Granduncle Mark's Genealogy Parlor

----- CREDIT: Randy Vaught (My third cousin, Randy is a grandson of Florena Elizabeth Sweeney Vaught.)

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Lizzie 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 Lizzie'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 Lizzie'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. Lizzie and her siblings were musical and between them played many musical instruments.

Holidays were especially festive times for Lizzie'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.



Photo is of Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Martin) Schaefer and her first husband, Peter Dorman Schaefer.

Click on small photo to see larger photo.

Lizzie first married Peter Dorman Schaefer

Peter Dorman Schaefer had malaria during the war.

Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Martin) Schaefer and Peter Dorman Schaefer had three children including Leo D. Schaefer, Violet Schaefer, and Olive Schaefer.

Leo D. Schaefer eventually lived in Detroit at the same time that his first cousin, Velva Delilah "Jean" (Routh) Houghton lived in Detroit, but they did not have a close relationship despite being in the same city.

One of Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Martin) Schaefer and Peter Dorman Schaefer's daughters was bitten by a venomous snake as a young girl. Thinking that the coiled snake was a "kitty," she tried to pet the reptile. Peter responded by killing the snake, sucking the venom from his daughter's wound, and treated her with peroxide until a doctor arrived. The little girl survived.

Peter Dorman Schaefer was challenged when he heard that a killer bear was terrorizing the Carson Valley from which his wife came. Peter travelled from his neighboring town, announcing that he was going to kill the bear. Area farmers laughed at the grandiose young man. Peter took his gun in the wagon and set out on the hunt. After he had been gone for hours his wife, Lizzie, who was waiting at her father's home, was increasingly afraid that something had happened to him. Eventually, after dark, Peter returned with the large conquered bear on the back of his wagon. The derisive laughter stopped and the local newspaper featured a story of Peter's heroic actions.

After Peter Dorman Schaefer's death, Lizzie next married William H. Eckard.

We know that two of Lizzie's great-grandchildren were Judith Elaine Weibly and Betty Jane Weibly.

Lizzie gave her grand-niece, Winifred Jean Eddleman (my mother), the only porcelain doll that Winifred had during her childhood, and a "silver bell" Christmas tree ornament which Winifred put on her Christmas tree every year for the rest of her life.



Photo is of Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Martin) Schaefer with her father, James Frederick Martin (a Civil War veteran) during a visit to Ghettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Click on small photo to see larger photo.



My grandmother, Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman, was a niece to this Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Martin) Schaefer Eckard. Elda provided the following report of her visit to Lizzie's home during the Christmas season of 1913.

We went to Aunt Lizzie's and Uncle Peter's first before going to Aunt Kate's who lived quite some distance from Aunt Lizzie, but still in Altoona.

They had three children, too -- our cousin, Leo, was grown up and lived away, and our cousins, Sarah and Karen (elsewhere the daughters were said to be Violet and Olive, so perhaps like other Martin's they sometimes went by middle names), were in their late teens, but the differences in our ages didn't keep us from having a happy time as they played games with us, and we had a lot of fun with them. They were very loving and so pretty!

Uncle Peter was a dear and gentle man, and though he was very ailing, and lived with considerable pain, he spent time with us, too, and he wanted to hear about our Christmas and our visits with the other relatives. We were excitedly telling him about our Christmas, and he smiled all the time we were telling him all about what he wanted to know. He was enjoying listening to us, and he told us so! We loved him dearly and would never forget him. Aunt Lizzie was a very special lady and so loveable. Mama and she needed this visit, and their every moment together was just precious. It wasn't easy to leave, but it had been a beautiful visit -- one to cherish.

So many places to go, it was like being on a merry-go-round. Surely, Mama was tired, and Sis and I must have been, but being saturated with happiness since leaving home kept us from feeling tired.

Photo is of Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Martin) Schaefer Eckard as an older woman, holding the baby son of her second husband's cousin.

Click on small photo to see larger photo.

SOURCES


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

See Also:

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