Marbury, Martha Jane

Aletha's Paternal Grandmother

Martha Jane was born 24 December 1850 in Hempstead Co.
AR, the second of six children of John P. and
Minerva Ann Wicker Marbury.

She married William Clinton Summerhill 12 Jan 1873
in Hempstead Co. Their marriage was performed by
Elijah Merrill, Minister of the Gospel.
 William was born 9 Jun 1849 Wilson Co. TN.

~Martha & William's Marriage License~

 W. C. Summerhill to Miss Mary* J. Marbury

 Hempstead Co. AR - 12 Jan 1873 - Marriage Bk. CI, p. 72
    *Martha's name is listed as Mary in error.

Martha's Church Affiliation

Martha Jane was received into Ozan Baptist Church, Hempstead Co. AR
by christian  experience.  The date is not recorded in their old church records,
but I assume this occurred during her teenage years, about 1860 - 1870.
The church is located on the banks of Ozan Creek.   The name Ozan Baptist
Church was changed in April 1942, to First Baptist Church of Bingen, Arkansas.
 Ozan was formed in September 1847, when fourteen early settlers met in
the home of William and Sarah Cooley for this purpose.  These settlers
transferred their letters from a former church or churches.  Among the
fourteen were Marbury relations; John & Jane Jarman and
Malinda Clingan, Penny & Sarah Ann Jarman.  Jane Jarman was the
sister of Martha Jane's father.  Malinda Clingan was Jane's daughter by
her first marriage to James Cowan Clingan.   James died 30 Jan 1837
and Jane married John Jarman 3 Feb 1839.  Penny & Sarah Ann Jarman
were John Jarman's daughters by a previous marriage.

Martha Jane's father, John P., joined the church by letter in April 1848.
 In June 1877, both Martha and John P. asked for their letters in anticipation
of their move to Clark Co. AR.    I believe they joined Shiloh Baptist Church
which is located a few miles from Arkadelphia, AR and close to Bradshaw
Community where my grandparents lived.  Sadly, Shiloh's records
have not survived.

John P. & Martha Jane Granted Letters in "Good Standing"

William Clinton Summerhill

  Click SUMMERHILL to go to my Summerhill site.   

My grandfather migrated to Hempstead Co. from Rutherford Co. TN
about 1867 with his oldest brother, Thompson Anderson Summerhill
and family.  Two of their Sypert uncles lived in the Nashville area.  The
last account I have of my grandfather before his marriage, is the 1860
Rutherford Co. TN Census where he's listed as still living at home.
 I can't find him on any 1870 Census. 

Between 1877 and 1880, William and Martha moved to Clark Co. AR
with her father.  They're shown with three children on the 1880 Clark Co.
AR Census, all living with John P. Marbury and family.
 John P. and William Clinton were farmers.

William's Church Affiliation

Member of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Clark Co where he was
baptized 31 Jul 1898.
                          ~Church Minutes of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church Records -
                                                      Microfilm Roll - Arkansas History Commission - Little Rock, AR.

Martha Jane's Death

Martha died 11 Oct 1892 from childbirth.  She had given birth to
two sets of twins in 2 1/2 years.

Several years ago, I was given a scrapbook that had belonged to my
Aunt Lena Summerhill Ross Bozeman Posey, the first born of
William and Martha.  Entries cover the years 1889 through
World War I.  The scrapbook contained Martha's obituary from the
Daily Siftings Herald, a local newspaper.

         
There's some discussion as to Martha Jane's death date.  The date October
11, 1892 is written above the obituary in the scrapbook.  A different date was
recorded in the journal James A. Fortson kept for 22 years.

The obituary actually reveals the death date when it states 'one little
boy and one little girl twenty-four days old....'  This set of twins was born
18 September 1892, establishing Martha Jane's death as the 11 or 12 of
October.   So, the scrapbook entry of the eleventh is correct.  And,
the date was written by Martha Jane's oldest daughter, Lena.  

Note: Even though I don't agree with this particular Fortson entry, I do highly
recommend the Journal to anyone researching in the Clark Co. AR area.
 

Martha Jane, supposedly, was buried in Shiloh Baptist Church
Cemetery.  There is no visible marker.  Most likely at one time there
was a rock to mark her burial place.  When I make the  pilgrimage
back to Clark Co. and stand among the trees and shrubs in that country
cemetery where rests her dust, I pay a silent tribute to this dear pioneer
lady, my christian grandmother.

William's Death

 William Clinton's death certificate states he died of Chronic Valvular
Heart Disease, 5 April 1916.  Duration (of disease) was 3 years
and 6 months.  Signed by Dr. T. A. Ross.  
Informant: E. D. Summerhill.  

Note: The Bozeman Cemetery is located behind the old Michael Bozeman
homeplace, about a mile from Mt. Bethel Baptist Church.  The last time I visited,
it was overgrown.

During a sight-seeing visit to the Arkadelphia area in 1990, two of my sisters,
Elnora Summerhill Lewis and Martha Summerhill Morgan, and myself,
stopped to view and admire the old Bozeman home.  The residents graciously
gave us a tour, a highlight of our visit.  In my grandfather's time, the home
was a community gathering place for local socials.  William Clinton, his
children, including my father, and my mother before her marriage, were
frequent visitors for fellowship in this beautiful home.  
I appreciate those who have kept it, basically, in its original state.

My Mother Recalls Funeral

Through the years, Mama (Lillian Brewer Summerhill) often related the
following story in regard to her attending William Clinton's funeral
when she was dating my father.

Another of Mama's stories in regard to my grandfather

When she was nineteen, this good Samaritan became Mama's father-in-law.
 Her mind was filled with these great stories of her teenage years in
Clark Co.  When we lost her in 1983, we lost a precious jewel.

* There's a picture of Horace in existence and,
hopefully, someone will share it with us.

Martha Jane Marbury Summerhill, christian mother

~ANALYSIS~

Martha Jane's story can never fully be written.  Record keeping was not a
basic way of life in those days and we can't click a button and display it on a
screen.  We must use every outlet at our disposal to gather our knowledge,
grasping at any tidbit to enlighten us to her existence.   Her death at age 41
denied Martha Jane's young children the memories of a mother's tender
loving care.  And denied her descendants the intimate knowledge that is handed
down from generation to generation.   So, with this web site, I've tried to
embrace the scattered remnants of her life, weave them together, and leave
it for future generations who will come after us.  

Once upon a time, she lived and walked the good land just as you and I.   She
spent her long days cooking, mending, washing...an endless cycle in caring
for her family.   I surmise that in the late evenings, she sat on the porch,
rocked her babies and watched the golden sunset when summers cool
breezes blew across the meadow.  I surmise she searched the stars and
stared at the man in the moon, wondering of all the mysteries contained
there.  I surmise she told her children stories as my own mother did to us.
 And, I surmise, and the records so state, that she attended church
(because she loved God), opened the hymnal and sang the old songs that
flooded her spiritual soul ("Amazing Grace"); a wondrous release from
life's constant demands.   And, yes, she would have hugged her children
and kissed away their tears when troubles and hurts lingered.  Would a
christian mother do less?  No, and neither did Martha Jane.  

Her goodness lived on inside her children.   I knew my Aunt Letha,
my namesake.  I remember visiting in her home in
Arkadelphia, and eating delicious meals at her table.  She looked
after her father, William Clinton, as his health declined.  

And Mama said Aunt Lena was a kind, soft-spoken woman.  When she
moved to Prescott in Nevada County, Arkansas, my father took a team
of mules and wagon and hauled some of her household goods.
 My oldest sister, Dorothy, was eight years old when Aunt Lena died
and she remembers attending her funeral with my Dad.
 "They had her in a casket at home.  I was small and I couldn't see in the
  casket but I could see her nose.  I've remembered that all these years."
 We lost Dorothy in February 1998.

Uncle Sevier came from Sherman, Texas where he lived, only once to
Arkadelphia to visit my family. What a kind person he was, in speech and
actions. One of his eyes was bad.   He had a car and took us to
downtown Arkadelphia.  That was quite an experience for
a country girl back then.

My Uncle Ed, my Dad's twin brother, became my Dad after I lost my father.
 I loved him so very much.   He, too, was soft-spoken and kind.   He and
Aunt Ola had one of the best marriages I've ever seen.  They truly loved
each other.  It was a pleasure just to be around them.  She talked so softly
and I doubt these two ever had an enemy in the world.  Their three daughters,
Martha Caddy, Peggy and Bela Doris ("Jack" was her nickname)
all three have the same soft spoken voice.

I was around my Uncle Will for several years and we joked a lot.  He
always pulled some change from his pocket and gave to us kids,
another gesture of love.  He was tall and lanky and later in life
lost both legs to a disease.  He never married and lived with
Uncle Ed and Aunt Ola for many years.

I don't remember meeting Uncle Horace but Mama expounded more
than once on what a good man he was.  He and his family lived
with us for a while when I was a child.  I've seen his picture and
thought to myself that he was the handsomest of all the sons
of Martha and William Clinton.  

Aunt Lula died about 1910 from childbirth.  According to Mama,
my Dad always spoke highly of her. When she died it was during an
overflow of the Ouachita River.   At the time, her family lived at Open
Banks, a small community southeast of Arkadelphia.  They had to carry
her out in a boat to be buried.  A few years back, I met the daughter she
birthed, Jessie Lalah Ross Lee, and what a sweet personality.
She's now deceased.

Had Martha Jane lived, I know she would have burst with pride
over her children and grandchildren. There are thousands of us out here.
  Some of us tend to question why she had to die at such an early age.
I suppose it's human nature to delve into the unexplainable.  But her
death was only as a grain of sand in the Master plan.  

So now as I close this little epistle to my grandmother, I pray this site has
shed new insights into her life.  

Thanks for stopping by, staying a while and sharing my research and memories.  
When you get a notion to drop in, the gate is always open.
                                       ...Aletha

"For God so loved the world...."

ST. JOHN 3:16   King James Holy Bible

This site created and maintained by Aletha Summerhill Rogers.  Any published
or commercial use of the information on this site is strictly prohibited without prior permission.
 

"Watch with care over your family nest!"