Here is the obituary for Martha Catherine Markum that I received today from her grandson Sam J. Hassell. I assume this obit is from the Nixon newspaper, the year is 1943. Martha is the sister of my great-grandmother Sovilla(Soviliar) Ann Markum. Gary Blakely blakely@flash.net -------------------------------------------- MRS. MARTHA ROBBINS Mrs. Martha Catherine Robbins was born in Gonzales County, Feb. 11, 1865 and departed from this life at 7:40 P.M. July 24 at Nixon, Texas. Surviving relatives are two sons and three daughters, John Thomas Hassell, San Antonio, Texas; Samuel Enos Hassell, Nixon, Texas; Mrs. Maggie Lee Moorman, Nixon, Texas, Mrs. Winnie Ann Landrum, Gonzales, Texas, Mrs. Georgia Meyer; Eagle Pass, Texas; six grandchildren and, two great grandchildren. One sister, Mrs. Lillie Dycus, of Dallas, Texas, and other relatives and a host of life-long friends. Ten years ago on her 68th birthday, she selected the songs for her funeral service and wrote her obituary. It follows: "I was born in Gonzales County, Texas, Feb. 11, 1865, moved on Elm when I was three years old. My father died on the 10th of January 1872; so my mother, Winnie Ann MARKUM, was left with four small children. Tom, my brother, was about nine. He was the oldest child, so he had to go to mill to Riddleville (Gillett) bareback on his horse, old Bally. He could ride good, he just put a lasso on the horse as he had no bridle. My father, Francis Marion MARKUM, had three children when he married my mother. ??? all left home soon after my father died. Callie, the oldest, was married pretty soon to Jim Elkins and lived at Rancho. In about 1886 or 1887 John, married Hanna Ware. Parilee married Forrest Hall. So John moved my mother and us over at Seales Chapel where he lived so us children went to school with all the Griffin children. In the fall of 1878 my mother and her four children moved to Rancho and my mother's brother, T. F. Kimbro, brought us a small place at Dry Town about one mile and a half from Rancho. In 1882 my brother, Tom, and Kate Sikes got married. My mother taken the next year and died August 30, 1883. She was only 43 years old. Us three girls were left to live among our folks. Soviliar Ann, Lillie, and myself and in 1884 I united with the Methodist Church at Seales Chapel and have been a member there 49 years. In 1885 I married Sam Tinon Hassell and had two sons, John Thomas and Samuel Enos Hassell. After my husband's death I was married to G. W. Robbins in 1896. We had three girls, Maggie Lee, Winnie Ann and Georgia Estelle Robbins. All my folks are dead except Lillie, the youngest one and myself. My sister, Mrs. Norman Dycus, lives in Dallas, Texas. I am writing this on my 68th birthday, Saturday, the 11th February, 1933, so goodbye from Mrs. Mattie Robbins." Funeral services were conducted in the Methodist Church at three o'clock, July 26th by her pastor, Rev; Wesley O. Butcher, assisted by, Rev. W. M. McKinney. Burial was made in the Nixon Cemetery. The many friends and relatives join the News in extending sympathy to the bereaved family.