She was born in the northern part of Cherokee County, Georgia on 6 October 1979, the youngest of the 8 children of John and Martha Jordan. In the Census of 1880 she was listed as "Montree D." Jordan. It is not known if this was her birth name, later changed, or an error. She was at least one-eighth Cherokee Indian, inheriting this blood on her mother's side. She was considered quite attractive in her younger days. She was a bit above average height for a woman of her time, feminine enough looking, but healthy and strong enough also. She was called Ann to distinguish her from her mother who was called Martha.
Martha Ann did not have the opportunity to attend enough school to learn to read or write, and she signed her name with a mark. Consequently, she made no written records.
She was mentally alert and possessed plenty of "common sense." She had the ability to size up a person quickly.
Martha Ann Jordan married John Baxter Stamper on 4 March 1900. They bore 7 children, Lila Montree Stamper, Effie Lee Stamper, Laska Stamper, Wade Edward Stamper, Hubert Shermon Stamper, Maud Ann Stamper, and Clyde Stamper. John was a farmer, a miller, and a carpenter who built fireplaces. Martha Ann was not considered an "outspoken" wife. She was always there, by John's side, or behind him. Never leading, but providing quiet "back-up" services. She did express her opinion if the occasion demanded it, and generally quite succinct. John called her "Ma."
"She labored at her work in the kitchen or the fields from early morning until night, and never complained. She was, in truth, not a complaining person. She never shirked, and always 'held up her end of he bargain.' She was always there, in the background, when needed most.
While she did not do much 'preaching' about right and wrong, she was decisive on the subject. She was not one to quibble the fine points of ethics or proper behavior. To her, it was simple -- right was right and wrong was wrong, but she also recognized that behavior must usually range up and down. She allowed leeway in the behavior of her children, but not behavior that was clearly wrong. If they got too far out of line, she brought them back with a snappy-toned remark.
What words she may have lacked to express herself, she had the innate ability to make-up sounds or words to take their place. For instance, if she was telling about some hounds that ran a fox over the hill, she might describe the bayings of the hounds as 'going yicky-yack-yicky-yacky.' It was interesting to hear her tell a story, which she seldom did. But she once told me and my wife a story that her oldest daughter had never heard.
She had many hardships in her life, but she was a quiet 'survivor.' Her father died two years before she married. Her first-born son was a stillbirth. She and her husband had to scratch out a living from the earth the best they could. In Alabama one year their entire crop was ruined by a flood. She had 8 living children. It took a lot of caring, a lot of cooking, washing and cleaning to take care of that many children.
When she was in her eighties she slipped while mopping the kitchen floor and broke her hip into many pieces. The surgeon managed to put it all back together sufficiently for her to get around again. Later, she lost the sight in one eye. She "died slowly" and must have suffered much, but she never despaired. She left it all to God, without making a "todo" over it. She made it to age 91. She is buried in Mountain View Park Cemetery, Dallas Highway, Marietta, Georgia.
Whatever may be said about her, a few things are certain. She always did her part, she never complained unnecessarily, she took life as it came and made the best of it, and she faced hardships (including death) with dignified resolve. She has aptly been called a 'gritty' person."
- from "The Stamper Book" by Hiram John Grogan, grandson, 8 April 1983
Martha Ann did not have the opportunity to attend enough school to learn to read or write, and she signed her name with a mark. Consequently, she made no written records.
She was mentally alert and possessed plenty of "common sense." She had the ability to size up a person quickly.
Martha Ann Jordan married John Baxter Stamper on 4 March 1900. They bore 7 children, Lila Montree Stamper, Effie Lee Stamper, Laska Stamper, Wade Edward Stamper, Hubert Shermon Stamper, Maud Ann Stamper, and Clyde Stamper. John was a farmer, a miller, and a carpenter who built fireplaces. Martha Ann was not considered an "outspoken" wife. She was always there, by John's side, or behind him. Never leading, but providing quiet "back-up" services. She did express her opinion if the occasion demanded it, and generally quite succinct. John called her "Ma."
"She labored at her work in the kitchen or the fields from early morning until night, and never complained. She was, in truth, not a complaining person. She never shirked, and always 'held up her end of he bargain.' She was always there, in the background, when needed most.
While she did not do much 'preaching' about right and wrong, she was decisive on the subject. She was not one to quibble the fine points of ethics or proper behavior. To her, it was simple -- right was right and wrong was wrong, but she also recognized that behavior must usually range up and down. She allowed leeway in the behavior of her children, but not behavior that was clearly wrong. If they got too far out of line, she brought them back with a snappy-toned remark.
What words she may have lacked to express herself, she had the innate ability to make-up sounds or words to take their place. For instance, if she was telling about some hounds that ran a fox over the hill, she might describe the bayings of the hounds as 'going yicky-yack-yicky-yacky.' It was interesting to hear her tell a story, which she seldom did. But she once told me and my wife a story that her oldest daughter had never heard.
She had many hardships in her life, but she was a quiet 'survivor.' Her father died two years before she married. Her first-born son was a stillbirth. She and her husband had to scratch out a living from the earth the best they could. In Alabama one year their entire crop was ruined by a flood. She had 8 living children. It took a lot of caring, a lot of cooking, washing and cleaning to take care of that many children.
When she was in her eighties she slipped while mopping the kitchen floor and broke her hip into many pieces. The surgeon managed to put it all back together sufficiently for her to get around again. Later, she lost the sight in one eye. She "died slowly" and must have suffered much, but she never despaired. She left it all to God, without making a "todo" over it. She made it to age 91. She is buried in Mountain View Park Cemetery, Dallas Highway, Marietta, Georgia.
Whatever may be said about her, a few things are certain. She always did her part, she never complained unnecessarily, she took life as it came and made the best of it, and she faced hardships (including death) with dignified resolve. She has aptly been called a 'gritty' person."
- from "The Stamper Book" by Hiram John Grogan, grandson, 8 April 1983
She was born in the northern part of Cherokee County, Georgia on 6 October 1979, the youngest of the 8 children of John and Martha Jordan. In the Census of 1880 she was listed as "Montree D." Jordan. It is not known if this was her birth name, later changed, or an error. She was at least one-eighth Cherokee Indian, inheriting this blood on her mother's side. She was considered quite attractive in her younger days. She was a bit above average height for a woman of her time, feminine enough looking, but healthy and strong enough also. She was called Ann to distinguish her from her mother who was called Martha.
Martha Ann did not have the opportunity to attend enough school to learn to read or write, and she signed her name with a mark. Consequently, she made no written records.
She was mentally alert and possessed plenty of "common sense." She had the ability to size up a person quickly.
Martha Ann Jordan married John Baxter Stamper on 4 March 1900. They bore 7 children, Lila Montree Stamper, Effie Lee Stamper, Laska Stamper, Wade Edward Stamper, Hubert Shermon Stamper, Maud Ann Stamper, and Clyde Stamper. John was a farmer, a miller, and a carpenter who built fireplaces. Martha Ann was not considered an "outspoken" wife. She was always there, by John's side, or behind him. Never leading, but providing quiet "back-up" services. She did express her opinion if the occasion demanded it, and generally quite succinct. John called her "Ma."
"She labored at her work in the kitchen or the fields from early morning until night, and never complained. She was, in truth, not a complaining person. She never shirked, and always 'held up her end of he bargain.' She was always there, in the background, when needed most.
While she did not do much 'preaching' about right and wrong, she was decisive on the subject. She was not one to quibble the fine points of ethics or proper behavior. To her, it was simple -- right was right and wrong was wrong, but she also recognized that behavior must usually range up and down. She allowed leeway in the behavior of her children, but not behavior that was clearly wrong. If they got too far out of line, she brought them back with a snappy-toned remark.
What words she may have lacked to express herself, she had the innate ability to make-up sounds or words to take their place. For instance, if she was telling about some hounds that ran a fox over the hill, she might describe the bayings of the hounds as 'going yicky-yack-yicky-yacky.' It was interesting to hear her tell a story, which she seldom did. But she once told me and my wife a story that her oldest daughter had never heard.
She had many hardships in her life, but she was a quiet 'survivor.' Her father died two years before she married. Her first-born son was a stillbirth. She and her husband had to scratch out a living from the earth the best they could. In Alabama one year their entire crop was ruined by a flood. She had 8 living children. It took a lot of caring, a lot of cooking, washing and cleaning to take care of that many children.
When she was in her eighties she slipped while mopping the kitchen floor and broke her hip into many pieces. The surgeon managed to put it all back together sufficiently for her to get around again. Later, she lost the sight in one eye. She "died slowly" and must have suffered much, but she never despaired. She left it all to God, without making a "todo" over it. She made it to age 91. She is buried in Mountain View Park Cemetery, Dallas Highway, Marietta, Georgia.
Whatever may be said about her, a few things are certain. She always did her part, she never complained unnecessarily, she took life as it came and made the best of it, and she faced hardships (including death) with dignified resolve. She has aptly been called a 'gritty' person."
- from "The Stamper Book" by Hiram John Grogan, grandson, 8 April 1983
Martha Ann did not have the opportunity to attend enough school to learn to read or write, and she signed her name with a mark. Consequently, she made no written records.
She was mentally alert and possessed plenty of "common sense." She had the ability to size up a person quickly.
Martha Ann Jordan married John Baxter Stamper on 4 March 1900. They bore 7 children, Lila Montree Stamper, Effie Lee Stamper, Laska Stamper, Wade Edward Stamper, Hubert Shermon Stamper, Maud Ann Stamper, and Clyde Stamper. John was a farmer, a miller, and a carpenter who built fireplaces. Martha Ann was not considered an "outspoken" wife. She was always there, by John's side, or behind him. Never leading, but providing quiet "back-up" services. She did express her opinion if the occasion demanded it, and generally quite succinct. John called her "Ma."
"She labored at her work in the kitchen or the fields from early morning until night, and never complained. She was, in truth, not a complaining person. She never shirked, and always 'held up her end of he bargain.' She was always there, in the background, when needed most.
While she did not do much 'preaching' about right and wrong, she was decisive on the subject. She was not one to quibble the fine points of ethics or proper behavior. To her, it was simple -- right was right and wrong was wrong, but she also recognized that behavior must usually range up and down. She allowed leeway in the behavior of her children, but not behavior that was clearly wrong. If they got too far out of line, she brought them back with a snappy-toned remark.
What words she may have lacked to express herself, she had the innate ability to make-up sounds or words to take their place. For instance, if she was telling about some hounds that ran a fox over the hill, she might describe the bayings of the hounds as 'going yicky-yack-yicky-yacky.' It was interesting to hear her tell a story, which she seldom did. But she once told me and my wife a story that her oldest daughter had never heard.
She had many hardships in her life, but she was a quiet 'survivor.' Her father died two years before she married. Her first-born son was a stillbirth. She and her husband had to scratch out a living from the earth the best they could. In Alabama one year their entire crop was ruined by a flood. She had 8 living children. It took a lot of caring, a lot of cooking, washing and cleaning to take care of that many children.
When she was in her eighties she slipped while mopping the kitchen floor and broke her hip into many pieces. The surgeon managed to put it all back together sufficiently for her to get around again. Later, she lost the sight in one eye. She "died slowly" and must have suffered much, but she never despaired. She left it all to God, without making a "todo" over it. She made it to age 91. She is buried in Mountain View Park Cemetery, Dallas Highway, Marietta, Georgia.
Whatever may be said about her, a few things are certain. She always did her part, she never complained unnecessarily, she took life as it came and made the best of it, and she faced hardships (including death) with dignified resolve. She has aptly been called a 'gritty' person."
- from "The Stamper Book" by Hiram John Grogan, grandson, 8 April 1983
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