Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birthabout 1841
Memo(age 50 in 1891)
FatherSebastian Martz (S1b1) (1817-1899)
MotherLydia P Messerly (1818-1889)
Spouses
Birth7 February 1847
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death17 November 1889
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialSmith Cemetery, Belle Rive, IL
Marriage13 May 1865, Calhoun Co, IL
Marr Memo(Illinois Compiled Marriages 1851-1900 on Ancestry.com)
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Henry Alexander Martz (S1b1a)
Sebastian had a son named Henry age 8 and then Henry M age 18 respectively in the 1850 and 1860 Census. When I found a Henry Marts age 39 in Macon, Missouri in 1880, who said he and both his parents had been born in Virginia and keeping in mind that by 1880, Sebastian was living in Missouri, I thought I had found Sebastian’s son.
But I was wrong. A man named Roger Martz contacted me and told me he was descended from Sebastian and in tracing his ancestry, I came across a man named Alexander Marts in 1870 age 28 living in Hamilton County, IL and who said he had been born in Virginia and then he was listed as A Martz age 36 in 1880 (now in Jefferson County, IL) and he said both his parents had also been born in Virginia. I had never encountered this Alexander before and knew of no other Alexander Martz who this could be.
I have an ancestor, George William Diehl, who was always George as a boy and always William as an adult and the trick was finding the one place (in his case his tombstone) that gave his full name.
The one place Roger has found to date to explain how a boy called Henry by his parents came to call himself Alexander as an adult is the death certificate of Alexander’s son Charley which said his father was Henry Elexander Martz. But even better than that, Roger also found the marriage license application of Alexander Martz to Catherine E Bumpus in 1891, both of Spring Green Township, Jefferson County and Alexander said he was age 50 and the son of Sebastian Martz and his mother’s maiden name was Mesarley
Henry Alexander is designated S1b1a.
But I was wrong. A man named Roger Martz contacted me and told me he was descended from Sebastian and in tracing his ancestry, I came across a man named Alexander Marts in 1870 age 28 living in Hamilton County, IL and who said he had been born in Virginia and then he was listed as A Martz age 36 in 1880 (now in Jefferson County, IL) and he said both his parents had also been born in Virginia. I had never encountered this Alexander before and knew of no other Alexander Martz who this could be.
I have an ancestor, George William Diehl, who was always George as a boy and always William as an adult and the trick was finding the one place (in his case his tombstone) that gave his full name.
The one place Roger has found to date to explain how a boy called Henry by his parents came to call himself Alexander as an adult is the death certificate of Alexander’s son Charley which said his father was Henry Elexander Martz. But even better than that, Roger also found the marriage license application of Alexander Martz to Catherine E Bumpus in 1891, both of Spring Green Township, Jefferson County and Alexander said he was age 50 and the son of Sebastian Martz and his mother’s maiden name was Mesarley
Henry Alexander is designated S1b1a.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Henry Alexander Martz (S1b1a)
Parthena is on find-a-grave, curiously Alexander is not.
Known Sons notes for Henry Alexander Martz (S1b1a)
Alexander had no sons born before 1850. So none are tracked further. But the son Charles from 1870 and 1880 was called Charley as an adult and it is his death certificate that provides the name Henry Elexander.
And his son Benjamin, new born in 1880, apparently Benjamin Alexander is of note as he is the ancestor of Roger Martz. Roger’s grandfather was Benjamin’s son Charles LeRoy.
And his son Benjamin, new born in 1880, apparently Benjamin Alexander is of note as he is the ancestor of Roger Martz. Roger’s grandfather was Benjamin’s son Charles LeRoy.
Parent-Proof notes for Parthena Cumi (Spouse 1)
Her name is unusual to say the least and you can find several spellings. She is listed as Parthena Quimye Martz on find-a-grave. When she married Alexander, her name was Cumi Shurley. In the 1850 Census, she was Parthena C Shirley and in 1860 Parthenia C Sherley.
So Parthena or Parthenia, take your pick. Quimye or Cumi, take your pick — Cumi sort of sounds like a nickname but she consistently had that middle initial C in 1850-1880. Shirley, Shurley or Sherly, take your pick.
Her parents were Russell and Jinsey A from the 1850 Census.
So Parthena or Parthenia, take your pick. Quimye or Cumi, take your pick — Cumi sort of sounds like a nickname but she consistently had that middle initial C in 1850-1880. Shirley, Shurley or Sherly, take your pick.
Her parents were Russell and Jinsey A from the 1850 Census.