My father is: Billy Joe Martin b. 6-28-1925 Duncan, Stephens Co., OK d. 11-29-1972 Fresno, Fresno Co., CA. His parents were: Joe Alfred Martin b. 2-12-1899 TX d. 8-28-1968 Marlow, Stephens Co, OK. Joe A. Martin grew up in Sunset, Montague Co., TX. He worked 43 years for Lone Star Gas Co, both in TX and OK. He was a Masonic Leader. Henrietta Keller b. 1906 OK IT, near Cornish, OK, the daughter of William Keller and Susie Jane Campbell. Joe A. Martin later married Ora B. Gandy of Marlow, OK. The parents of Joe Alfred Martin: Joseph Allen Martin b. July 1867 TN d. after 1930 census, probably in Montague Co. TX. He married Nancy Elizabeth Doolen b. 1861 TX. She was the daughter of Willian Doolen b. 1820 IL and Sarah Foster b. 1825 IL. William Doolen is recorded as one of the earliest settlers to Navarro Co. TX. He died in 1865 at Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX. (The name ALFRED, is a Doolen family name). The Doolen family was at Marion Co., IL prior to coming to Navarro Co., TX. Both Joe Allen Martin b. 1867 TN and Nancy Doolen b. 1861 TX were raised in District 126, Navarro Co., TX. They are both listed there on the 1880 census, both of them living with their widowed Mother's. There are several Martin and Doolen families of Dist 126 Navarro Co TX in the 1880 census, I have listed them all, and believe they are related. If you are researching any Martin or Doolen surnames in Navarro Co TX for the time frame of 1880 onward, please write back. The Doolen family is KY to IL to TX. The Martin family is NC to TN to TX. Joe Allen Martin and Nancy E. Doolen had the following children: May W., Dan L., Jesse, Joe Alfred, Jim D., and Roy B. Martin. As of 1930 census Joe Allen Martin is living with a second wife, Nora Martin, born in TX, in Montague Co TX. Joe Allen Martin b. 1867 TN lived in Montague Co., TX from about 1900 census to 1930 census. I don't have a death date for him yet. I also don't know when Nancy Doolen Martin died, but probably prior to 1920 census. The 1920 census at Montague Co TX has Dan L. Martin and wife Ada B. Unknown b. 1889 AL, both are school teachers there. My grandfather Joe Alfred Martin b. 1899 TX was in 1920 census at Montague Co., TX. The 1930 census at Grady Co., OK. He also lived in Vernon, Willbarger Co, TX from 1940 through 1962, when he retired to Marlow, Stephens Co., OK. He died there in 1968. The 1880 census at District 126, Navarro Co., TX shows Mary Martin b. 1825 NC, she is a widow. Both her parents are born in NC. I do NOT know the name of her dead husband, Mr. Martin, but he was also born in NC. Mary Unknown b. 1825 NC and Mr. Martin b. NC lived in TN, because all their children are listed as born in TN, prior to coming to District 126, Navarro Co., TX. So this Martin family is NC to TN to TX as of 1880 census. They left TN sometime after 1856. This Mr. Martin is the right age for Civil War service, most likely from TN, as his children are being born there in the War years. Mary Martin and Mr. Martin had the following children: Caroline Martin b. 1856 TN Basley Martin b. 1865 TN Joseph Allen Martin b. 1867 TN Margaret Martin b. 1869 TN In the 1880 census Mary Martin, the widow, is living next door to Wesley Martin b. 1850 NC, both his parents b. NC. This looks like Wesley is a son of Mary Martin b. 1825 NC. 4 houses down from Mary Martin is Nathaniel Martin b. 1837 NC. This might be a brother to Mary Martin's dead husband. 4 doors down on the other side of Mary is George Doolen b. 1850 IL, the cousin of William Doolen b. 1820 IL, the father of Nancy Elizabeth Doolen, the future bride of Joe Allen Martin. The 1880 census at Dist 126, Navarro Co, TX shows Sarah (Foster) Doolen b. 1825 IL, widow of William Doolen, living with her 2 kids: Nancy Elizabeth Doolen b. 1861 TX and Wesley Simpson Doolen b. 1864 TX. If you recognise a IL family, or NC family or TN family or TX family which appear to be related, please write back. Best regards, Lillian Kathleen Martin