The Harry James Martin, born in Indiana 1885 and died there in1955, son of James Martin and Nettie Dye, linked as Malinda's husband is incorrect. The marriage record for Malinda Flagg shows that Harry Martin was born 1 May 1895 in Wayne County, Michigan, son of Herman Martin and Dena Jeffs. However, Harry Martin was a bigamist, married under his birth name, Martin Rose, to Hattie Verhoeks on 5 May 1910 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. Hattie didn't file for divorce until 20 December 1920 in Grand Rapids. Harry's actual parents were Herman Rose and Dena Van Belkum. He listed his date of birth as 15 November 1884 (probably 1894) on his WWI draft registration dated 12 September 1918, listing his residence as Detroit, Michigan, but also correctly listing his wife as Hattie Rose of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The parents of Martin Rose/Harry Martin also divorced, with his mother marrying Harry Workman. The 1965 obituary of Harry Workman published in Davenport, Iowa, where he had been in business with stepson James William Rose, stated grandson "Jay M. Martin" had received word of the death of his grandfather, Harry Workman, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That same obituary listed Harry Workman's stepson as Harry Martin of Eagle River, Wisconsin. Jay Martin's full name was "Justamere Mann Martin" and was shown with Harry and Dena Workman as their grandson "Justemer M. Martin" in the 1940 census. Justamere's obituary published in Davenport, Iowa on 22 September 1981 stated he was born 2 February 1921 in Peru, Indiana. That obituary also listed his 4 surviving sisters, all of Michigan, as Ann, Ruth, Esther, and Harriet, all of his father's first marriage to Hattie Verhoeks.
Contributor: Richard S. Clark (46794212) • [email protected]