Alexander and Rachel (Sproul) Martin , 9 North 48 West


In 1880 Mahaska County, Iowa, Rachel Sproul is 20, with parents Wm. 66 and Sallie 64. Robert is 23, and there are three grandchildren Mary 2, Susanna 7, and Elsie Bell 5.
In 1880 Mahaska County, Alexander is 34 with mother Mary A. 67, and Marilla 8, and Arlena 7.
In 1885 Mahaska County Mary Sproul is 7, with William 70 and Sally M. 68 - so she's with grandparents. Susan Sproul is 12, Elsie B. 10.

In 1900 Mahaska County, Iowa, Richard A. Martin born August 1847 in Iowa, married 19 years to Rachel March 1854 Iowa, have Bertha Arpil 1881, Willie June 1883, Nellie Aug 1886, all born in Iowa. Rachel's daughter Elsie Sproul January 1875 Iowa is with them, a school teacher.
In 1910 Logan County, Alexander and Rachel are farming, and daughter Mary 32 now married to Leo Sullivan 33 is with them, daughter Juanita 9.

Alexander proved up a quarter in 30, 9N 48W in 1913. Rachel, his widow, proved up another quarter in 30 in 1915.


Mrs. Rachel Martin, a pioneer of the Haxtun community who homesteaded here in 1906, passed away last Thursday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A.R. Gray. Mrs. Martin was nearly 86 years old. Some months ago she fell and suffered a broken hip, and since that time had been confined to bed.
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon from the Church of the Brethren in Haxtun, conducted by the pastor, Rev. E.F. Weaver. Burial was in the Haxtun cemetery.
Rachel Amanda Sproul Martin, daughter of William and Sally Sproul, was born at Union Mills, Iowa on March 13, 1854. She died at Haxtun, February 1, 1940 at the age of 85 years, ten months and 18 days.
She grew to womanhood on the farm, and in August, 1878 she was married to Alexander Martin. At that time she and her husband moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where they lived until 1906. In that year they moved to the Haxtun community.
Mr. Martin passed away July 5, 1915 at the home 13 miles northwest of town.
Of her immediate family there remain five daughters and one son: Mrs. Susie Adams of Haxtun; Mrs. W.B. Williams of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs. Leo Sullivan of East Syracuse, New York; Mrs. Alva Gray of Haxtun; Mrs. James Sparks, Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Will A. Martin of South Miami, Florida. There are also 13 grandchildren and 19 great grand children, besides many friends who will mourn the passing of this pioneer woman.

Haxtun Harvest, Haxtun, Colorado, April 20, 1966
MRS. BERTHA GRAY DIES; RITES FRIDAY
Mrs. Bertha Gray, a 52-year resident of the Haxtun community passed away Tuesday, April 19, at the local hospital, after a short illness. Mrs. Gray had been in poor health for several years, but the illness which caused her death was of a few hours.
Mrs. Gray was born at Oskaloosa, Iowa April 23, 1881, and would have been 85 on April 23. She came to the Haxtun community in 1903 and took up a homestead north of town. She was married December 25, 1904 to Alva Gray, who preceded her in death in 1953. The family moved to Salt Lake City in 1918, to Ogallala, Nebraska in 1927, and back to Haxtun in 1929.
Mrs. Gray was a member of the First Methodist Church and the Past Noble Grand unit of the Rebekah Lodge.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Beulah Susa of Clintonville, Wisconsin and Mrs. Lucille Strickland of Haxtun. Also five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

July 1920 Haxtun "Mrs. L.E. Toyne and daughter returned to their home in Wyoming after a visit in the L.E> Sullivan home here."

In 1920 Haxtun, Leo is a butcher, 43, Mary 41, with adopted son Douglas S. Redmond 2, born in Wyoming. Rachel Martin, 65 is with them.
In 1930 Syracuse, New York, Leo is a butcher, with Mary. In the same building is a Juanita Toyne 29, Iowa with her daughter Arlene 3 born in Cplorado.
In 1940 Syracuse, Leo and Mary have Donald, son 23 born in Wyoming, and daughter Juanita Toyne 40 Divorced, born in Iowa, Arlene, 19.

from the Oskaloosa Daily Herald Wed., July 5, 1944, pages 1 & 6
"Trucker Dies in Crash: Oskaloosa's First Fatal 1944 Mishap"
Raymond Sparks, 29, 814 south Eleventh street, was killed instantly when a truck, driven by Dale Sille, 27, residing at the Irving hotel, went out of control and struck a telephone pole at the intersection of north L street and the Evans road at 11:30 p.m. Monday.
In the meantime County Attorney James L. Devitt this morning filed charges of manslaughter against Sille who indicated a desire to plead guilty in Mahaska district court. Devitt said the man probably would be arraigned sometime today...
...Sparks, who was crippled in one leg, is survived by his wife, Mrs. Betty Sparks, two daughters, Patricia Rae and Phyllis Jane, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James F. Sparks of Oskaloosa, five brothers, Virgil, Russell with the U.S. Navy somewhere in the Pacific, James with the Army, Merle with the Army, and Billy, at home; four sisters, Mrs. Grover Musgrove of Evans, MRs. Pearl Hartsock of Los Angeles, Mrs. W.S. Poe of Oskaloosa, and Mrs. Jack Davis of Los Angeles.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete this morning, pending word from brothers in the service.


Nellie Sparks 1886-1958 and James F. Sparks 1881-1955 are buried in Oskaloosa # 74966826.

J.F. Sparks, 74, of 508 north Third street, died at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday, April 13, 1955) at Mahaska hospital. He is survived by his wife, Nellie; four daughters, Mrs. Ethel Musgrove and Mrs. Martina Poe of Oskaloosa, Mrs. Blanche Harstock of Montebello, Calif. and Mrs. Thelma Evan of Puente, Calif.; five sons, Virgil and James E. of Oskaloosa, Merle of Dwarte, Calif. Russell of California, and William of Pella; one sister, Mrs. Ada Adair of Oskaloosa and two brothers, Ed of Oskaloosa and Frank Sparks of Fleming, Colorado. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Wilcox-Garland chapel.
Mrs. Nellie Sparks, age 71, of 508 north Third street, died Thursday evening of Mahaska hospital. She was the widow of James F. Sparks and was born in Oskaloosa Aug. 1, 1886.
Surviving are: four daughters, Mrs. Ethel Musgrove of What Cheer, Mrs. Blanche Hartsock of Montebello, Calif., Mrs. Martina Poe of Oskaloosa and Mrs. Thelma Evans, La Puenta, Calif.; five sons, Virgil and James of Oskaloosa, Merle McGregor of Texas, William of What Cheer and Russell Sparks; two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Gray of Haxtun, Colo., and Mrs. Elsie Williams of Salt Lake City, Utah; 52 children and 27 great-grandchildren.
Services will be Monday, May 26, at 2 p.m. from the Garland chapel with burial at White cemetery. Rev. Max Johnson of the Assembly of God church will be in charge. Oskaloosa Daily Herald - May 23, 1958.



Adams, Susie, died Dec. 1, 1942, at her home in Haxtun, Colo. She had been ill about a week and death was caused by an acute heart attack. She was born Aug. 14, 1872, in Mahaska County, Iowa. On April 25, 1902, she was married to James Matthews; they moved to Colorado and homesteaded near Haxtun.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Matthews moved to Haxtun where she made her home with her mother, Mrs. Martin, who preceded her in death two years ago. On July 17, 1919, she was united in marriage to John Adams. They made their home in Nebraska for four years and then returned to Haxtun where Mr. Adams died about 15 years ago. Mrs. Adams was a pioneer of the community, having lived here for thirty-nine years. She was a member of the Church of the Brethren and faithful until her death. Her pastor, Rev. E. F. Weaver, officiated at the services, held in Haxtun, and burial was in the Haxtun cemetery.

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