F.Marion Green and his son Martin V. Green My husband's grandmother was Ethelinda Martha Jane Green, born 22 Oct 1887 Dexter, Stoddard, MO. She married Grover Cleveland Bagby 2 Aug 1904 Bloomfield, Stoddard, MO. They had a large family: Clyde Cleveland, Ernest William, Loren Lee, Nola Augusta, Virginia Ruth, Verda Alice Piccola, Hazel Marie, Joseph Woodrow, Dolly Elberta, Grover Carl, Graydon Edward, Berniece Louise, Robert Floyd. Martha died 13 Oct 1929 Parma, New Madrid, MO. She was a pretty woman, inside and out, much loved and respected by family and friends. She was a hard worker and made every effort to help her husband provide for their family. Martha's father was Martin V. Green, born about 1859 in Illinois according to census reports, but we don't know which county in Illinois. Martha's husband Grover, told some of his children he thought Martin Green was born in Hamilton or White County, Illinois. He died about 1917 Dexter, Stoddard Co, Mo and is buried in Hagey Cemetery, Dexter, MO. Martin married first Lizzie Culbertson 2 Dec 1880, Stoddard County, MO, but that didn't work out and apparently they never had any children. He then married second, Martha's mother, Zelthia Angeline Swift. She was born 1857 in Missouri according to what her mother reported to the census. Zelthia died 25 Oct 1887, Dexter, Stoddard, MO. Martha was just three days old when her mother died. There was another child to this marriage; Ethel Marie Green, born 17 June 1886, Dexter, Stoddard, MO. She married 15 March 1905 Bloomfield, Stoddard, MO to James Lewis Haney, they had several children, too. Ethel died 4 March 1938. Martin Green married third to Lilly Fettinger about 1888, probably in southeast Missouri. Lilly died, but I don't know when. They had two children; Marion Henry Green born ca 1891, MO, d 9 June 1935, married Ethel Mae Hill; Effie Green born 10 May 1890, married 1941 Cliner Wingate. Martin Green married fourth Mary Essie Higdon about 1900 probably Missouri. She died, but I don't know when or where. They had several children: Earl Teen born about 1900, probably Indiana, died Nov 1918; Annabel born about 1904 probably Indiana, died 24 Jan 1936; Dora Mae born about 1905 probably Indiana, died Nov 1918; Basil Thomas born 11 Feb 1907 probably Indiana, died 23 July 1967, married 18 Nov 1936 to Mary Margaret Lecocq; Albert born about 1909 probably Indiana, died about 1917; and George Washington Green born 11 Jan 1912 Grayson, Salem, Illinois, md 24 March 1943 to Ruby Martha Phelps, they had a son Gilbert Leon Green born 5 Dec 1944 Princeton, Indiana, married 24 June 1964 Princeton, Indiana. For whatever reason, most likely because he didn't know how to take care of two babies, Martin Green left the two girls he had by Zelthia with Zelthia's parents, William Franklin Swift and Ethelinda Owen Swift to take care of after Zelthia died. For another reason, I'm not sure what the story is, the girls stayed with their grandparents and they raised them as though they were their own. Martin V. Green's parents were F. (we think Francis) Marion Green and his wife Nancy M. (last name unknown). According to the Stoddard Co, Mo 1880 census Marion was born in 1835 in Missouri, but his father was born in Tennessee and his mother was born in Kentucky. According to the census Nancy was born 1845 in Missouri, both her parents were born in Missouri. We found a deed in an old land record book in Bloomfield, MO where F. Marion and Nancy M. signed. Marion died 30 March 1887 near Dexter, Stoddard, MO and is buried in Hagey Cemetery, Dexter, Stoddard, MO. Nancy died after 1904 near Dexter. The story passed on to me by my husband's mother was that Marion died at Uncle Henry Swift's place in Stoddard Co, MO, it was beside a school possible Lone Oak, no longer there, along the old Dexter sand road between Dexter and Bernie. Not sure who Uncle Henry Swift is, or how much credence to put into this story since Marion Green was not a relative of the Swifts. On the 1900 Census, Liberty Twp, Stoddard Co, MO is listed Nancy Green as hoh, a widow, b Sep 1846 (not far off what was reported previously) in Mo, parents b in MO. Listed with Nancy is Carrie Carson, niece, b Oct 1888, single, b Mo. Now, question is, was Nancy a Carson, or was Carrie's mother Nancy's sister, who may have married a Carson. To muddy the waters further: Another family story goes that Martin Green came to Missouri and brought his parents and lived near Joe Wheeler, the brother of Marion Green. Joe Wheeler, supposedly, moved to Missouri and chaged his name from Green because he had killed a man. Wheeler was supposed to be the name of his stepmother's first husband. Joe and Marion are buried close together at Hagey Cemetery at Dexter. I got the 1850 Census film of Stoddard Co, MO, but I could not find any Greens on that census. I have the 1860 Stoddard Co film ordered, but it hasn't come in yet, same with 1870. The only Martin Green I could find on the 1880 Census was living in a boarding house in St. Louis and listed his his occupation as news agent, maybe he was working for a newspaper, I don't know. As far as I can remember, that's all of my Green story I know to tell you. Hopefully, somebody will be able to contribute something to help with this perplexing family puzzle.