Volney and Etta Martin
Life is hard and things get tough. To some, that means give up. But to Volney and Etta Martin, it meant get up, brush it off and make the best out of it.
Volney and Etta were both born in the small-town of Pekin, Indiana during the second half of the 19th century. Volney was born to Peter M. Martin and Susannah (Turner) Martin. But their family did not stop there. Volney was one of eleven Martin children as well as one of the few to have lived past young adulthood.
Tuberculosis was widespread all throughout Volney’s childhood and life. The devastating disease that so suddenly impacted peoples’ lives took many of his siblings, as well as his mother. Because of this, growing up was something that Volney learned how to do quickly. Volney did not have the privilege of a formal education, aside from possibly a few years of grade school. He likely spent his days working on their farm and helping his father support their family.
Etta also came from a large family. She was the daughter of Hymelius Sullivan and Martha (Davis) Sullivan, Hymelius’ second wife. Etta had an older brother, Clarence, from Hymelius’ first marriage, as well as two full siblings and several half-siblings. Similar to Volney’s experience, Etta’s mother passed away when her daughter was still young. Unlike Peter, Etta’s father went on to remarry Mariah (McCoskey) Sullivan, and their family continued to grow.
Growing up amidst such a blended family was often a challenge for Etta. Because she was one of the older children, she and her step-mother and siblings did not always get along. However, her father was the thread that brought all of them together. He was said to be fun-loving with a knack for humor and making people laugh. He had a great love for family, which was passed down the line through Etta herself.
Most likely, Etta received at least a grade school level of education. Although one portrait does show her with a diploma in hand, it is unknown if she actually received any further education or not.
When Volney’s mother passed away, he had inherited a plot of land from the farm. However, he was not interested in keeping the land to farm. His daughter, Flossie Ozelma, remembered hearing the story. She said, “Of course, Papa traded his [land] right away for a horse and rig!” As soon as he got a proper horse and buggy, he was able to begin courting, which is where Miss Etta Sullivan came into the picture!
Having so much in common in regards to family and upbringing, it was no surprise that Volney and Etta fell in love and were married early in adulthood, sometime between 1882 and 1884. As newlyweds, Volney and Etta began to create traditions and memories that would last for years to come. Although Etta was raised Baptist, Volney had always attended the Church of Christ. So, they continued to go to his church for many years. While going to church, they used their talents together, singing during services and special events.
After some time had passed, they had their first child, a boy. However, it was then that they faced the first of many challenges, the passing of their young child. Because sickness was rampant during that time, they lost their first baby boy shortly after he was born. But, following in the footsteps of their own families, they eventually had six more children, two sons and four daughters.
During the early years of their marriage, Volney and Etta did not stick to their roots for long. While Volney had grown up farming, he made the decision to pursue a different path in order to provide for his family. So, not long after they were married, the couple left Pekin and headed to the Mitchell area for a short time, before finally settling in Bedford. It was in Bedford that their family really began to grow and where they raised their children.
In Bedford, Volney quickly found work at a quarry while Etta worked as a homemaker, taking care of their house and children. It was there that they were able to purchase their first house and make it a home. The Martin family did not live a lavish lifestyle, but Volney always ensured that they had everything they needed. They believed strongly in hard-work ethic and providing for your family yourself, and fervently strived to pass down those morals to their children. However, they never let their need to work overshadow the time to be spent together.
If there was one thing that Volney and Etta felt as strongly about as work-ethic, it was the importance of being family-oriented. They established many fun-filled memories with their children. Perhaps the most significant of these involved taking the whole family back to their hometown each summer for the Pekin Fourth of July Celebration. Flossie told her daughter, Barbara Collins (Volney’s granddaughter), about one distinct trip when, in the middle of the great crowd, she got separated from her older siblings and was all alone. She recalled running up to the stage and having them call out her father’s name in their booming voices, “Volney Martin, please come to the stage!” When he never came for her, she began to get worried. Later she found out that he did not come because he thought they were calling him to sing, as they often did at public events, and he did not want to sing! But, thankfully, her older sister saw her on the platform and came to her rescue.
Aside from the parade and celebration in the summertime, Volney and Etta tried to connect with their children by singing, playing the organ, and having fun with lots of games in the evenings. Ms. Collins said that these are talents and hobbies that long out-lived Volney and Etta themselves, and have been passed down through the generations.
While these fun times were frequent, their lives were not free of trials. In the winter of 1911, just two days before Christmas, Volney unexpectedly passed away from hereditary heart complications. This left Etta with five children (one was grown) to raise and a choice to make. Would she give up now that her husband was not there to help her?
Quickly, she answered no. Just as they had together, Etta would continue to strongly persevere. But because women did not work outside of the home during that time, Etta had to get creative. She and her daughter began doing small jobs like washing laundry for friends and neighbors just to make ends meet.
Raising her children on her own was no easy feat for Etta; however, she did it. She did not depend on others for help and she did not shy away from working when trials came. Once, Etta’s daughter was coming home from school. She passed a group of protestors with signs, chanting and proclaiming that the world was going to end. The child rushed home to ask her mother, “Are you scared, Momma, that the world is gonna end?” To this, Etta shook her head no and replied, “If it does happen, I can’t do anything about it, and if it doesn’t, then I need to have my work done.” Etta was a good, religious, God-fearing woman, and because of this, she was not afraid of the unknown. She, instead, placed her trust in God.
While neither Etta nor Volney lived a long life, they both lived a full one. They were no strangers to struggles, but those struggles were no match for their perseverance. They worked hard to overcome, and taught their children to do the same. This great impact that they left on their family has been, and will continue to be, carried on throughout generations to come.
It is for this reason that a fund was established in their honor. Barbara Collins established the Volney and Etta Martin Descendants fund in hopes that both her own heritage, and the heritage of many others in Washington County, would be uncovered. Washington County is full of rich history and lineage, just like Volney and Etta’s, and it is important that it be discovered. The Volney and Etta Martin fund will allow that to happen by providing support to the Steven’s Museum in Salem, IN. By helping to modernize and advertise the museum, the funds will not only touch tomorrow, but they will also bring back the memories of the days and years gone by.
