Jesse Martin was daughter and youngest child of James Frederick Martin and Eliza Jane (Lowmiller) Plank Martin. Jesse was born 31 August 1886 in Blair County, Pennsylvania.

Jessie had six older sisters including:



Katherine "Kate" (Martin) Schoper (Born 14 December 1867 in Pennsylvania. She had two husbands, the first one being a Willard Schoper. She and Mr. Schoper reared Kate's niece, Florena, who was the biological daughter of Kate's sister, Emma Martin, and a Mr. Sherman. Kate and Willard Schoper also had a son. We have two photographs of Kate's second husband, but don't know his name yet.)


Carry Martin (I'm confused about Carry. We have a birthdate of 05 November 1869 in Pennsylvania for her, which would make her younger than Kate. But, my grandmother told me that Carry was the daughter of Eliza Jane (Lowmiller) and her first husband, Mr. Plank. Similarly, my great-grandmother, Nannie Martin Routh, described herself as the 7th daughter, so it is likely that this 05 November 1869 birthdate was for another daughter that we have not yet identified, with Carry actually being older than Kate. We do know that Carry had poor health and became obese and bedfast, so that her caretakers had to use sheets to turn her in bed.)

Elizabeth "Lizzy" (Martin) Schaefer Eckard (Born 01 March 1871 in Pennsylvania. Lizzy first married Peter Dorman Schaefer and they had children including Leo D. Schaefer, Violet Schaefer, and Olive Schaefer. After Peter Dorman Schaefer's death, Lizzy next married William H. Eckard.)



Emma (Martin) Sweeny (Born 19 September 1873 in Pennsylvania. Emma and a Mr. Sherman were biological parents of Florena who was raised as the daughter of Emma's sister, Kate. Emma later married George Sweeny and was the mother of their three children, including, Mable Sweeny. Mable Sweeny married a Mr. Hackin.)

Sarah Jane "Sadie" (Martin) Shuey (Born 31 October 1875 in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Married to Oscar Clyde Shuey in Pennsylvania. Mother of Sara Elizabeth (Shuey) Mabry, Grace Shuey, Oscar Clyde Shuey Jr., Margaret "Peggy" (Shuey) Denman, Frederick James Shuey, Edith Catherine (Shuey) Polson Moll, and John Shuey. Sarah died 23 April 1956 in California.)

Nannie (Martin) Routh (Born 22 January 1877 in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Married 11 March 1907 to Simon Elias Routh in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Mother of Velva Delilah "Jean" (Routh) Houghton, Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman, and Lawrence Routh. Nannie died 19 August 1955 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana. Nannie is buried at Greene County Chapel Cemetery, Greene County, Indiana, just across the county line from Stanford, Monroe County, Indiana.)




Jesse Martin had one younger brother:


John Henry Martin (Born 18 October 1883 in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Married to Lewetta M. Gibbs and Sadie Striker. John was father of Grace Pauline Martin, Violet Mary Martin, and James LeRoy Martin. John Henry MARTIN married his second wife, Sadie STRIKER, on 18 October 1928 in Los Angeles County, California.)




This is photo of young Jesse Martin (on the right) with one of her older sisters, Elizabeth "Lizzy" (Martin) Schaefer Eckard.

Click on small photo to see larger photo!





Jesse Martin grew up in the Martin home in Carson Valley, in south central Pennsylvania. This valley is at the foot of the Allegheny Mountains, which are a section of the Appalachian mountain system. Gallitzin, Pennsylvania was 6 miles from the Martin home. Gallitzin is in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, near the border with Blair County, Pennsylvania. The Martin farm was, however, in Allegheny Township, near Duncansville, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. (Click on map to see larger map, with "X" showing location of the Martin farm.)

The Martin home in Carson Valley was called a 2-story home, but it also had an attic on the 3rd floor, which was used as additional living space by the large family. It was a well-built and large log home. The property was marked with a fence and gate. A path from the house led to the "john," or outhouse. At night, an oil lamp was used to find one's way to the outhouse.

The Martin family had a covered bridge down hill from their home. The family loved this covered bridge. Cold preservation of foods was accomplished by natural means. The family had a spring house built over the mountain stream, affectionately calling it, "Old Nabby." The reason for this name is not now known. They set containers of milk, cheese and butter in the stream, using stones to secure the food in the stream of cold water that flowed down from the Allegheny Mountains.

Wasting food was intolerable because of the laborious efforts required to secure enough food for the large Mountain family. On one occasion, the Martin children entered into a conspiracy of secrecy so that their parents, James & Eliza, would not know that a large barrel of molasses had been contaminated. James and Eliza had been gone for a few days to a soldiers' encampment meeting. The Martin children had friends staying with them during their parents' absence, having a "high old time." Inadvertently, someone left the lid off of the mollasses and a dead mouse was later discovered in the syrup by the Martin children. The Martin children removed the mouse, but subsequently "lost their taste" for the molasses so enjoyed by James, Eliza and their guests.

Although usually occupied with the business of farming, young Jesse's family participated in the social events in their mountain community during Nannie's childhood. Social gatherings often included festive activities like cake walks. The Martins were introduced to Spring-time mushroom (morel) hunting by their neighbors. In colder weather, the Martin's joined their mountain neighbors for ice skating on frozen ponds, sleigh rides in the snow, bonfires and winter feasts.

The Martin family took "the second pass of the mountains" to visit friends on other farms, so that rigorous travel by wagon and on foot was required for the Martins to maintain the social contacts so important in their lives.

Education was very important in Jesse's family of origin. Both public and school spelling bees were social events for the entire family. Children sometimes learned the spelling of words rhythmically, swaying as they sang the spelling of words. Church was also an important part of the Martin family social life. Jesse and her siblings were musical and between them played many musical instruments.

Holidays were especially festive times for Jesse's family. In warm weather, the family joined with neighboring farmfamilies in cooperative harvesting with shared dinners and picnics. Picnics and rallies were especially common on holidays, such as the fourth of July. Christmas was celebrated with gifts and special foods. The very atmosphere of Carson Valley prompted thoughts of traditional Christmas in the winter. The Martins rode in horse-drawn sleighs to the literal sound of 'jingle bells' across the mountain snow. Their visits were warmly received by neighbors who wrapped heated bricks for the sleigh voyagers to warm their feet.

Jesse Martin married Tony Thalbo.

Jesse (Martin) Thalbo and Tony Thalbo were the parents of Mary Thalbo. This Mary Thalbo was born about 1905, according to the story below by Mary's first cousin.

My grandmother, Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman, was niece of this Jesse (Martin) Thalbo. My grandmother wrote the following account of a visit to her Aunt Jesse at Christmas time in 1913.

Once again we were traveling on a train, and this time headed for Harrisburg where Grandpa and Aunt Jessie lived. The trip wasn't as lengthy as our first one, and we enjoyed it. Grandpa and Aunt Jessie met us at the station, and their greeting was very tearful, too, because of our living so far away. Sis and I were hugged lovingly.

How happy we were to at last see our dear Grandpa whom Mama had told us so much about as well as her dear Mother whom she would miss so much. Mama had so much love for her five sisters and for her brother, John, who was now married and living in California. Mama had told us about her wonderful family many, many times so that Sis and I felt close to them when first we met.

We were so happy when we finally arrived at Grandpa's home, and Aunt Jessie's home was right next door. She had helped Grandpa get ready for our visit, and his home was so neat and cozy that we weren't there but a short time until we felt at home. Aunt Jessie took us all through the house and showed us our rooms. Later, she told us that she would help Mama put our clothes in the clothes closet and our other clothing in dresser drawers.

She left for her home next door to bring Mary, her eight-year old daughter, over as Mary was so anxious to meet us. Though quite a snow had fallen, the sidewalk between the two houses had been cleaned off. Soon Jessie was over with Mary. Mary was very pretty, and looked quite frail, but she was a very cheerful girl and wanted us to come with her to meet her father who had just come home from his office, so we ran over with her. He was in his study, and we had to go up a spiral stairway to meet her father. He was busy at his desk with work he had brought home. Mary got his attention and happily introduced us, her cousins. He was very nice and a very nice looking man, but being a business man, he was too occupied to really talk to us then. So, Mary took us about their home which was spacious. Her room was like a fairy land, but we would enjoy playing in her room later, because we wanted to go back to Grandpa's home to be near him. Mary, of course, went with us, and for all of our stay at Grandpa's, we were together most of the time.

Grandpa wanted the Christmas tree put in the dining room as it was a very roomy one, and they had it decorated so beautifully. Aunt Jessie told Sis and me that they left decorations off of the lower limbs for us to put decorations on, and she said she would show us the right places to fasten them. Helping to decorate our first Christmas tree was so exciting, and it was so much fun. We gleefully finished decorating the tree.

After our evening meal was over, while Mama and Aunt Jessie were washing dishes, Aunt Jessie was telling Mama about the Christmas program she was helping with, and that she wanted to give Sis and me a part in the program, but Mama was fearful we couldn't remember our lines or that we might be frightened at such a crowd of people, but Aunt Jessie said to leave it up to her.

Aunt Jessie took us to the rehearsals, and Mary, of course, had a part in the program also. The church was just in the next block, and it was a lovely big one. Because of having a part in the Christmas program, Sis and I felt special -- sort of important.

Finally, it was the night of the Christmas program, and Sis and I knew we would make Mama proud of us. Grandpa and Mama were seated where they could enjoy the program. The play was an interesting and beautiful one. When we looked at Aunt Jessie, she looked so pleased that everything was going so well, and then she motioned to Sis that she was to go on stage. Sis sat in a rocker holding a doll to represent baby Jesus and she sang 'Away in a Manger.' Aunt Jessie played the piano for Sis, and Sis sang beautifully; everyone loved listening to her. Then, it was my turn; Aunt Jessie was back in the wings with me, and she said, 'You'll do beautifully, too,' and I walked out and stood in the middle of the stage saying these lines with gesticulations:

Hands and feet
to work and run;
Errands glad to do.
Make a gift the Savior loves,
and he will use them, too.
After I had said my lines, I bowed! I had spoken them loud and clear as Aunt Jessie had taught me, and there was much clapping for both Sis and me. It was then that I looked to where Mama and Grandpa sitting, and Mama was beaming happily, and Grandpa looked so pleased. Aunt Jessie and Mary came when Sis and I went to Mama and Grandpa, and we were hugged so lovingly.

In a very few days it was Christmas Eve, and we had to go to bed early so that Santa could have a chance to fill our stockings and put gifts under the tree. We were so excited that it was hard to go to sleep, but finally we did.

On Christmas morning, I was awakened by my sister, Velva Jean, saying, 'Sissie, Sissie, wake up. Santa Claus came last night.' And, she was jumping up and down with such joy! I, very sleepily, crawled from under the covers, and she took my hand and hurried me into the dining room. What a magical sight it was as our stockings were spilling over with gifts, and under the tree were beautifully wrapped gifts. Our little hearts all but burst with the happiness we were realizing!

Mama was sitting in a rocker holding our baby brother, and she was crying; that disturbed Sis and me because we couldn't understand anyone being sad at such a happy time. So, we would run back and forth to her trying to console her, but Grandpa assured us that Mama was crying because of happiness, and that she was alright; we believed him and went back to unwrapping gifts. In hindsight, I believe that she was crying because she had been denied that special kind of Christmas happiness.

Aunt Jessie and Mary came over, and they said Uncle Tony would be over in a little while. Aunt Jessie had prepared breakfast for Uncle Tony, but she and Mary decided they would rather share our breakfast! The dining table was set so beautifully, and besides food, there were fruits, nuts, and luscious grapes, but we were much to happy to be hungry, so we just skipped all about the dining room, and Grandpa chuckled at his highly excited and very happy grandchildren. The happiness we were realizing seemed so unreal that I felt like a fairy, and I felt that Sis did too as we flew here and there as if we had wings. We loved being with Grandpa, and Aunt Jessie was so much like Mama that we loved being with her and Mary who was so loveable. Mama told us she wanted to visit with her other sisters, and afterwards, we would be visiting some of her 'school chums.' Mama assured us we would be coming back to Grandpa's before we left for home!

SOURCES


• Many of these charming accounts, and the wonderful photographs, were provided by Jesse (Martin) Thalbo's niece, Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman, who lived 1910-1999. (My grandmother)
  
  
• Many of these remarkable photographs and family facts were kindly provided by Jesse (Martin) Thalbo's nephew, James "Jim" Leroy Martin, who was born 23 February 1926 in California. -- Thanks, Jim!