|
Julius
Caeser Martin Sr. |
Julius Caeser Martin Sr. was born in Oct. 16, 1857 (or 1853) in Evansville, Preston County, WV, the son of John M. and Louisa (Miller) Martin. He was a longtime railroader in West Virginia.
Tragedy befell Julius in childhood, at the age of five, when the family resided in or near Grafton, Taylor County, WV. Just a few days after Christmas 1862, his father died of smallpox. Evidence suggests that he was raised by his Martin grandparents.
As a young man, Julius resided in Upshur County, WV.
On Dec. 30, 1885, the 28-year-old Julius married 19-year-old Emma Jane Lewis (Feb. 3, 1866-1923), at her parents' home, by the hand of Rev. A. Lister of the Methodist Protestant Church. She was a native of Buckhannon, Upshur County, and the daughter of carpenter Perry Cyrus and Martha A.C. (Johnson) Lewis Sr.
They were the parents of at least six children -- Grover Cleveland Martin, Lillie Brue Yerkey, Walter K. Martin, Julius Caeser Martin Jr., Harry "Cassel" Martin and Martha Louise Cottrill.
|
Bird's-eye view of Buckhannon, early 1900s |
 |
| Obituary, 1918 |
The 1900 census shows the Martins living in Buckhannon, where Julius was employed as a "baggage master" on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Sadly, son Walter died at the age of 13 on March 29, 1903. His death certificate shows they were living in Clarksburg at the time, and he was a "school boy."
By 1903, the family had moved to Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV, with William continuing his work as a baggage master. Newlywed daughter and son in law Lilly and Edward Eldon Yerkey lived under their roof in 1910, with Edward working as an engineer on the railroad. Their residence that year was on Baltimore Street.
In summarizing Julius' working career, the Buckhannon (WV) Delta once said: "Ever since the B. & O. railroad was built up the river, one of the familiar faces in the baggage car has been that of Julius C. Martin. For many years Mr. Martin ran on the train between Clarksburg and Pickens, but was later transferred to the run from Clarksburg to Richwood." Richwood was a center for converting timber into wood pulp, used in producing paper products such as cups, dollies and wrapping paper.
|
|
|
Railroad tracks at a pulp and paper mill in Richwood, WV |
Julius suffered from chronic kidney disease. Seeking treatment at Clarksburg Hospital, he died there on June 19, 1918, at the age of 65. He was buried in Clarksburg's Masonic Cemetery. His official West Virginia death certificate is scant with detail, but confirms he was a baggage master on the B&O. [Find-a-Grave]
The census of 1920 shows widowed Emma making her home back in Buckhannon, on North Kanawha Street, heading a household with her children ranging in age from 33 to 11. That year, son Grover labored as a lumber husker in a planing mill, and sons Julius and Cassel were barbers in a barber shop.
Emma outlived her spouse by five years. Burdened with diabetes, she succumbed to death at the age of 67 on April 11, 1923. Her remains were laid to rest beside her husband and son Walter.
~ Son Grover Cleveland Martin ~
Son Grover Cleveland Martin (1886- ? ) was born on Oct. 16, 1886 in Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV.
On Aug. 17, 1912, at the age of 25, Grover was joined in marriage with 24-year-old divorcee Rachel Birdie Hamrick ( ? - ? ). Rachel was a native of Mingo County, WV. Rev. L.E. Peters officiated the wedding, held in his home in Harrison County, WV. On their marriage license, Rachel did not identify her parents.
By 1920, their marriage had ended. When the 1920 federal census was enumerated, Grover resided with his mother and earned a living as a lumber husker in a planing mill. Their home at that time was on North Kanawaha Street in Buckhannon.
As with several younger brothers, Grover migrated to Detroit. The United States Census of 1930 lists him and his brother Cassel there as roomers in the household of Clarence Mackey. He earned a living as a laborer in one of the city's automobile factories.
He is believed to have been deceased by 1944.
~ Daughter Lillie Brue (Martin) Yerkey ~
 |
| Obituary, 1944 |
Daughter Lillie Brue Martin (1889-1944) was born on Aug. 12, 1889 in Buckhannon, Upshur County.
On Aug. 12, 1909, in nuptials held in Clarksburg, Harrison County, she was united in matrimony with Edward Eldon Yerkey (Aug. 27, 1886-1954). He was the son of Darius A. and Mary Eveline (Richards) Yerkey of Good Hope, Harrison County.
They bore at least four children together -- Martin Edward Yerkey Sr., Mary E. Kelley, Harry Kendall Yerkey and Aljon Yerkey.
The federal census enumeration of 1920 shows the couple in Clarksburg. Edward's occupation that year was as a railway conductor.
In 1930, the Yerkeys made their home in Weston, Lewis County, WV, with Edward continuing to work as a conductor on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (the "steam" railroad), a position he maintained for the rest of his life. By 1944, they had moved to 395 Broaddus Avenue in Clarksburg. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and belonged to the Methodist Church.
Suffering from heart disease, Lillie died of a heart attack at age 54 in Harrison County on June 22, 1944.
Edward passed away at the age of 67 on May 30, 1954, in Clarksburg. He was laid to rest in the Elk View Masonic Cemetery.
 |
| Martin Yerkey's workplace, the Hazel-Atlas Glass works in Clarksburg |
 |
| Clarksburg Exponent |
Son Martin Edward Yerkey Sr. (1911-1970) was born on June 30, 1911 in Clarksburg, Harrison County. At the age of 31, on June 19, 1943, he was joined in the bonds of wedlock with 24-year-old Josephine Bosanec (Sept. 1, 1918- ? ), daughter of Joseph and Anna (Andrews) Bosanec of Tioga, WV. Baptist pastor Rev. D.F. Desist officiated at the wedding, held in Clarksburg. The couple produce one son, Martin Edward Yerkey Jr. The Yerkeys lived in Clarksburg, where Martin was employed at the Hazel-Atlas glass factory and Whitehair Machine Shop. In about 1962, they moved to Keyser, Mineral County, WV, where Martin "worked as a machinist at Bolt and Forge for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Cumberland, Md.," said the Clarksburg Exponent. He died at University Hospital in Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV on Jan. 13, 1970, at the age of 58, "following an extended illness," said the Exponent.
-
Grandson Martin Edward Yerkey Jr. ( ? - ? )
Daughter Mary E. Yerkey (1914- ? ) was born in about 1914 in West Virginia. She entered into marriage with William Kelley ( ? - ? ). In 1970, they made their home in Weston, Lewis County, WV.
Son Harry Kendall Yerkey (1916-1965) was born on Sept. 29, 1916. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. He passed away on Sept. 28, 1965. Burial was in the Elk View Masonic Cemetery. at the age of 48.
Son Aljon Yerkey (1927-1980) was born on Sept. 25, 1927. He served in the U.S. Navy, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He is known to have been stationed in Philadelphia circa 1954. In January 1970, he was mentioned in the Clarksburg Exponent obituary of his brother Martin, and was living in Woodbridge, VA at the time. He died at the age of 52 on May 13, 1980. His lies in honored rest in Culpeper National Cemetery in Virginia.
~ Son Julius Caeser Martin Jr. ~
Son Julius Caeser Martin Jr. (1893-1974) -- also known as "Jay Cezar Martin" -- was born on Nov. 24, 1893 in Buckhannon, Upshur County.
He stood 5 feet, 9 inches tall with brown eyes and brown hair. He bore tattoo marks on both arms.
By 1917, Julius had migrated to Detroit, where he found work as a barber, employed by Casey Ballard at 77 Broadway. His address in those early years in Detroit was 1022 Van Dyke.
He is believed to have been married thrice, and possibly four times. The identity of his first wife is not yet known.
At the age of 24, on Sept. 12, 1918, he was united in wedlock with 25-year-old Victoria Gulch ( ? - ? ), a Pennsylvania native also living in Detroit at the time. The ceremony was led by justice of the peace Fred E. DeGaus, with August Bichner and William F. Baker serving as witnesses.
In time, Julius was joined in holy matrimony with his third bride, Stella ( ? - ? ).
The federal census of 1940 shows Julius in Detroit, now married to Mary (1890- ? ), who was three years older than he. Julius continuing his barbering at that time.
Julius made a home in Detroit, MI in 1942-1974 at the address of 3440 Harrison Street. There, circa 1942, he worked for Charles Misjan at 1981 Grand River.
Sadly, Julius died in Detroit two days before Christmas 1974. Nothing more about him is known.
~ Son Harry "Cassel" Martin ~
Son Harry Cassel Martin (1895-1958) -- also known as "Castle H. Martin" and "Castle Hamon Martin" -- was born on April 15, 1895 in Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV.
He stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed 155 lbs. He sported brown eyes and brown hair.
In young manhood Cassel and his brothers relocated to Detroit. He was required to register for the military draft during World War I, and disclosed that his address was 1022 Van Dyke Street and that he earned a living as a barber. He was married and had a child at that time.
The census of 1920 shows that Cassel had moved back to West Virginia, making his home with his widowed mother and brothers in Buckhannon, on North Kanawha Street. At that time, he and his brother Julius were barbers in a barber shop
Unmarried at the age of 35, in 1930, Cassel returned to Detroit and roomed with his brother Grover in a boarding house operated by Clarence Mackey. Cassel labored in a local automobile factory at that time.
He continued to reside in Detroit during the World War II years and was unemployed. His address circa 1942 was at 1525 Third Street. When registering for the World War II military draft, he stated that Charles Misjan, of 1963 Grand River -- his brother Julius' employer -- would always know how he could be reached.
Death claimed his life on Feb. 17, 1958.
|
Detroit, where all 3 Martin brothers relocated |
~ Daughter Martha Louise (Martin) Cottrill ~
 |
| Obituary, 1974 |
Daughter Martha Louise Martin (1908-1974) was born on May 9, 1908 in Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV.
She wed Ross H. Cottrill (1909-1974), a native of Chillicothe, Ross County, OH, and the son of Esta and Anna May (Herron) Cottrill, on March 2, 1929.
The couple did not reproduce.
In 1944-1974, the Cottrills lived in Weston, Lewis County, with their residence at 113 McGary Avenue. Ross was a longtime plasterer, and a veteran of World War II. They were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Weston.
Ross died at age 64, on March 15, 1974, "following an unexpected illness," said the Weston Democrat.
Martha outlived him only by a little more than three months. She passed away in Weston's Stonewall Jackson Hospital at the age of 66 on June 25, 1974. She was laid to rest in the Peterson Cemetery, joining her husband in eternity.
Copyright © 2008-2010, 2013, 2021 Mark A. Miner