My Grandpa and Grandma Martin

Neal Martin and Florence Miller were married July 6, 1920 and had three children, Virgina, George and Ruth.  Neal Dodds Martin was born, the son of John Martin and Ina T. Norris, March 26, 1892 and died September 17, 1951. Florence Louise Miller was born, the daughter of George William Miller and Martha Loe, May 26, 1902 and died September 13, 1996.They started life together in North Dakota then relocated to Illinois where his parents were raised,  then they moved back to North Dakota.  After my Mom was born in 1929 they moved to my Grandmother's hometown of Princeton, Mo., and that is where they stayed




Article below from the local newspaper, very colorfully describes their wedding.

Florence Miller Weds

Beautiful Ceremony at the Home of the Bride's Parents.

Tuesday,July 6th, at Hamilton, N. Dak.

A most beautiful and impressive ceremony was performed July 6th, at the Miller home when Miss Florence Louise Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Miller, became the bride of Mr. Neal D. Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Martin. The home was thronged with relatives of the two families and of the two young people who are among the most popular of Hamilton. The home was beautifully decorated, green and white predominating at the arch and scene of the ceremony. A white lattice work with arches covered with buds and ferns and palms banked on each side, presented a frame of brilliant green and white that waited the coming of the bridal party to complete the picture of beauty which will remain long in the minds of the many who witnessed the impressive ceremony.The many guests and relatives arrived promptly at the appointed hour. The prelude was played with Mrs. Fred Lane, a sister of the bride, at the piano. Just before the arrival of the wedding party Mrs. Paul Everly, of Hamilton, sang beautifully, "O Promise Me." Her remarkable voice filled the home with the strains of the melody. At the close of this solo came the strains Lohengrin Wedding March and the wedding procession began. The bride and the bridegroom met at the alter and while soft strains of the Mendelssohn March rang out and the wedding party moved from the altar. All of those in attendance united in the declaration that they had seldom witnessed a more beautiful or impressive ceremony. The bride presented a picture of radiant beauty in snow white georgette and carried a bouquet of lily of the valley and white Ward roses.

Immediately follow the ceremony a delicious dinner was tendered to the newly weds and their many guest. The bride and bridegroom made their departure on the south bound train for Grand Forks and from there to Fargo where a trip will be planned thru many places of interest in the west. They will be out of town from ten days to three weeks. A great crowd of merry making friends were present at the depot when they departed and the bridal pair were showered with rice and shouts of best wishes as the boarded the train.

Few people in Hamilton have a wider circle of friends throughout the northern part of the state. The bride was born in Missouri and has lived in the state about a year while the bridegroom was born in Illinois and has lived in the state about seven years. Both families are prominent citizens of Hamilton and both enjoyed a well merited popularity for their many high traits of character, The bride is a most attractive and accomplished young lady with a faculty of making and retaining friends that is unusual.  She is a graduate from the Princeton High School of Princeton, Mo. From there she attended the Missouri Conservatory of Music of Cameron, Mo.

NOTE: the article is cut off, so the following comes from the wedding announcement.Mr. Martin is an alumnus of the University of North Dakota and a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Mr. Martin is well known for his athletic work.

Below is an excerpt from the 1930 Census of Pembina Co, ND.
This shows Neal D. Martin age 36, Florence L. age 27, Virginia G. age 5, George B age 3 5/12, Ruth M. age 4/12 and a servant.  In the next house John B. Martin age 67 and Ina T. age 62 (Neal's parents).

Below are their obituaries

Neal D. Martin, 59, Dies Unexpectedly     Neal D. Martin, 59 years old, a resident of this city for more than 20 years, died unexpectedly at his home late Monday night. Funeral services were set for Thursday afternoon from the Methodist Church, to be conducted by the Rev. Alfred Renfro.  Burial will be in the Princeton Cemetery.      Mr. Martin was in business here for many years and is widely known over the county.  He was a World War I veteran and was prominent in activities of the local post of the American Legion, being a former post commander.  He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Odd Fellows Lodge.      Surviving are his wife Mrs. Florence Martin of the home; a son, George Bailey Martin of Maryville; and two daughters, Mrs Dale Porter, Lineville, and Mrs James Dent, Salem, Mo.; three brothers and three grandchildren. Info about Neal's ancestors

Florence Martin Obituary     Florence Louise Martin. daughter of George William and Martha Ann (Loe) Miller, was born in Princeton, Missouri, on May 26, 1902, and passed away on September 13, 1996, at the Liberty, Missouri, Hospital at the age of 94 years.     Florence was united in marriage to Neal D. Martin on July 6, 1920. Neal preceded her in death on September 17, 1951. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and three sisters, Grace Long, Allie Everly, and Bess Coon.     Florence is survived by her two daughters, Virginia M. Dent of Salem. Missouri. and Ruth M. Porter (and son-in-law, Dale) of Linevine, Iowa; her son, George B. Martin (and daughter-in-law, June) of Austin, Texas; 6 grandchildren; 3 stepgrandchildren; 9 greatgrandchildren; 1 great, greatgrandchild; and by several nieces and nephews.     Florence was raised in Princeton, Missouri, where she lived most of her life. She was a 1919 graduate of Princeton High Sohohl, and later attended the Wesleyan College in Cameron, Missouri. She worked for the Axtell Hospital in Princeton as a receptionist for several years.     Florence was a lifelong member of the Princeton United Methodist Church, where she served as church musician for many years. In the early 1960's she was chosen as Mother Of Thc Year by the Mother's Psychology Club of Princeton.     Funeral services were held Sunday, September 15, 1996, at 2:00 p.m., at the Princeton United Methodist Church with Rev. Jennie Vertrees officiating, under the direction of the Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Service of Princeton. Burial was in the Princeton Cemetery. Info about Florence's ancestors

                 Martin grave marker in the Princeton Cemetery

                 Florence L. 1902- 1996            Neal D. 1893-1951