Last Living Widow of Civil War Vet Ailing

Wilmington Star ^ | 5/13/04 | ap

[shuckmaster]

The last known living widow of a Civil War veteran suffered a heart attack and is unable to talk, her caretaker said Thursday.

Alberta Martin, 97, has been in Enterprise Medical Center since suffering the heart attack May 7. She can open her eyes but can't talk, said the caretaker, Ken Chancey.

"The prognosis is not good," he said, "but Mrs. Martin is a fighter."

Martin, known for years as the last Confederate widow, became the last Civil War widow when the last known widow of a Union soldier, Gertrude Janeway, died early last year.

"She's the end of an era that is so vital to our history," Chancey said.

Martin was a 21-year-old widow with a young son when she married 82-year-old William Jasper Martin, a former Confederate Army private, in 1927 in southern Alabama. They were married nearly five years and had one son before the veteran died in 1932.

Two months later, she married William Martin's grandson from a previous marriage. Alberta and Charlie Martin were married 50 years before he died in 1983.

Afterward, Martin lived in obscurity in Elba, making do off her last husband's pension as a World War II soldier. She told people about her Civil War connection but received little notice.

In 1996, Chancey, an Enterprise dentist, and other members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans took up her cause and got state officials to approve her for a Confederate widow's pension that was still contained in Alabama law.

Martin made regular appearances at Confederate heritage events, traveling from Gettysburg to St. Louis, often with a Confederate battle flag draped over her lap.

[shuckmaster]

Aw, Shucks!

[shuckmaster]

ping

[Leroy S. Mort]

Martin was a 21-year-old widow with a young son when she married 82-year-old William Jasper Martin, a former Confederate Army private, in 1927 in southern Alabama. They were married nearly five years and had one son before the veteran died in 1932.

And this was pre-Viagra. Who says the South didn't rise again?

[tiamat]

Leroy S. Mort wrote:



And this was pre-Viagra. Who says the South didn't rise again?

---

LOL!

You're a bad, bad man.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Marrying her grandson? Are we sure they're not from Arkansas?;)

[billorites]

"Who says the South didn't rise again?"

Not Bob.

[Steve_Seattle]

And this was pre-Viagra. Who says the South didn't rise again?

LOL Quote of the day; too bad it's on such a short thread.

[Conservababe]

I am getting a little tired of these dumb southern jokes and jokersters like your self. Reak the article and you will see that they are not related by blood.

[Bahbah]

That's pretty darn funny, Leroy.

[riverrunner]

Now tell be if a brother and sister go married in Arkansaw then moved to Wis. Then got divorce would they still be brother and sister

[arthurus]

There is a man walking around today whose daðy fought the yanksees in The War.

[Reagan79]

It seems I have been reading this story for the last five years. When the last one dies, another one suddenly pops up.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Don't I get a free pass for being a southerner? I know they'renot related by birth, but if it makes you feel any better, just change Arkansas to Oklahoma...

[Jaysun]

I know of her. She had a son with the Civil War Veteran. Interesting isn't it? He's still alive and well of course. Could you imagine telling people that your Dad fought in the Civil War?

[wardaddy]

My great great Grandpa who was at Vicksburg as a supplies runner for the CSA at age 14 outlived 3 of 4 wives and had 23 children including several after aged 75.

His baby daughter from the last marriage is still alive in Jackson and is in her 80s. I visited her last year.

Thomas Raspberry Byrd (of Scott and Smith counties)


It's in the water and genes....virility and eccentricity....two of the South's most endearing qualities.

speaking of virility....Bourbon?

[tiamat]

I love Bob. Bob's great.

[Imal]

Bourbon?

Don't mind if I do. [clink!]

[Arkinsaw]

Now tell be if a brother and sister go married in Arkansaw then moved to Wis. Then got divorce would they still be brother and sister

If a Wisconsinite stuffed himself with cheese would he still be full of ....?

[Arkinsaw]

My family met Mrs. Martin at the Lotz House in Franklin, TN when she came up there for Forrest's Birthday. She was very feisty. It will be the real end of an era.

[WKB]

Does this mean WE WIN ?