Monday, January 20, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Who was Margaret Martin of Grant County, Wisconsin?

As a bit of motivation (need more than a bit!) I decided to participate in this 52 ancestor challenge from Ancestry.  My great grandparents, Margaret Martin and Charles Hess, married in October of 1852 in Grant County, Wisconsin.  I believe Margaret was the daughter of Augustine Augustus Martin and Elizabeth Peck.  On the 1850 census in Grant County, Augustus and Elizabeth (Betsey) Martin had two daughters listed in addition to Margaret: Louisa b. 1836 and Isabella b. 1838, all born in Illinois.  Margaret named one of her daughters Annie Isabel and another daughter Louisa.  My recollection is that there was another possible Margaret but the fact that this Margaret named two of her daughters after her sisters seems to confirm this family. Margaret and Charles Hess moved to Iowa and then to Kansas, first in Rooks County, and then to Cloud County, Kansas where they died.  

But, back to the Martins!  I've spent years trying to figure this family out and determine if I was really on the right track.  I'm publishing this here and on ancestry in the hopes that someone will straighten me out if this isn't correct. I, along with other researchers, believe the mother of Margaret,  Betsey on the 1850 census in Grant County, WI, is Elizabeth Peck.  Here is her family:

The Peck-Wysor Family:

Several different researchers list Augustus Martin's wife as Elizabeth Peck, daughter of Jacob Peck and Eve Wysor.  Children of Jacob and Eve are shown as:

  1. Catherine b. c. 1798 VA, d. c. 1852 Grant County, WI, mar. Robert L. Weeks
  2. Elizabeth, b. c. 1800 VA, mar. Augustine/Augustus Martin
  3. Christopher, b. abt 1804 VA, mar Matilda Pitser
  4. Nancy, b. abt 1810 VA, d. 1876 Grant County, WI, mar Benjamin Burton
  5. Fidelia (Delia/Dalia) b. c. 1817 VA, mar. Isaac Burton.
  Now for the family of Augustine Augustus Martin and Elizabeth Peck (see below on Elizabeth's family)
  1. William b. 1825 VA ,shown on1850 in Grant County, WI in aunt's household two doors down (Catherine Peck and Robert Weeks).  In Memorable Happenings in Grant Co. Herald Newspaper 1870-1879 v. II is a listing for "Martin, Wm vs. Jacob Martin - Bloomington, h. 1848 came as family from IL, Issue 730925, p. 3a3."
  2. Jacob, b. 1830 VA, listed in 1850 Tafton, Grant County, WI census, with mother Elizabeth, and siblings James, John, and Isabel and two younger children, Rebecca and James. 
  3. James (Deseustus/Derastus?) b. 1832 VA. James is listed as Deseustus (my interpretation) on the 1850 census with his family, same date of birth. In 1860 he is listed as James.  I have to wonder if the name shouldn't be Erastus because that name is found often in the Peck family in VA. Married Roxena Scarf.
  4. Margaret, b. 23 Jul 1832 Illinois, d. 1 Mar 1891, Cloud County, Kansas, mar. Charles Hess on 28 Oct 1852 in Grant County, WI. 
  5. Louisa, b. 1836, Illinois
  6. Isabella, b. 1838, Illinois
  7. John, b. 1839, Illinois
Here are the 1850 and 1860 census records from Grant County, WI. First the 1850 on two pages:



 
 
Now for the 1860 Grant County, Wisconsin census showing Jacob and mother Elizabeth:
 



I believe the Martin family came to Wisconsin from Clinton County, Illinois.  Looking at the 1840 census in Illinois it would seem to fit.  I also have land documents listing both Augustin Martin and Augustus Martin in Clinton County.  In another post I will dig out the Clinton County connections.  In the meantime, happy hunting!

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