about 5 years of age, Asa sells household items, a cow, and a swine for Jabez. Also, in the 1859 land tax records for Page County, VA, Asa pays taxes for himself and Jabez. It does appear that Asa used his guardianship of Jabez to squander away his half brother's inheritance... But I wasn't there. Things may not have been as they seem.
Martha is next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 23 Jun 1860, as Martha A. Lake (enumerator error on surname), residing with numerous other people in the Page County home of Daniel Getts. Among those in the home are Daniel's brother, Henry (aka William Henry Getts), who later became Martha's husband. Also in the home is her 1 year old son, Joseph L. Lake (Leake). We would later discover that William was Joseph's father, as Joseph takes his father's surname, never to be recorded as a Leake again.
In that same year, in a U.S. Census enumerated in Page County on 18 Jun 1860, Martha's sons, 11 year old John W. and 9 year old Jabez Leake, are documented residing in the home of Asa Algier (enumerator error on surname of Alger). It seems a reasonable assumption that William Getts would not have a child not born of him living in his home and so Martha allowed Asa to take in both boys. Asa would pass away just 3 months after that census was enumerated, which would also become the last record found verifying Jabez's existence. Hence the mystery surrounding Martha and Jabez... But, at least in the case of Martha, the mystery surrounding her is over. She has been rather shifty and hard to pin down, but her lifelong connection with William Henry Getts, as well as with their offspring, is what made tracing her life less problematic.
In a U.S. Census enumerated on 6 Sep 1870 in their Shenandoah Iron Works, Page County, VA, home, Martha has taken William's surname and claims to be his wife even though they are not yet married. She and William, who is employed as a farm laborer, now have 4 children, all with the surname Getts, including the eldest, Joseph, who was a Leake 10 years earlier.
Following their 1877 marriage, William, a laborer, and Martha are next documented in a U.S. Census enumerated on 3 Jun 1880 in their Shenandoah, Page County, VA, home. Though there are now 5 children recorded as residing in the home, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules reveal that their second born son, Reuben, had very recently passed away from pneumonia at age 18 in May 1880... As a result, a definitively visible line has been deliberately drawn through all the information gathered on him on that 1880 census record. However, it is all still very readable, showing that he was employed at the Iron Works.
Interestingly, though, one of William and Martha's sons marries a grand daughter of Asa W. Alger's. James Luther Gets and Laura Belle Alger, daughter of Andrew J. Alger (Asa's son) and Mary C. Housden, were married in Luray, Page County, VA, on 25 Dec 1893... And, the two families' gene pool makes another run through the spin cycle.
In a U.S. Census enumerated in her Marksville, Page County, VA, home on 4 Jun 1900, Martha is now widowed and living independently right next door to her son, James. Important to note is that she supplied information regarding the children born of her, specifically stating that only 3 of her 7 children, which have all been documented and accounted for, were still alive. Important because this gives us some insight as to what might have happened to Jabez, since records confirm that she was outlived by at least 3 of her sons, John, Joseph and James. Knowing that her son, Reuben, died in May 1880, this means that her remaining 3 children, Jabez, Charles and Sarah, also had to have passed away at some point prior to 4 Jun 1900.
In the last U.S. Census showing her alive, enumerated on 25 Apr 1910 in the Springfield, Page County, VA, home of her son, James, the family's surname has been recorded as Getz. Martha now reports that she has 4/8 surviving children, but this has to be an error. It seems improbable that she would have bore another child in the last decade at her advanced age... But, if there's anything I've learned about Martha so far, is that almost anything is possible when it comes to her. Either way, if she did have another child, which is highly unlikely, it certainly is not documented as such of the three children who are residing in the home. All are recorded as children of James and Laura. Laura, however, does report that she has 3/4 surviving children so, perhaps out of love, devotion and a bond created, Martha is claiming this lost grandchild as her own... Or, perhaps she has simply gone senile.
Martha died of old age at her home in Springfield, Page County, VA. Her time of death was determined to be about 6am on 12 Apr 1914. She was 82 years of age. She was laid to rest two days later.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Disclaimer:
All pertinent information I have included here can be verified by U.S. Federal Census Records for the family in conjunction with various public records, including any documents I may upload to this memorial.
Though I can not prove with 100% certainty that this family's composition and relation status is as I display it to be, I can say that the circumstantial evidence weighs very heavily in favor of the accuracy of these stated familial connections.
*•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•**•.¸¸❤❤¸.•*
Gravesite Details
BURIED: 14 Apr 1914
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