In today's Amanuensis Monday article I am transcribing the obituary that was published when Ruth Amanda Martin née Johnson passed away. Ruth was my great-aunt, the sister of Alfred Marem Johnson, my grandfather.
Ruth's obituary is one that I first found on the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library's Obituary Index that is located at a placed called Spiegel Grove in the town of Fremont, Ohio, but more importantly for me, it is on the internet at http://rbhayes.org. Spiegel Grove is the name given to the estate of Rutherford, who was our nineteenth president. The Presidential Library so generously provides for us to use, free of charge, this online database. The index is a great source when searching for Ohioans for it currently contains an index with over 3.5 million obituaries, death notices and marriages from the 1810s to current.
I was lucky and determined to find Aunt Ruth's listing. This was not an instant find, as nothing for her came up when I queried for "Ruth Martin." I next searched for "Martin" and scanned down the list and found her listed as "Martin | Delmar [sic] | E | Mrs." I would next see a "View" button and that led me on to "How to Order. " I was given instructions to purchase this from the Washington County, Ohio Public Library in Marietta for only $2.00. I soon had it. It was an amazingly quick response from very friendly people.
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| IMAGE: 1947 Obituary for Ruth A. (Johnson) Martin, printed in the "Marietta (Ohio) Times. [1] |
-------- Transcription begins --------
Mrs. D. E. Martin Dies in Torch
Mrs. Delmar [sic] E. Martin, 48, died Monday at her home at Torch following extended illness. The body is at the Spencer Funeral Home in Belpre.
Mrs. Martin was born in Flandreau, S.D., and was a daughter of William and Marie Jolson [sic] Johnson. She lived at Clarksburg, W. Va., before moving to Torch 12 years ago. She was a member of the Methodist Church.
Surviving are her husband, Delmar [sic] E. Martin; one son and four daughters, Robert D. Martin and Miss Lila C. Martin of Torch, Mrs. Doreen E. Gorrell and Mrs. Elva Gorrell of Coolville and Mrs. Edith M. Butcher of Akron. There are eight grandchildren.
Brother and sisters are Henry, Knute and Hans Johnson of Seattle, Wash.; Harold of St. Cloud, Minn., Mrs. Marie Tvetes [sic] of Elcho, Wis. and Mrs. Louise Johnson of Seattle.
Mrs. Delmar [sic] E. Martin, 48, died Monday at her home at Torch following extended illness. The body is at the Spencer Funeral Home in Belpre.
Mrs. Martin was born in Flandreau, S.D., and was a daughter of William and Marie Jolson [sic] Johnson. She lived at Clarksburg, W. Va., before moving to Torch 12 years ago. She was a member of the Methodist Church.
Surviving are her husband, Delmar [sic] E. Martin; one son and four daughters, Robert D. Martin and Miss Lila C. Martin of Torch, Mrs. Doreen E. Gorrell and Mrs. Elva Gorrell of Coolville and Mrs. Edith M. Butcher of Akron. There are eight grandchildren.
Brother and sisters are Henry, Knute and Hans Johnson of Seattle, Wash.; Harold of St. Cloud, Minn., Mrs. Marie Tvetes [sic] of Elcho, Wis. and Mrs. Louise Johnson of Seattle.
-------- Transcription ends --------
Sources:
1. "Mrs. D.E. Martin Dies in Torch," obituary, Marietta (Ohio) Times, 28 October 1947. Page 12, column 1.
As you can see, there were a number of minor, yet significant errors in this obituary. Starting off with the first line, Ruth's husband's first name was Delmas, quite an unusual name. Next Ruth's mother's maiden name was Julson. In the list of those surviving, again her husband's name was given wrong... so they were consistent. So again, a warning that errors are often published, even with the best intentions in mind.
My grandfather Alfred is not listed, as he died in 1931. If preceded by individuals were named he would have been on that list.
Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.
Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down and "smell the roses," and to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.
Sources:
1. "Mrs. D.E. Martin Dies in Torch," obituary, Marietta (Ohio) Times, 28 October 1947. Page 12, column 1.
As you can see, there were a number of minor, yet significant errors in this obituary. Starting off with the first line, Ruth's husband's first name was Delmas, quite an unusual name. Next Ruth's mother's maiden name was Julson. In the list of those surviving, again her husband's name was given wrong... so they were consistent. So again, a warning that errors are often published, even with the best intentions in mind.
My grandfather Alfred is not listed, as he died in 1931. If preceded by individuals were named he would have been on that list.
Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.
Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down and "smell the roses," and to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a good day and a great week.
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