George M Martin
And Sophronia Annett Flanders
Great Great Grand Parents of Craig A Martin
George Martin returned home from the civil war, being released from the 96th New York Infantry Regiment at City Point Virginia on February 6, 1866. He was now 22 years old. Within 2 years he has married Sophronia Annett Flanders and in 1869 they have a child whom they have named after George’s brother Charles.
The 1870 census shows that George owns land and is listed as a “farmer.”
George M. Martin in the 1870 Federal Census of Franklin New York
The Flanders Family History
Unlike other Martin ancestors, the Flanders family has few notable members and therefore little can be found in historical documents about them. At this edition, the most we can say is that Sophronia Annett Flanders descended from a “colony” of Flanders that settled in and around Warner, Merrimack County, New Hampshire at some point prior to 1800. Annett was born of John Flanders and Harriett Proctor. John was born in 1804 in New Hampshire. At some point he left New Hampshire and arrived in Vermont where he met and married Harriett Proctor born 1808 in Vermont. This marriage occurred in about 1828. Census records indicate that the Flanders children up to the year 1842 were all born in Vermont and the first birth in New York State occurred in 1846, indicating the family moved to New York at some point between 1843 and 1846 inclusive.
In the 1820 census of Warner New Hampshire there are no less than 20 Flanders households. The possible matches include Phillip Flanders, Ezekiel Flanders, a second Ezekiel Flanders, George Flanders, John Flanders, and Nathaniel Flanders. Each of these households includes one male between the ages of 16 and 25. John, born in 1804, would have been 16 years old in 1820.
The 1830 censuses of Vermont should contain the John Flanders family. This would include John, Harriet, Melinda and possibly Ira. Unfortunately no such record of a family with this footprint can be found. At this edition, the location of the John Flanders in 1830 cannot be determined.
In the 1840 census finds John Flanders and family in the small town of Lewis, Essex County, New York.
1840 Federal Census of Lewis,
Essex County, New York
There are present:
two males 5 - 10 (Ira 9, Napoleon 6)
one male 30 - 40 (John Flanders age 36)
two females under 5 (Helen 1, Louisa 1)
two females ages 5 -10 (Lydia 4, ?)
one female 10 – 15 (Melinda 11)
one female 30 - 40 (Harriet 32)
one female 40 - 50 (?)
An unknown female child age 5-10 and an older women 40-50 are also present. Also present on this census sheet is Joshua Flanders and family.
In the 1850 census of Willsboro, Essex New York; John, Harriet, Melinda, Ira, Lydia, and Annette are found. Annett is barely one year old at this time. Annette is recorded as being born in New York State. John owns property valued at 300 dollars. The 1829 birth of Melinda locates the family in Vermont in that year.
John Flanders and Family
1850 Federal Census
Willsboro, Essex, New York
In the 1860 Census, John and family are found in St Armand (Bloomingdale), Essex County , New York. Annette is now 10 years old. Orrin Flanders, 66 years of age, very likely John’s older brother, has joined the family. The oldest (30) daughter Melinda is listed as “idiotic.” The stated occupation of the Flanders brothers is “blacksmith.” Children not present in the 1850 census are now present in the household. Helen and Warren are new. Ira (now 30) is gone and has his own household in Saranac, Clinton County, NY. It is apparently John who owns the property, valued at 150 dollars.
John Flanders in the 1860 Federal Census
St Armand (Bloomingdale) Essex County , New York
The history of Essex County mentioned in a prior chapter lists the Flanders including one who may be another brother, Joshua:
“The 60's saw many new enterprises. Charles F. Towne was a blacksmith; James A. Titus had a general store; Hugh Martin was the general agent for Various Iron companies; Sidney Carr had a general store: Thomas O'Neill was a lumber dealer; Jason Carr was a blacksmith. Charles R. Arnold was a goldsmith, Joshua Flanders was a blacksmith; Samuel Smith was the Baptist clergyman; John Flanders was a blacksmith; Sewell F. Banker had a hardware and sporting goods store; Rufus Walton was building contractor; E. K. Burdick was a cabinet maker; George W. Chubb was a justice of the peace; Samuel S. Wallihan was a practicing physician; Smith and Prime were the druggists of the community and James A. Titus was the postmaster of Bloomingdale. In 1865 Robert Hickok completed thirty years of teaching school at Bloomingdale.”
“Essex County Republican“ March1938 - May1939 Archive
Hugh Martin Jr., the Father of George M Martin, is listed as “the agent for various Iron Companies” and would very likely have provided the Flanders with the iron needed for their trade. Other family names mentioned such as Hickok, Titus, and Banker will be found associated with the Martins in the days that followed. In a 1868 map of the area just north of Bloomingdale, the proximity of the Flanders can be seen a short distance from the Martins.
The 1870 census lists George M Martin as dwelling #61 and the Flanders home as dwelling #67.
John Flanders in the 1870 Federal Census
St Armand (Bloomingdale) Essex County , New York
John, Harriet, Helen, Elijah, Orrin (2), and Hannah are listed. Melinda is not found. Annett has married George M Martin. John Flanders’s fortunes have increased and his property values have multiplied several times. Two of John’s sons have been away to war, as recorded in the “Essex County Republican.”
“According to Its population, the town of St. Armand had a greater percentage of soldiers In the Civil War than any other town In the county. Those who served In the war were Jacob Hayes, Warren and Orrin Flanders, Silas Parks, Charles Ormesby, Augustus Goodspeed, Norman Arnold, Hiram Hewitt, Erastus Elijah, Roswell, Wallace and William Goodspeed, Sylvester Watson, Charles F. Owen, Nathaniel P. Hayes, Hiram J. Flanders, Daniel H and Ruftus Walton, Alanson K. White, Sylvester Reed, Sewell Bruce, Albert Williams, John Rork, Daniel Hathaway, Chas. D. Hickok, John F. Sprague, Wm. Emmons, John Carr, Sewell F. Bunker and Charles F. Town.”
“Essex County Republican” March 1938 - May 1939 Archives
John Rork and Charles Hickok both will have sons who will marry Martin daughters. Annett’s older brothers Warren C. Flanders and Orrin Flanders enlisted early in the war with the 96th Infantry (The “Plattsburg Regiment”). Orrin enlisted in October of 1861 and Warren a month later in November of 1861. In June 1865 they will join George M. Martin when the 118th merged with the 96th at Richmond. But the 96th and the 118th were joined in several battles toward the end, including Cold Harbor, Fair Oaks, and Petersburg.
Orrin Flanders, brother of Annett (Flanders) Martin.
Warren C. Flanders, brother of Annett (Flanders) Martin.
Warren Flanders Widow, Belle Flanders, applied for Warren’s Pension in 1920.
Guides
Among other occupations, George M. Martin, his brothers, and his brother-in-laws Warren and Orrin Flanders, would become mountain guides. This except from the Biography of the tuberculosis sufferer/researcher Dr. Edward Trudeau relates an incident when He and Lou Livingston secured our great great grandfather George Martin and Warren Flanders as guides. We get wonderful insight into the nature and personality of our great, great, grandfather and others who were members in this unique profession as mountain guides:
“Paul Smith's was then only a sporting hostelry, the resort of hunters and fishermen, and few ladies and no children were ever seen among the guests. When Lou Livingston and I reached there about the first of June, W. C. Prime and his friend, W. Bridge, two picturesque sporting figures, were at their usual post doing their spring fishing; and most entertaining companions they proved to be, for Mr. Prime had traveled all over the world and had seen many strange countries. I slept well and woke full of hope and anticipation and interest in my new surroundings. The first thing I did was to secure a guide, and Warren Flanders was engaged by me and George Martin by Lou Livingston. The old Adirondack guides were most striking personalities and an interesting lot of men, like children about many things, a happy, easy-going lot, who took no care for the morrow and enjoyed life for life's sake.
Although as in all other callings there were good guides and poor guides, they generally knew their business pretty thoroughly in those days. Some of them, however, never could learn to find their way in the woods, as this seems an attribute that a man is born with, which cannot well be learned. In one well-known family at St. Regis several of the young men were good guides in every other respect, but not one of them could "put out dogs" - that is, travel in the woods all day in constantly varying directions and return at will. On the other hand, some of the most uneducated seemed to know always just where they were and in which direction to travel to reach camp in a straight line. Most of them carried compasses to help them keep their direction. I had a guide the first winter I spent at Paul Smith's who, like many of his mates, would occasionally drink more than was good for him. So keen was his sense of locality that several times while hunting for me, after walking for half a day, starting each dog after a separate deer and celebrating each event by a drink from his flask, he would be overcome by his indulgences and could walk no further. He would then lie down and sleep wherever he happened to be late in the afternoon, but he never lay out all night. He would come straight back, through miles of unbroken forest, guided only by an instinct which was born in him and which even his confused wanderings while under the influence of alcohol could not efface.
He was a strange personality, always poor, and thoroughly ignorant and superstitious. A good idea of his reasoning powers and methods in life was shown by the way he treated his hounds. I noticed during the winter I was at Paul Smith's that the six dogs he had were very thin and always ravenous, and I spoke to him about it. He gave me, as a perfectly good reason, the information that his wife always baked one pan of corn-meal each day for the dogs. Last year he had only three and they did very well, but this year he had six and the corn-cake cut in six pieces made a thin meal for the hungry hounds; but then he said, "You know if my dogs can't live on that pan of corn-cake, why they can starve if they choose!" I don't think it ever occurred to him to cook two pans of corn- meal instead of one when he had six dogs.
Each guide had his specialty. Some were better fishermen and others, who were the real woodsmen, better hunters. A really good guide could contribute greatly to the success and comfort of hunting or fishing trip, while a poor guide would make it a discomfort and a failure. Really good guides were certainly experts at their business, and easily earned their two and a half or three dollars a day. A good guide was first of all a truthful man whose word could be relied upon; he was a skilled oarsman, and often carried his boat on his back for miles from one lake to another; a thorough woodsman, with all that implies of fishing, hunting and wood-lore; a good cook, resourceful in emergencies, and an excellent companion. One or two of them— Fitz Greene Hallock and Albert McKenzie— besides possessing all these qualities to the full, have been for a lifetime the best and truest of personal friends to me.
Warren Flanders came to my room after breakfast and told me he had
fixed the boat "comfortable" with balsam boughs and blankets so that
I could lie down in it, had put my rifle in, and if I felt up to it we would
row down the river to Keese's Mill "kind of slow" and see what we
could see. My hunting blood responded at once and I was soon in the boat. It
was a beautiful sunny June day, the sky and water were blue, and the trees
resplendent in their spring foliage; and as I lay comfortably on the soft
boughs in the stern of the boat, with my rifle in reach across the gunwale, my
spirits were high and I forgot all the misery and sickness I had gone through
in the past two months. The guide kept looking ahead from time to time. All at
once he stopped, suddenly turning the boat sidewise. On a point about two
hundred yards away I saw two deer: a buck and a doe were feeding. I never sat
up, but rested my rifle on the side of the boat and fired at the buck who,
after a few jumps, fell dead at the edge of the woods. Warren went
ashore, loaded the deer in the boat and we returned to the hotel. If any game
laws existed in those days they didn't apply to the Adirondack wilderness, for
it was the custom to shoot game and catch fish at any season, provided they
were used as food and not sent out of the woods for sale. I got back quite
triumphant to the hotel, and Lou Livingston, Paul Smith and the guides, who
were very sympathetic about my illness, seemed delighted that I had had such
good sport on the first day of my arrival.”
“An Autobiography: Edward Livingston Trudeau” Pgs 84 -88
Edward Trudeau was a famous doctor who spearheaded the treatment of tuberculosis by building sanitariums in the fresh mountain air of the Adirondack Mountains. He himself was a sufferer of the then dread disease. He mentions several of Hugh Martins children in autobiography, including Lydia, Fred, Douglas, George, Henry, and Katie.
More will be said about the Martins and their vocation as guides. At least four of the Martins from Bloomingdale became famous in this work. George, Fred, Henry, and Douglas are mentioned repeatedly in biographies, histories, and newspapers articles as the guides of presidents and other persons of note.
Another of Annett Flanders’s brothers “Ira” is named in newsprint in the 1969 Essex County Republican.
Marjorie Lansing Porter
“Our Folks – North Country Profile”
“Essex-County-Republican” 1969
George and Annett Martin in the 1880 Federal Census of St. Armand, Essex New York
The 1880 census page showing the family of George and Annett is virtually unreadable, being badly faded. Numerous Flanders and Martin families are listed:
John W. Flanders St Armand, Essex, NY 1831 New Hampshire (Head)
Ann Flanders W. St Armand, Essex, NY 1846 Canada Wife
Joshua Flanders St Armand, Essex, NY 1794 New Hampshire Father
Ettie Warner St Armand, Essex, NY 1868 Canada Sister-in-law
Bailey Flanders St Armand, Essex, NY 1832 New Hampshire Self (Head)
Myra Flanders St Armand, Essex, NY 1835 New York Wife
Katie Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1856 New York Daughter
George Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1843 New York Self (Head)
Annette Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1849 New York Wife
Charles Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1869 New York Son
Harry P. Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1871 New York Son
MacKhie Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1875 New York Son
George Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1878 New York Son
John Martin St Armand, Essex, NY 1879 New York Son
Sarah Harvey St Armand, Essex, NY 1860 New York (Other)
Warren Flanders St Armand, Essex, NY 1846 New York Self (Head)
Belle Flanders St Armand, Essex, NY 1859 Vermont Wife
Gene Flanders St Armand, Essex, NY 1878 New York Son
Fanny Baker St Armand, Essex, NY 1792 Vermont Mother-in-law
Sarah Newell St Armand, Essex, NY 1840 Vermont Sister-in-law
Charles Hickok St Armand, Essex, NY 1842 New York Self (Head)
Emma Hickok St Armand, Essex, NY 1852 New York Wife
Ollie Hickok St Armand, Essex, NY 1877 New York Daughter
Roger Hickok St Armand, Essex, NY 1879 New York Son
Charles and Emma Hickok have a son named Halsey who will marry Leah Martin, the daughter of Henry Martin.
Among the new children of George and Annett Martin listed in the 1880 census is Harry Polhemus Martin, born in 1871. Harry P. Martin is the Great Grandfather of Craig A Martin.
Hugh (1) Martin (1777?)
Hugh (2) Martin (1809)
George M. Martin (1843)
Harry Polhemus Martin (1871)
Harold George Martin (1897)
Laurance H. Martin (1919)
Craig A Martin
In all George and Annett Martin would have 6 sons. Charles (named after his uncle Charles E Martin), Harry P (who would carry our line forward) , George Jr., John, Mack, and Walter.
While the Martins were very accustomed to life in the mountains, that life was not devoid of tragedy and near tragedy.
Due to the courage and quick thinking of two friends, Charley Martin, the oldest son of George and Annett was saved from a tragic drowning death. The incident was recorded in the 1880 July-September edition of the “Franklin Gazette.”
The Location of the Martin Homes and Farms near Bloomingdale
In this 1868 map of the
area just north of Bloomingdale there are four Martin homes. The bottom two
belong to Douglas Martin and Hugh Martin Jr (the Great, Great Grandfather
of Laurance Martin). The home in quad 23 labeled “H Martin” is Henry
Martin. The last home located just above quad 2 is the home of George M
Martin, the Great Grandfather of Laurance H. Martin.
Aerial Photograph showing the proximity of the Martin homes to the town of Bloomingdale (bottom left).The northern part of the town is actually in Franklin County while the southern part is in Essex County. The map on the upper left is a modern road map showing the approximate locations of four Martin homes in Franklin, Franklin County less than a mile northeast of Bloomingdale.
The History and Disposition of the George M. and Annett S. Martin Farm in Franklin/St. Armand NY.
 |
PLEASANT
VALLEY DAIRY FARM
By Frances Oliver
This farm of 120 or
so acres, is located on Fletcher Farm Road in the Town of Franklin and St.
Armand. It was purchased in 1905 by Peter O'Malley, grandfather of Paul Van Cour,
now of Saratoga Springs from whom this information was gathered. It was an
existing farm stretching westward to the Bloomingdale (Franklin-Essex County) line. Some of the acreage was still in forest, to be cleared later by Fred Van Cour,
Sr. to provide pasturage for the herd of 60 milk cows. The family established a
dairy in 1918, which lasted until 1958 when the demand for a greater variety of
milk products proved to be more than this small business could handle. During
its thriving years, Pleasant Valley Dairy delivered its products to Saranac Lake, Bloomingdale, Vermontville, Onchiota, and beyond
In the days before electricity, refrigeration was supplied by way of blocks of ice harvested from ponds in surrounding communities and hauled by horse and wagon to a huge icehouse at the farm.
Water was a major consideration also, not only for milk processing itself, but also for the dairy herd and staff on the premises. A 24-foot, dug well supplied all these needs for more than thirty years of operation of the dairy. To insure a constant supply of water, a windmill constructed on the west side of the house pumped water to a cistern or water tank on the second floor of the house. As the tank reached capacity, the overflow bled down to the kitchen sink, thus signaling it was time to stop the windmill by stilling the vanes and thus cease pumping. Even during severe droughts this system did not fail, but kept the dairy functioning smoothly at all times. The Van Cours cultivated additional acreage on Norman Ridge for the purpose of growing hay for the stock and potatoes for a cash crop.
The original farmhouse was built with four rooms on the first floor and four bedrooms on the second floor. Over the milk plant additional rooms were constructed to accommodate hired hands. The house has a gabled roof and clapboard is used on the exterior with metal roofing. Windows are double hung with fixed sash on the porches. The farmhouse also was built with wide porches on the front and west side, some of which still remain. A large long barn remains on the grounds.
This property has a long history, starting back with records of 50 acres in Lot 242, being conveyed by Sophronia A. Martin to Mary Garland. Liber 80 - Page 476 August 22, 1887. Next (for our purposes) George M. Martin conveys to Belle Flanders, Liber 84 - Page 463 & Page 465 on April 2, 1889. Record follows that Belle & Warren Flanders convey to James O'Malley by Liber 125 - Page 229 on September 12, 1905. Property goes to Peter O'Malley by Liber 125 -Page 433 on October 19, 1905. Peter and Isabel O'Malley convey to Fred and Florence Van Cour by Liber 171 - Page 202 dated January 6, 1921. Fred and Florence convey to Peter and Adelaide Van Cour 5 acres in Lot 241, Liber 248- Page 130 on November 8, 1945. Next is Florence Van Cour to Jacob Stein, parts of lots 241 and 242, Liber 478 - Page 762 on August 27, 1976. Jacob Stein to Frank & Karen Johns by Liber 478 - Page 770 on August 27, 1976. Next and present owners are Craig and Tracy Posdzich by Liber 713 - Page 261 on December 23, 1998
As noted above, Mrs. Fred Van Cour, Sr. occupied the farmhouse until 1976 at which time it was sold to Karen and Frank Johns. More recently the house and barns were purchased by Tracy and Craig Posdzich who plan to restore some of the existing structures and reestablish an agrarian atmosphere.
From the column “They Told Me So, 1999 Volume 9”
http://www.townoffranklin.com/pleasantfarm.html
It can noted that the lot numbers in this article (241 and 242) coincide with the lot numbers owned by the Martin family as recorded on the 1868 map show above.
The Warren and Belle Flanders to which George Martin transferred property in 1889 were the family of his wife Sophronia Annett (Flanders) Martin.
George M. Martin and Warren
Flanders were both members of Bloomingdale post of the “Grand Army of the
Republic,” a post civil war organization made up of veterans of that war. The
post was named after an officer in the 118th named Martin Lennon who
has killed in action. Later Warren Flanders would become the commander of the
post.
“Plattsburgh Sentinel” 1886, January-March Archive
After George’s Death in 1907, Annett applied for George’s Pension. The application shows George’s duty with the 188th and 96th New York Infantry.
The Obituary of Sophronia Annette (Flanders) Martin.
“Essex County Republican” 1915-January-1916-December Archive
George and Annette Martin are buried in Brookside Cemetery just south of Bloomingdale.
Further Evidence that
Hugh Martin fought in the American Revolution.
Marion Martin, the grand daughter of George M. Martin and son of Charles Martin was inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution. (D. A. R.). This article was found in the October – December archive of the 1832 “Lake-Placid News.” The article states that her ancestor “Hugh Martin” of Duane fought along side the American Forces in the U.S. Revolution. It is doubtful that this is the Hugh Martin born in 1809. It is undoubtedly referring to his father, Hugh Martin born in Ireland and residing in PA during the Revolution.
Obituary of Charles Marin,
son of George M Martin.
