Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-27
Mrs. Mary Martin, of Ohio, May
Discover That Her Boy Died
in This City
MISSING TwENTY-sEvEN YEARS
Aged Mother, Now 80, Seeking for Son,
OF Whom She Has Heard Nothing
For Over Quarter of Century
Thomas O. Martin Died at Soldiers
Home.
Home.

~ nope 10 an aged tnOtnef ~ ilelu OUT
now in the case of Mrs. Mary Martin.
of Ohio, who is seeking to learn some
abouts of her son. Oscar Martin. Of
whom she has heard nothing for TWEEN
woman Of almost 80. and her heart is
broken. She has lived in the hope
that some day, after her years OF
search, she would be rewarded by
knowing something definite Of her boy.
If even she knew that he were dead, 1t
would be better than the suspense of
knowing nothing positively.
This hope that is now reached out to
the aged mother is that her son died
at the soldiers home in this city,
eleven years ago. This may not be the
fact, but there is a possibility that
such is the case One Thomas Q. Mar
tin died at the soldiers home in 1897,
but whether the % stands for Oscar
10 llot SLoNlI ny Vie uoIllc IcSOINS All
Ottumwa man, however, who was
member of the home when Martin died,
remembers him as Oscar Martin
State Press Assisting.
The press of the state has been re-
sponsible for even this slight hope be-
ing held out to Mrs. Martin. A few
weeks ago Mrs. Martin journeyed all
the way from her eastern home to
Boone to search for her son, whom
she had reason to believe was living
either in that city or near there. Rela-
tives of her family reside at Boone,
and they have been assisting the Wom-
an. The press of the state was APP
pealed to for help. and papers have
given much publicity to the case.
Ottumwa Man Remembers Him.
This publicity has resulted in a let
wa, who was formerly member in
the home here. Mr.. Barnes said that
he knew in the home one Oscar Mar
tin who was employed in the quarter
masters department. Eight or. ten
years ago, Mr.. Barnes says Martin be-
came Ill and died in the hospital. Mr..
Barnes thought that Martin would
now IL alive, be a man about 60, years
old.
Thomas o. Martins Record.
There have. of course, been several
Martins in the home at one time and
another, but the nearest one to the
name Of Oscar is one Thomas o. Mar
tin, veteran of Company +. Fifth
Iowa cavalry. who entered the home
from Fulton. HI, on May "a, 1895 If
living he would now be GA years old
Martin died at the home on Aug. 81,
1897. In his application for member
ship, in answer to the question, Give
names of next of kin or nearest living
relatives, Martin answered. "None
known" If Mrs. Martins son was
soldier, and she knows In W.ich COM
pany and regiment he Sc we'd, she
might be able to definitely settle wheth-
err or not Thomas O. Martin was her
son. Thomas o. Martin gave the place
of his birth rs Dubuque county, Ia
Was Known as Oscar Martin.
That Thomas o. Martin was known |
as, and called, Oscar Martin, was def |
nitely learned later today. when Cap |
tain J. w. Reed, inspecting officer of |
Lhe home, in delving among some of
the institutions old records in an effort !
to assist the T.-R. in helping the aged |
mother to any information concern
ing the identity of Thomas o. Martin,
came across a letter. received at head
quarters by former Commandant j. r.
at the time of Thomas o.
Martins death. 1t will also show to
Mrs. Martin information that, is prob
ably quite positive as to whether
Thomas Oscar Martin was her son.
The letter was written to Colonel
Ratekin by F. L. Hollerah, deputy au-
1itor Of Clinton county. shortly after
The death of Thomas o. Martin, the
,ommandant having advised Mr.. Hol-
eran of Martins death. Extracts
rom the letter follow:
Your telegram received. I deeply
'egret learning of Oscar Martins death.
Poor fellow. He worked for my faith
er for twelve. years, and he was a
nan we all thought great deal of. I
lid not know of his sickness. or I
would have come to him. His father
lied about FIVE years ago (Which would
De 1922, at Lake City, MINI. I think
ne has a sister at Lake City now"
Mrs. Martin is still with relatives at
Boone, awaiting information concern
ng her lost son.
rnnRA1c CELTIC nlIr