Bio-Mayle, MarthaMayle

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Martha Ellen (Mayle) Mayle
(1875-1980)

Martha Ellen (Mayle) Mayle was born on May 2, 1875 on Laurel Creek near Philippi, Barbour County, WV, the daughter of Hiram "Poke" and Margaret (Minerd) Mayle. She is one of but a few cousins known to have lived beyond the age of 100.

When Martha was age 18, she married 28-year-old Lewis Mayle (1865-1927), the son of George William and Nancy (Dalton or Croston) Mayle. The wedding took place in Barbour County, WV on May 15, 1893.

The Mayleses went on to have 11 children -- Effie Szabellone, Elizabeth Collins Minard, Raymond Male, Reason ("Rezin") Mayle Sr., Ernest Mayle, Freeman Mayle, Haymond Mayle, Carcin "Carsey" Mayle, Clifford Mayle, Mabel Mayle and Gertie Mayle. One of their sons was also known as "Jake."

In 1900, Martha and Lewis and daughters Effie and Elizabeth lived near Philippi. The 1910 census shows the family in the Philippi area, living along the county road, with Lewis marked as a farmer.

When the federal census was enumerated in 1920, they resided in the west district of Philippi, where Lewis was a 56-year-old coal miner.

Lewis passed away of stomach cancer, just three days before his 62nd birthday, on April 7, 1927. Burial was in the Norris Cemetery.

Old color-tinted postcard view of Philippi -- depicting an old mill along the Tygart River, set against the backdrop of the Chestnut Ridge

Martha outlived her husband by an extraordinary 53 years, and remained his widow the entire span of that time. Before her own death at the age of 105, she buried nine of her children.

In the 1930 census, Martha is shown making her home along Route 69 with her sons Reason, Haymond, Freeman and Clifford along with cousin Darlena Johnson.

Circa 1966-1967, when she would have been age 96-97, Martha resided in Canton, Stark County, OH. During those two years, she suffered the death of her 89-year-old brother Elza and 72-year-old daughter Mary Elizabeth Minard. Martha was mentioned in their respective obituaries in the Grafton Sentinel and the Barbour Democrat. In late April 1975, having reached the age of 100, she was residing on Route 2 in Grafton, and endured the passing of her 59-year-old son Clifford.

Martha died at the age of 105 in June 8, 1980, in or around Grafton, Route 2. The Barbour Democrat published her age as 112, and her birth year as 1868, but that number is not correct based on our research. The Democrat added that she "was a homemaker and was a Wesleyan Methodist for most of her life." At her death, she was survived by three grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, eight great-great grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 12 step great-grandchildren and 28 step-great-great grandchildren. With Rev. Winfield and Rev. David Maley officiating, she was laid to rest in the Old Poke Cemetery on Laurel Creek.

Their son Haymond provided genealogical information for a 1979 thesis report by Dorothy J. Cox of Marshall University, entitled A Marginal Group in West Virginia: An Historical and Cultural Study.

~ Daughter Mary Elizabeth (Mayle) Collins Minard ~

Daughter Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Mayle (1896-1967) was twice married. Her first husband was Clayton "Dode" Collins (1888- ? ), son of Noah and Rosanna Collins.

Later, she married a cousin, Tillison Forest Minard (1894-1973), the son of William and Elvira (Male) Minerd. She had no children.

She died on March 16, 1967, in Philippi's Broaddus Hospital, at the age of 72. She was laid to rest in the Mayle Cemetery, with her funeral led by Rev. J. Franklin "Frank" Peoples.

~ Daughter Effie (Mayle) Szabellone ~

Daughter Effie Mayle (1894-1981) was born on March 25, 1893 near Philippi. Effie married (?) Szabellone (or "Sgabellone ").

They lived in Philippi.

She died in 1981, the year after her mother, and is buried at Old Poke Cemetery.

~ Son Reason Mayle Sr. ~

Son Reason Mayle Sr. (1904- ? ) married a cousin, Edna Miner (1909-1928), on July 18, 1927. She may have been married once before to a Norris, though given her very young age, this is in question. She was the daughter of Charles William and Effie (Curry) Minard Sr. and the granddaughter of Sarah (Minerd) Wright.

They resided in Grafton, Taylor County.

Tragically, as she neared her 16th birthday, Edna and their infant son Reason Mayle Jr. died in childbirth, he on Leap Day (Feb. 29) and she on March 2, 1928. Edna was laid to rest in Pitman Cemetery south of Philippi, and the infant in Bluemont Cemetery in Grafton.

The 1930 census shows the widowed Reason making his home with his mother. His fate after that is unknown, though he may have died in Canton, Stark County, OH in January 1965. This needs to be confirmed.

~ Son Haymond Mayle ~

Son Haymond Mayle (1905-1997) married Bessie Decost (1904-1986) and they are seen at right. Bessie was the daughter of Doddridge "Tug" and Rosa May (Male) Decost, and the niece of Rev. Frederick Albert Decost, said to be the "best funeral preacher around." The wedding took place on Oct. 28, 1936.

They had three children -- Vivian Crabtree, Myrtle (Mayle) Maley and Winfred Franklin Mayle. Bessie also brought two children to the marriage, Agnes Mayle and Elwood Kennedy.

They lived in Canton circa 1967. Said a local newspaper, Haymond "was a retired shear machine operator in a salvage yard and a member of the Church of God." On Oct. 28, 1986, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, and their photograph was published in the Barbour Democrat.

A little less than two months after their anniversary, Bessie died on Dec. 21, 1986, at the age of 82.

Haymond outlived her by 11 years. He died at the age of 93, in Grafton City Hospital, on Dec. 28, 1997. Rev. David Maley and Rev. Kermit Maley officiated at his funeral. Haymond and Bessie and their descendants are buried in the Old Poke Cemetery near Philippi.

Son Winfred Mayle (1934-1998) resided in Webster, Taylor County. He married Christina (?). They had six children -- Joseph H. Mayle, David Mayle, Randall Mayle, Donald Mayle, Robert Mayle and Patty Mayle. Tragically, son Joseph (1958-1999), who was married and lived in Canton, Stark County, OH, was killed at the age of 40, on Oct. 28, 1999, "of a tragic accident at the construction site at Ravenna Arsenal," said the Canton Repository. His remains were returned to Philippi for burial at the family's Old Poke Cemetery.

~ Son Carcin Mayle ~

Son Carcin "Carsey" Mayle (1909-1923) was born in 1909.

He died of tuberculosis at the age of 14, on March 4, 1923, when the family was living near Philippi. Burial was "on Laurel Creek," likely in the Old Poke Cemetery.

~ Son Ernest Mayle ~

Son Ernest Mayle (1910- ? ) is lost to history. He may also have been known as "Jake."

~ Son Freeman Mayle ~

Son Freeman Mayle (1915-1962) lived in Philippi, where he worked as a laborer. He died at the age of 48 on Aug. 12, 1962.

~ Son Clifford Mayle ~

Son Clifford Mayle (1916-1975) lived in Philippi in 1967. He moved to Canton, Stark County, OH. Clifford died in a Canton hospital at the age of 59 on April 28, 1975.