|
|
Gertha Mayona Bridgman was born January 19, 1905, near Timbo, in Stone County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Howard Bridgman and Frances Adeline Catherine Holden.
The Bridgman family moved to Conway County, Arkansas, in 1917, settling on farmland just southwest of Morrilton. Mayona appears with her family on the 1920 Conway County census. They were living on Scroggins Farm Road, just off current Highway 113. The Bridgman family moved to Solgohachia in Conway County, about 1924.
Mayona married Roy Jefferson Martin on February 2, 1930, in Conway County. Roy Martin was born February 14, 1907, in Searcy County, Arkansas, the son of Robert H. "Rob" Martin and Hannah M. Sutterfield.
Rob Martin was born January 8, 1884, in Searcy County, Arkansas and died June 27, 1967, in Conway County, the seventh of ten children born to John R. Martin (b. 1853, AR; d. 1930, Conway Co) and Delilah A. "Lillie" Goodman (b. 1850, TN; d. 1905, Stone Co). Hannah Sutterfield was born September 11, 1886, in Searcy County, Arkansas and died December 12, 1973, in Conway County, the third of at least six children born to Nathaniel "Natty" Sutterfield (b. 1857, Searcy Co, AR; d. 1918, Searcy Co) and Rebecca A. Clark (b. 1856, Searcy Co). Rob and Hannah are buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, north of Plumerville, in the Hill Creek Community, in Conway County.
Rob and Hannah appear on the 1910 Searcy County, Arkansas census with their 3 year old son, Roy, and one year old daughter, Elsie. Prior to 1920 the family moved to Conway County. They appear on the 1920 Conway County census in Union Township, living on the Springfield and Solgohachia Road west of Plumerville. Rob and Hannah moved to Solgohachia in the 1930's or early 1940's. Rob was in the grocery store business for many years. They had a store on Cypress Creek for years, then at Solgohachia.
Roy and Mayona settled near Solgohachia after they married. They were missed on the 1930 Conway County census, as were Rob and Hannah and their family. They were probably all living in the same area.
In the early to mid 1940's, Roy and Mayona left the Solgohachia area and moved their family to the river bottom farm land located in Portland, a small settlement just south of Plumerville in Conway County. There Roy built a house and farmed several acres of land, raising mostly cotton.
After battling flooding from the Arkansas River for a number of years, Roy and Mayona finally moved from the bottom land to a hilltop on the north side of Plumerville, where Roy build another house, which still stands today. Roy continued farming in the Plumerville Portland bottoms after his move. He also operated a blacksmith shop in the main square of downtown Plumerville. He was an accomplished blacksmith, and was quite successful in that venture. Roy also drove a school bus for the Conway County schools for a time.
About 1953, Roy moved his family to Oklahoma, where they remained. Although Roy was a talented carpenter, he made his living as a mechanic after moving to Oklahoma. They purchased a house at Wagoner, Oklahoma, where they were living when Roy died on October 16, 1980. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery at Wagoner.
Mayone remained in their house until 1989, when failing health made it necessary for her to enter a nursing home in Wagoner. Mayona died May 21, 1991 and is buried beside her husband.
Children of Roy Martin and Mayona Bridgman
1. Jemolee Martin, b. Conway Co, AR; m. Tuel Dean Cole, in OK. After graduation from college, both Jemolee and Tuel entered the teaching profession. They taught in public school for over 30 years each. They are retired and live in Catoosa, OK. Children: Cheryl Lea Cole and Linda June Cole
2. Billy Earl Martin, b. Conway Co, AR; m. Peggy Josephine Hays on Nov 13, 1953. Billy was attending college at Russellville, in Pope Co, AR, when he met Peggy. They are retired and currently live in Denver, CO. Children: Janet Lynn Martin and Billy Scott Martin
3. James Edward Martin, b. Jan 25, 1935, Conway Co, AR; d. July 28, 1992, OK; m. Jane Franklin on July 31, 1955, in OK. Jane was b. May 26, 1934, Porter, OK and d. in 1998, in OK. Children: Debrah Renee Martin, Douglas Edward Martin and Darren Roy Martin
4. Mary Frances Martin, b. Conway Co, AR; m. Edwin Wheeler Swalley, Jr. on Sept 29, 1956, OK. Ed was called "Junior" by the family. He spent many years working for the local electric company in OK and later worked for the school system. Frances worked for several years as a secretary for the same school system. They are now retired and live in Broken Arrow, OK. Children: Dean Allen Swalley and Shelly Rae Swalley