Alexander Arthur Martin

1883 - 1960  (77 years)

• Name	Alexander Arthur Martin
  Birth	19 Apr 1883	Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Eye color	dark brown
  Hair color	dark brown
  Height	5' 7.5"
  Census	1-16 Jun 1900	U.S.S. Essex   [2]
  	40° 10′ 50″ N, -47° 24′ 6″ W
  	The U.S.S. Essex was in the North Atlantic, probably about 1/3 of the way from the United States to Europe.
  Military service	1899-1904
  	United States Navy
  Census	28 Apr 1910	East 65th Street, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
  Census	2 Jan 1920	9001 Macomb Avenue, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
  Census	26 Apr 1930	Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA
  Census	13 Apr 1940	730 Linden Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA
  Census	11 Apr 1950	210 Cambridge Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA
  Death	7 Dec 1960	Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA   [1]
  		Alexander Arthur Martin death record
  Burial	10 Dec 1960	Memorial Park Cemetery, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA   [1]
  		Alexander Arthur Martin Grave location: 39.849296, -84.203308
  		Stanley, Jessie, and Alex Martin Grave location: 39.849296, -84.203308
  Siblings	1 brother and 1 sister
  1. Alexander Arthur Martin,   b. 19 Apr 1883, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA d. 7 Dec 1960, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA  (Age 77 years) ▻ Jessie Helen Duff,  m. 30 Nov 1905   2. Aggie Eva Martin,   b. 14 Jul 1884, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA d. 16 Jul 1973, Miami, Dade County, Florida, USA  (Age 89 years) ▻ Frank Engelman   3. unnamed Martin,   b. 1887   d. 1887, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA  (Age 0 years)
  Half-siblings	2 half brothers and 2 half sisters (family of Joseph Hormisdas Martin and Mary Jane Burrows)
  1. William Grover Martin,   b. 13 Nov 1892, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 1957  (Age 64 years) ▻ Minnie Haas,  m. 1 Nov 1913 ;   Frances Hope Garbutt,  m. 1940   2. Anna Martin,   b. 26 Oct 1893   d. Nov 1976, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA  (Age 83 years)   3. Irene L. Martin,   b. 29 May 1896, Ohio, USA d. 14 Jan 1985, Oklawaha, Marion County, Florida, USA  (Age 88 years) ▻ Frederick George Julyan,  m. 19 May 1920   4. ? Martin,   b. 12 Aug 1899, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. cir 1900  (Age 0 years)
  Notes	Alexander Arthur Martin's family moved from Providence, Rhode Island, to Cleveland, Ohio, while he was still young. The family lived at 122 Whitney Avenue. He was the first person to enlist at the new Cleveland recruiting station at 64 Public Square, enlisting in the Navy on December 28, 1899. He underwent introductory training at Coaster's Harbor Island, Rhode Island, where he was stationed on the U.S.S. Constellation. He also served on the U.S.S. Essex, an old ship used for training, then on the U.S.S. Wabash, a stationary receiving ship at Chelsea, Massachusetts. Next, he went to the receiving yard at Brooklyn, and then to San Francisco, where he was assigned to the U.S.S. Wisconsin. While in San Francisco, he met President McKinley at a ball. He visited many foreign ports during his time in the Navy, and took part in naval exercises during the Boxer Rebellion in China and the Philippine Insurrection. He was discharged from the Navy on his birthday in 1904. After his marriage to Jessie Duff, the family lived for some time in Cleveland, and later moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, and Fostoria, Ohio. They were living in Cleveland, Ohio, at the time of the 1910 census. William Duff, cousin of Jessie Duff Martin, was living with them. In 1920, they were living at 9001 Macomb Avenue, Cleveland. The family finally settled in Dayton, Ohio, where Alexander was employed by the National Cash Register Company. He built numerous ship models as a hobby, and won several prizes for his models. He was a member of Linden Avenue Baptist Church and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Masonic Lodge, becoming a Prince of the Royal Secret, thirty-second degree, on November 11, 1944. Alexander died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. At the time of his death, he was living at 210 Cambridge Avenue in Dayton. Alex and Jessie are buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio, in Section 12, Lot 3, Block 12.
  Person ID	I346	Bryan-Martin
  Last Modified	22 Aug 2024

  
  

  Father	Joseph Hormisdas Martin,   b. 6 Dec 1860, Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Sainte-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada d. 14 Oct 1934, Lyndhurst, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA (Age 73 years)
  Mother	Marie Julie Oliva Jean,   b. 16 Feb 1865, Saint-Norbert, Norbertville, Arthabaska, Québec, Canada d. 26 Feb 1887, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA (Age 22 years)
  Marriage	18 Jun 1882	St. Charles Borromeo Church, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
  Family ID	F530	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Jessie Helen Duff,   b. 18 Sep 1883, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 6 Nov 1956, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA (Age 73 years)
  Marriage	30 Nov 1905	St. Agnes Church, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA   [3, 4]
  Census	1930	203 Klee Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA   [5]
  Census	1940	730 Linden Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA   [6]
  Children	1. Joseph Arthur Martin,   b. 18 Sep 1906, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 2 Jan 1907, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA (Age 0 years)   2. Jessie Eileen Martin,   b. 1 Jan 1909, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 14 Feb 1994, Kettering, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA (Age 85 years)   3. Alexander Charles Martin,   b. 6 May 1910, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 6 Mar 1984, Newark, Licking County, Ohio, USA (Age 73 years)   4. Eva Jean Martin,   b. 22 Jun 1911, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 9 Oct 1971, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA (Age 60 years)   5. Stanley George Martin,   b. 20 Sep 1912, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 18 Nov 1943, Curry County, New Mexico, USA (Age 31 years)   6. Helen Lois Martin,   b. 29 Jan 1916, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 30 Jun 1989, Naples, Collier County, Florida, USA (Age 73 years)   7. Ruth Ann Martin,   b. 3 Feb 1921, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA d. 13 Feb 1921, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA (Age 0 years)   8. James Allen Martin,   b. 23 Mar 1925, Fostoria, Seneca County, Ohio, USA d. 31 Mar 1994, Riverside, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA (Age 69 years)
  Family ID	F119	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	6 Sep 2023

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 19 Apr 1883 - Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA Census - 40° 10′ 50″ N, -47° 24′ 6″ W - 1-16 Jun 1900 - U.S.S. Essex Marriage - 30 Nov 1905 - St. Agnes Church, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Census - 28 Apr 1910 - East 65th Street, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Census - 2 Jan 1920 - 9001 Macomb Avenue, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Census - 1930 - 203 Klee Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA Census - 26 Apr 1930 - Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA Census - 1940 - 730 Linden Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA Census - 13 Apr 1940 - 730 Linden Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA Census - 11 Apr 1950 - 210 Cambridge Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA Death - 7 Dec 1960 - Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA Burial - 10 Dec 1960 - Memorial Park Cemetery, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show	30 Photos
  	Alex Martin.jpg
  	Alex Martin 3.jpg
  	Alex and Jessie Martin
  	Alex Martin and Drum Corps.jpg
  	Alex Martin 2.jpg
  	Alex Martin working on ship.jpg
  	Alex Martin with boat.jpg
  	Essex1.jpg
  	Wabash
  	Wisconsin The U.S.S. Wisconsin in 1902, while Alex Martin was serving aboard.
  	Constellation.jpg The U.S.S. Constellation in Baltimore in 1914. This ship was used as a training vessel at Newport, Rhode Island, when Alexander Martin was stationed there.
  	Alex Martin in Navy 4.jpg While stationed on the U.S.S. Wisconsin
  	Alex Martin and children c1912.jpg Probably Jessie Eileen, Eva Jean, and Stanley George.
  	St. Agnes Catholic Church, Cleveland, Ohio Alex and Jessie Duff Martin were married in this church. Faced with extensive renovation following a fire in 1974 and with a dwindling congregation, the church was razed on 24 November 1975.
  	Martin/Alex Martin in Memorial Day parade Alex rode in this parade to represent Spanish-American War veterans.
  	Alex and Jessie Duff Martin
  	Alex Martin family Left to right: Alex Martin, Jean Martin, Jessie Helen Duff Martin, Jean MacGruder Martin, Jim Martin. Taken March 1946
  	Alex Martin and two unidentified boys
  	Alex Martin family, Easter 1942
  	Interior of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Cleveland, Ohio
  	St. Agnes Church Interior
  	203 Klee Avenue Home where the Alex Martin family was living at the time of the 1930 census
  	Linden Avenue Baptist Church Linden Avenue Baptist Church is the church the Martin family attended in Dayton, Ohio.
  	Alexander Martin Receives 20-Year Service Award 19 April 1957
  	Air Force Quality Control Staff at Retirement
  	NCR Parts Inspection Department at Retirement
  	1014 Pritz Avenue, Dayton, Ohio The Alex Martin family lived in this home in the 1940s before moving to Cambridge Avenue.
  	Alex Martin at the time of his retirement in 1956 Lt. Col. John Bostick, Chief of the Dayton Air Force Procurement District, with Alex Martin
  	Alex Martin with C. Stouder, Chief of the Air Force Quality Control District Office, Dayton, Ohio
  	Alex Martin These are a few of the model ships that Alex built. Date unknown

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show	25 Documents
  	Enlistment Announcement Cleveland Leader December 22, 1899 Page 10
  	Alexander Arthur Martin Navy discharge page 1
  	Alexander Arthur Martin Navy discharge page 2
  	Marriage record of Alexander Martin and Jessie Duff
  	Alexander Arthur Martin World War I draft registration
  	Alexander Arthur Martin World War II draft registration
  	Alex Martin family in 1930 census
  	Alexander A. Martin Family 1950 Census Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio
  	Letter from Eva Martin Engelman to the Alex Martin family This letter is referring to the death of Stanley George Martin, son of Alex and Jessie Martin, in a military training accident.
  	Application for Headstone or Marker Application for marker provided by the United States government for veterans
  	Alexander Arthur Martin Funeral Guest Book Morris Sons Funeral Homes Dayton, Ohio
  	Alexander Arthur Martin Retirement Press Release
  	Alexander Arthur Martin Retirement Poem Written by W.E. Pearman
  	Retirement Telegram Telegram sent by the Jack and Helen Martin Johnson family upon Alexander's retirement. Helen Johnson was Alexander's daughter.
  	Alexander Arthur Martin Retirement Remarks
  	Third Annual Dayton Recreation Hobby Show Certificate of Award
  	Alexander Arthur Martin Retirement Press Release Draft
  	Letter of Congratulations Upon Retirement From Lt. Colonel John Bostick, Chief of the Dayton Air Procurement District
  	Second Annual Dayton Recreation Hobby Show Certificate of Award Alex won Best of Show at this event. 1959
  	Deed to Martin Burial Plot at Memorial Park Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio Purchased 1 February 1944
  	Alexander Arthur Martin in 1900 Census On board the United States Training Ship Essex
  	Certified Copy of Marriage Record
  	Invitation to Ball Held by the Crew of the U.S.S. Wisconsin Native Sons' Hall San Francisco, California, USA 14 May 1901
  	Memorial Service 10 December 1960
  	United States Navy Service Record

  
  

  Histories » Slide Show	2 Histories
  	Hedunit, the Memoirs of an Ex-Blue Jacket, by Alexander Arthur Martin An account of Alexander Martin's service in the United States Navy
  	Hedunit, the Memoirs of an Ex-Blue Jacket, by Alexander Arthur Martin Partial handwritten manuscript of the memoirs

  
  

  Letters » Slide Show	7 Letters
  	Letter of Condolence from Kathryn Engelman Green to Alexander and Jessie Martin on the Death of their Son, Stanley 1 December 1943
  	Letter of Condolence from Eva Martin Engelman to Alexander and Jessie Martin on the Death of their Son, Stanley 1943
  	Letter of Condolence from Alice Engelman MacIntyre to Alexander and Jessie Martin on the Death of their Son, Stanley 1 December 1943
  	Letter of Condolence from Jessie York Henderson to Alex and Jessie Martin on the Death of their Son, Stanley 1943
  	Letter of Condolence from Margaret Thomson Brown to Alexander and Jessie Martin on the Death of their Son, Stanley 27 November 1943
  	Letter of Condolence from Margaret Peterson Cleaver to Alexander and Jessie Martin of the Death of their son, Stanley 6 December 1943
  	Telegram from Stanley George Martin 7 October 1943

  
  

  Postcards » Slide Show	8 Postcards
  	U.S.S. Constellation This ship, built in 1797, was the stationary training vessel at the Newport Naval Training Station when Alexander Arthur Martin was there in the early 1900s. The ship is now at the harbor in Baltimore, Maryland.
  	U.S.S. Constellation (reverse)
  	U.S. Battleship Wisconsin This ship was commissioned on 4 February 1901. Alexander Arthur Martin served on the ship in the Far East shortly after it was commissioned.
  	U.S. Battleship Wisconsin (reverse)
  	U.S.S. Essex Alexander Arthur Martin was stationed on this ship in 1900 during his training cruise to Europe.
  	U.S.S. Essex (reverse)
  	Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, USA
  	Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, USA (reverse)

  
  

  Colorized Photographs

  Alex Martin in His Basement Workshop

  
  

  Military Service of Family Members

  Alexander Arthur Martin Served in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War era, seeing action in the Boxer Rebellion and the Philippine Insurrection

  
  

  Newspaper Articles » Slide Show	3 Newspaper Articles
  	Dayton Man Builds a Miniature Flotilla Dayton Daily News, Sunday, 10 April 1938
  	Roofs of Homes Are Starless Skies for Ships That Never Sail The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio) 19 November 1944
  	U.S.S. Solace Photograph in an undated, unidentified newspaper showing the U.S.S. Solace

  
  

  Obituaries » Slide Show	3 Obituaries
  	Alexander Arthur Martin obituary Undated clipping from a Dayton, Ohio, newspaper
  	A.A. Martin Services Set Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, 9 December 1960 Services for Alexander A. Martin, 77, of 210 Cambridge Ave., president of the Senior Citizens center, will be conducted at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Morris Sons Funeral home, 1809 E. Third Street. Burial will be at Memorial Park cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 to 9 p.m. today. Mr. Martin died Wednesday at Good Samaritan hospital. A builder of historical ship models, he also was president of the Dayton Hobby club. In federal service 22 years, Mr. Martin retired in 1958 as an Air Force quality control inspector stationed at National Cash Register Co. A Spanish-American War veteran, he served in the Navy and saw action in the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. He was a member of Stillwater Lodge, F&AM, Fostoria, and Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton. Surviving are three daughters, Eileen and Jean Martin and Mrs. Helen Johnson, and two sons, Alexander C. and James A., all of Dayton; a sister, Mrs. Frank Engleman of Miami, Fla., and eight grandchildren.
  	A.A. Martin Dies; Headed Center

  
  

  Albums

  Alexander Martin Model Ship Gallery (58) Alex Martin (1883-1960) joined the United States Navy in 1899 at the age of 16 and served until his 21st birthday in 1904. Around 1931 he began building model ships, most of them entirely "from scratch", although he did purchase plans and some of the smaller parts, such as anchors, life boats, etc. He sometimes pilfered the gold chains from his wife's and daughters' jewelry to use as anchor chains, eyelets from shoes became portholes, and seeds from a plant in his yard were used to make ventilators. Alex entered his ships in several hobby shows in Dayton, Ohio, winning "Best of Show" in 1959. He had exhibited at the 1960 hobby show just a few weeks before his death. This album is a collection of newspaper articles about and photographs of the models he built. Most of them are no longer in the extended family, although a few still exist in the homes of his descendants. He gave away many of his models to his friends and acquaintances, and one even ended up in the White House when he sent it to Franklin D. Roosevelt as a present. I remember several ships for which there are no photographs, including the U.S.S. Hartford, one of his largest models at a little over 3' long, and a slave ship. This virtual album is the closest thing we have to a complete record of his work. Follow this link to read his memoirs, Hedunit: The Memoirs of an Ex-Blue Jacket. The descriptions of some of the ships in this gallery were written by Alex and included in a notebook he kept containing photographs of each model. The notes appear to be for a slideshow that he presented to various audiences.

  
  

• Sources

  [S654] Death Record. See http://bryan-martin.net/genealogy/showmedia.php?mediaID=884&medialinkID=1027 [S173] 1900 Census of Military and Naval Personnel. [S141] Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Marriage Records. [S479] Certified Copy of Marriage Record, Vol. 62, Page 194 (Reliability: 3). Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Probate Court See http://bryan-martin.net/genealogy/showmedia.php?mediaID=4366&medialinkID=4160 [S358] 1930 Census, Montgomery County, Ohio. [S499] 1940 Census, Montgomery County, Ohio.