Sarah Jane "Sadie" Martin was the fifth daughter, and fifth child, of James Frederick Martin and Eliza Jane (Lowmiller, Flank) Martin. Sarah was born on 31 October 1875 in Pennsylvania. Her paternal grandparents, John and Rachel Martin, came from Ireland to the New World. Sarah's maternal grandparents, Thomas and _______ Lowmiller, were Dutch.

Sarah had the nick name "Sadie" during her youth. In later years, her family affectionately called her "Mammy." Similarly, her husband, Oscar, was called, "Pappy."

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



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.)

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) Thalbo (Born 31 August 1886 in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Married to Tony Thalbo, and the mother of Mary Thalbo.)




Sarah 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.)


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

Holidays were especially festive times for Sarah'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.

Family members remember that Sarah had the adventurous and energetic spirit of the motion picture character, "Mame." She was a pretty woman who took care to enhance her good looks. She always dressed at the height of fashion for her day, with bright make-up, jewelry and elaborate hats. She had a quick wit, a flirtatious style and a daring spirit.

Sarah was always energetic. Her sister, Nannie (Martin) Routh, recalled that one day she and Sarah were carrying cans of milk to a neighbor when a bear began to approach them. Sarah advised her younger sister that they should remove the lids from the milk so that they could escape while the bear drank the milk. Nannie recalled that by the time she managed to remove her milk can lid, "I couldn't see Sarah for dust!"

Sarah always sought excitement in her life. As a child, Sarah, along with her brother, John Henry Martin, teased rattlesnakes until they became agitated and then killed them, taking the rattles of the snakes to show their parents how large a snake they had mastered. (Today, many would question the ethics of that treatment of an animal -- even a poisonous rattlesnake. But, in Sarah's youth, death hovered everywhere and the thinking was that to kill a rattlesnake was to save someone's life.) As an adult, the attractive and flirtatious Sarah teased men instead of rattlesnakes, and liked to talk about the men who had courted her.

A physically attractive adolescent, Sarah realized early that young men in the mountain community were interested in her attention. She was, however, perturbed by the immature manner in which one young fellow tried to gain her attention. That man was miffed that Sarah rebuffed him, so when he encountered her on the mountain roads he prodded his horse to gallup past her so quickly that she had to jump off to the side of the road.

The innovative young Sarah generated a plan to discourage this man once and for all. She motioned for him to stop one day as he prepared to do his galluping act. To the young man's delight, she told him that she had changed her mind -- she did like him after all. She then told him that she wanted to prepare a picnic for the two of them. He eagerly agreed to this offer. Sarah specified a time and location for him to meet her later that day. At the appointed time, Sarah was hiding in the nearby woods so that she could watch the man discover her surprise. She had indeed prepared a fancy picnic, complete with desserts, spread on a blanket. In the center of the showy spread, however, was a plate encircled by a wreath of wild flowers, and on that plate was something one would ordinarily leave in an outhouse instead of on a dinner plate. The boy did lose interest in Sarah!

On one occasion, Sarah teased a young handsome school teacher who was boarding at a local home. Sarah had not been courting the man, but was responding with her usual charm. The daughter of the family that was boarding the school teacher was truly infatuated with the man. The other young woman confronted Sarah one day, saying, "He lives at my house, he's mine!" The other woman then proceeded to remove the fancy hat that Sarah was wearing and tore it apart. Sarah, always an expressive woman, said, "If you want trouble, I'll give you some of what you're giving out." At this point, Sarah removed the eyeglasses of the other woman and twisted them. Sarah, who always dressed in fashionable clothing, was suddenly an active participating in a rowdy physical altercation. The young school teacher came upon the scene, chastized the other woman for presuming that he belonged to her, and commenced dating the exciting and unpredictable young Sarah Martin.
(Click on photo to see larger photo of Sarah!)

Sarah Jane Martin married Oscar Clyde Shuey.

Sarah Jane Martin was born 31 October 1875 in Blair County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of James Frederick Martin and Eliza Jane (Lowmiller) Martin. She carried her mother's middle name. Sarah died 23 April 1956 in California.


NOTE: Per death dates in the family group below, at least 4 of Sarah's 7 children (Sara Elizabeth, Grace, Frederick James and Edith Catherine) died before Sarah died. This must have been a source of much grief in Sarah's life.

Oscar Clyde Shuey was born 10 April 1876. He was the son of Andrew Shuey (1843-1880) and Rachel (Close) Shuey (1847-)

Sarah Jane (Martin) Shuey and Oscar Clyde Shuey had seven children including:



• Sara Elizabeth "Betty" Shuey (born 19 February 1898 in Pennsylvania. Sara Elizabeth Shuey was married to Clyde Mabry. This Sara Elizabeth (Shuey) Mabry died 01 September 1953 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.)
  
  
  NOTE: The first two children who survived to adulthood, Sara and Oscar, both married someone with the surname "Mabry." Perhaps their spouses, Clyde Mabry and Betty Mabry were brother and sister?
  
  NOTE: Sara was named for her mother, Sarah. Naming for relatives and friends was a common practice in the Martin family. Note that this daughter Sara's middle name is Elizabeth, which could have been in honor of Sarah Jane (Martin) Shuey's older sister, Elizabeth "Lizzy" (Martin) Schaefer Eckard
  
  
  
  
• Grace Shuey (Born 31 August 1899 in Pennsylvania. Died 10 September 1900 in Pennsylvania.)
  
  
  NOTE: Grace Shuey died 10 days after her first birthday.
  
  
• Oscar Clyde Shuey, Jr. (born 11 January 1901 in Pennsylvania. Married to Betty Mabry. Oscar Clyde Shuey, Jr. died 27 June 1978.)
  
  
  NOTE: These first two children who survived to adulthood, Sara and Oscar, both married someone with the surname "Mabry." Perhaps their spouses, Clyde Mabry and Betty Mabry were brother and sister?
  
  NOTE: Oscar was named for his father, Oscar.
  
  
  • Sara Lee Shuey was the daughter of Oscar Clyde Shuey, Jr. and Betty (Mabry) Shuey. She carried on the name of her grandmother, Sarah, and her aunt, Sara.
  
  
• Margaret "Peggy" Shuey (Margaret was born 04 January 1903 in Pennsylvania. She married John Denman.)
  
  
  See photo of Margaret "Peggy" Shuey below.
  
  
• Frederick James Shuey (Born 17 December 1904 in Pennsylvania. Died 10 March 1954 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.)
  
  
  NOTE: This Frederick James Shuey was probably named for his maternal grandfather, James Frederick Martin, with the first and middle names reversed.
  
  He apparently went by "Jimmy" for a while, and "Fred" for a while, per my grandmother's recollections of this first cousin.
  
  
• Edith Catherine Shuey (Edith was born 13 March 1907 in Pennsylvania. She was first married to Leslie Marvin Polson. She was next married to Floyd Alan Moll. Edith Catherine (Shuey) Polson Moll died 12 January 1951 in Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California. Leslie Marvin Polson died 29 May 1926 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.)
  
  
  See photos of Edith Catherine Shuey below.
  
  Edith's middle name, "Catherine," may have been to honor Sarah Jane (Martin) Shuey's older sister, Katherine "Kate" (Martin) Schoper.
  
  
  • Patricia Anne Polson was the daughter of Edith Catherine Shuey and Leslie Marvin Polson. Patricia married Thomas Dee Long.
    
    
    • Michael Dee Long is a son of Patricia Ann (Polson) Long and Thomas Dee Long.
      
      
      • Jennifer Pantha Long is a daughter of Michael Dee Long and Donna Kay (Drenner) Long.
        
        
      • Dee Anne Long is a daughter of Michael Dee Long and Donna Kay (Drenner) Long.
      
      
    • Kenneth Alan Long is a son of Patricia Ann (Polson) Long and Thomas Dee Long.
      
      
    • Eric Paul Long is a son of Patricia Ann (Polson) Long and Thomas Dee Long.
    
    
  • Joan Moll was the daughter of Edith Catherine Shuey and Floyd Alan Moll. Joan married Jerald Wilkes.
    
    
    • Catherine Wilkes was the daughter of Joan (Moll) Wilkes and Jerald Wilkes.
  
  
• John Shuey (Born in Pennsylvania.)
  
  
  NOTE: This John Shuey could have been named for his uncle, John Henry Martin , because Sarah was close to her brother John, both of them moving from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles County, California. And/or, this John Shuey could have been named for his maternal great-grandfather, John Martin who was born in Ireland.
  
  




In this photo, Sarah is shown with her son-in-law, Clyde Mabry, the husband of Sarah's daughter, Sarah Elizabeth (Shuey) Mabry.

(Click on photo to see larger photo!)





Margaret Shuey, one of the daughters of Sarah "Sadie" Jane (Martin) Shuey.

(Click on photo to see larger photo!)






Edith Catherine Shuey, one of the daughters of Sarah "Sadie" Jane (Martin) Shuey.

(Click on photo to see larger photo!)






Edith Catherine Shuey, one of the daughters of Sarah "Sadie" Jane (Martin) Shuey.

(Click on photo to see larger photo!)






Another one of the daughters of Sarah "Sadie" Jane (Martin) Shuey.
(Click on photo to see larger photo!)





My grandmother, Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman, recalls a very happy Christmas season visit to her Aunt Sarah's home in Pennsylvania in the year 1913:


When the conductor announced that we were nearing Pittsburgh, we were so happy to hear that! Aunt Sarah and her daughter, Elizabeth (Sara Elizabeth Shuey), met us at the station. Mama's and Aunt Sarah's greeting was very tearful as they hadn't seen each other for so long. How grateful we were when we arrived at their home. It was a lovely big brick house, and because of having six children (a seventh child, Grace, died as a baby), they needed a large home.

Our cousins were so happy to see us and were so lovingly attentive to Sis and me, and they loved our baby brother. It so happened that Aunt Sarah had stored a play pen from her youngest child when he had grown out of babyhood, so she had gotten it ready for Mama to put baby Lawrence in, and what a relief that was for Mama!

Since it was dinner time shortly after we arrived, a banquet of a meal had been prepared, and we all gathered in the spacious dining room and were seated at a long dining table. The children had helped their mother with the meal's preparation and in bringing it to the table. Uncle Oscar then said the blessing. Though we were so tired, we ate quite well as the food was so delicious. We went to bed early after our baths, and the night's rest left us feeling fine and so happy that we were with our cousins. The younger ones were quite a bit older than Sis and me, and those older enjoyed being with us, too. Elizabeth, the oldest, was almost sixteen and so attractive and a very loveable person. Our cousins brought out a number of games to play with,and it didn't take Sis and me long to understand how to play the games, and what fun we had!

Elizabeth played the piano so beautifully, and we loved to listen to the melodies she played. It was fascinating to watch her fingers glide over the keys as she played so gracefully. During the time we were there, we often asked her to play the piano.

Two wonderful weeks we stayed with Uncle Oscar, Aunt Sarah and our cousins, and while it was sad to leave, it was time we went to Grandpa's. So, Aunt Sarah and Elizabeth took us to the train station. We would be seeing them again before we left for our home in Danville, so saying goodbye to them wasn't as hurtful.

Later, we went from Aunt Kate's back to Aunt Sarah's for a few more days' visit, and in that little while, we were blessed with even more happiness to remember. Our cousins gave Sis and me some games that they had taught us how to play, and this was a happy surprise. Aunt Sarah had bought Sis and me each a lovely doll which we adored, so, we left them with overflowing hearts of joy and love.


Sarah endured a great tragedy when her daughter, Edith, was discovered hanging dead in a closet. The family believed that Edith would not have been able to position herself as the body was found, so believed that Edith was the victim or a murder. And, as noted above, four of Sarah's seven children died before Sarah died.

During her adult life, Sarah lived in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a while. Then, like her brother John Martin, she moved to California, near Hollywood.

Sarah (Martin) Shuey visited her sister, Nannie (Martin) Routh in Indiana several times. Once, when visiting at the Routh's Stanford, Indiana home, Sarah had brought all of the ingredients to make lemon pies and cakes. She liked to treat the Routh's to desserts since Simon Routh did not often indulge his family. While Sarah returned to the store to buy one more ingredient, Sarah's niece, young Elda Elizabeth Routh, took the ingredients and started to cook the desserts herself. When the expressive Sarah returned to discover this situation, she was initially angry. She chastized her niece saying, "I knew you'd do that!" Also typical of Sarah, she recovered quickly and finished preparing the desserts. Sarah retained her feisty spirit and flair for decorating herself throughout her life.

78-years old at the time of her last visit to her Sister Nannie (Martin) Routh in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, the family noticed that Sarah looked and acted much younger than her years. She still rosied her cheeks, wore ample jewelry and joked about the handsome men in her life.

Sarah Jane "Sadie" "Mammy" (Martin) Shuey died at 80-years of age, on 23 April 1956, in California.

(Click on photo to see larger photo of Sarah!)

SOURCES


• Many of these charming accounts, and the wonderful photographs, were provided by Sarah (Martin) Shuey's niece, Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman, who lived 1910-1999. (My grandmother)
  
  
• Many of these remarkable photographs and family facts were kindly provided by Sarah (Martin) Shuey's nephew, James "Jim" Leroy Martin, who was born 23 February 1926 in California. -- Thanks, Jim!
  
  
• Also many thanks to Michael Dee Long, who is Sarah (Martin) Shuey's great-grandson and my third cousin. Mike has graciously shared great photographs and information, too. -- Thanks, Mike!
  
  
• California birth records
  
  
• California death records
  
  
• California marriage records