The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-04-23
BORN IN BLOUNT.
Wife of COMMANDMENTS Chef
Gomez, of Cuba.

L many Bt'NihC'iN %AhiNiANs'i'' 'iiS
have been pleading for the Cubans
and their freedom from Spanish SOW
ereignty, it will indeed be pleasant
surprise to know that Mrs. Maxine
Gomez, wife of the commander
chief OF the Cuban army, is an Amer
lean woman.
Much greater will be the surprise to
East Tennesseeans to learn that she
was native of this section, and be-
longed to one of the most aristocratic
families OF Blount county. In fact
Mrs. Gomez, the present wife of the
great general, was born and raised
within ten miles of Knoxville.
There is little doubt about the mat
ter as the story comes from perfectly
reliable sources.
Hon. Charles T. Gates, ST., of
Maryville, was in the city last night,
and from him the story was learned.
Mr. Gates is one of the most promi-
nent citizens of Blount county aud
knows almost every citizen personally.
He was acquainted with Gomez's wife
in her girlhood days, she being one of
the most brilliant ard attractive young
ladies of the county at that time.
The substance OF Mr.. Gates story
is as follows:
The present wife of Maxine Gomez
was formerly Miss Pink Martin, a
daughter of Mr.. Henry Martin, form
erly living on Nails Creek in the north
east corner Of the county. During
Miss Martins childhood and early wo-
manhood she was given exceptional
opportunities at that time for educa-
ton Her father was one of the
wealthiest men Of the county, the fam
lily being one of the very best.
Miss Martin attended school at the
Maryvllle Masonic Female Institute,
the only high school in the county at
that time. While attending school
she met Mr.. Joseph Cline, of Troop
county, Georgia, and soon after she
left college she married Mr. Cline and
removed to Georgia, where she lived
with her husband until his death sew
; eral years afterward Miss Martin
married only short time before the
civil war, and after its close her broth
ers went to Florida.
After the death of Miss Martins
first husband she joined her brothers
in Florida. In time she went to Ha-
vana, where relatives were interested
in property.
While at the Cuban capitol Miss
Martin met Maxine Gomez, at that
time very important parsonage on
the island of Cuba. In short time
they were married, and the wife of
Gomez to-day is the same Miss "Pink"
Martin, known personally to all the
Oldest citizens of Blount county.
:. All the members of the Martin fam
lily have either died or emigrated from
Blount county, and was only short
y time ago that Mr., Gates learned that
e "Pretty Pink" Martin was the wife Of
- Gomez. All the Martin family were
>. personal acquaintance of Mr.. Gates
:. A short time ago Mr.. John Martin, q
:, brother of Mrs. Gomez visited Mary
vile. While there he related the
= story of his sisters marriage to the Gu
- ban general. He is now in business
in Southern Florida. His sister
: spends part of her time in Cuba ans
:, part in Florida, Presumably she i,
in Florida at this time.
From the above it is easy to find q
:, number OF East Tenneesseeans who
m are related by marriage to Maxine
Gomez. The first relation found las
is night was Mr.. James McKamy. the
J. mail collector at the local postoffice
ID Mr.. McKamy's mother was sister t.
II Mr.. Henry Martin, the father of Mrs
a Gomez, which makes Mr.. McKam,
III first cousin to Maxine.
There are scores of citizens II
! Blount county who are related to thu
IL Martins. Mrs. John Hood, of Knox
as vile, is second cousin of Mrs
e, Gomez.
The old Martin mill property
known to almost every citizen of thi
1t county, was owned by the grandfathe
us of Miss Martin, Mr.. John Martin.
OF is only short distance east of III
In main road between this city and Wilf
wood, just after crossing Bays noun
ID tain. On the same property the Gu
~ ban leaders, wife wos 49,,