Mother of "The Waving Girl of Savannah". She married Sgt. John H. Martus who enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was only 14. At the close of the American Civil War (1866), Sgt Martus was a disabled decorated war veteran who was appointed Ordnance Sergeant at Fort Pulaski, Georgia. This fort played a prominent role in the capture of Savannah during the Civil War. The Union forces of the North bombarded it with their naval forces and it was badly in need of repair. Sgt. Martus was sent to supervise weapons and the men assigned to rebuild the fort. In 1886, pregnant Cecilia and four children, Annie, born in 1846 in Deleware; Catherine born in 1850 in Rhode Island and died between 1861 and 1866; Charles F. born April 27, 1853 in Rhode Island--died Sep 23, 1876 at the age of 23; Rosanna, born in 1858 in Minnesota; George born May 31, 1861 in Washington D.C., moved with Sgt. Martus to Fort Pulaski. Children Mary Alfreta was born at Elba Island in 1866 and Florence, "The Waving Girl" was also born on Elba Island on August 7, 1868. They were assigned to live in the cottage that faced the Savannah river. After the repairs were completed at Fort Pulaski, Sgt. Martus was assigned keeper of the lights at Elba and Cockspur Islands. Cecilia and her family resided there until August, 1881 when a category 3 hurricane destroyed their cottage. The family moved to Savannah and John passed away leaving his son George and daughter Florence to tend the lights where Cecilia lived with them until her passing. The steam boats in the Savannah harbor dipped their flags with respect as the tugboat "McCauley" arrived with her body for burial next to her husband John in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah.
Mother of "The Waving Girl of Savannah". She married Sgt. John H. Martus who enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was only 14. At the close of the American Civil War (1866), Sgt Martus was a disabled decorated war veteran who was appointed Ordnance Sergeant at Fort Pulaski, Georgia. This fort played a prominent role in the capture of Savannah during the Civil War. The Union forces of the North bombarded it with their naval forces and it was badly in need of repair. Sgt. Martus was sent to supervise weapons and the men assigned to rebuild the fort. In 1886, pregnant Cecilia and four children, Annie, born in 1846 in Deleware; Catherine born in 1850 in Rhode Island and died between 1861 and 1866; Charles F. born April 27, 1853 in Rhode Island--died Sep 23, 1876 at the age of 23; Rosanna, born in 1858 in Minnesota; George born May 31, 1861 in Washington D.C., moved with Sgt. Martus to Fort Pulaski. Children Mary Alfreta was born at Elba Island in 1866 and Florence, "The Waving Girl" was also born on Elba Island on August 7, 1868. They were assigned to live in the cottage that faced the Savannah river. After the repairs were completed at Fort Pulaski, Sgt. Martus was assigned keeper of the lights at Elba and Cockspur Islands. Cecilia and her family resided there until August, 1881 when a category 3 hurricane destroyed their cottage. The family moved to Savannah and John passed away leaving his son George and daughter Florence to tend the lights where Cecilia lived with them until her passing. The steam boats in the Savannah harbor dipped their flags with respect as the tugboat "McCauley" arrived with her body for burial next to her husband John in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah.
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