Martin, Charles W. (missing grandfather)

"Charley Martin" is what Grandma wrote on the back of the picture taken the day you two married in 1895. Your marriage was recorded in Spokane, Washington, but I don't know anything more about you.
Selma Carlsen was twenty-three years old with three small children when you married. She had two more children by you, so I figure you hung around until at least 1897 or 1900. However, you were not in the 1900 census with the family.

You know how stories get passed along in families, well there are some stories about you. First of all, you were supposed to have shot Samuel Petersen, the father of Selma's three young children. He was her stepfather and common-in-law husband. Maybe you had reason to shoot him, as I understand you were not charged for his death.

But what's this about you "meeting your maker" at the end of a rope on your own barn? Now, I have never found proof of these two incidents, and it sure seems logical that something should have made the newspapers.

My mother never confessed to knowing much about you, but she did say that there were "a lot of skeletons in the closet." It wasn't until she had passed on, that these stories surfaced from other branches of the family, so I never had the chance to confront her and learn what she could offer.

I know you can't help me out, Charley, but maybe someone doing their Martin genealogy will step forward and offer a family that I can tie you to. I'd sure appreciate it!

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of Anders Anderson


• User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of Gurski

Related Links

• Gene Gurske Page - Navy LST, Model Trains, Phones
• Gurske Genealogy - compilation of direct lines