William Harris Martin's letter to nephew William Cook Martin

Below are the scanned photos of the front and back of the envelop and then the 4 page letter enclosed. Below the photos, I have transcribed this letter. William Harris Martin was born January 13, 1806 in Kentucky and died December 19, 1895 in Illinois. This letter is written by William Harris Martin to his nephew Reverend William Cook Martin born June 21, 1833 in Indiana and died November 22, 1909 in Iowa. Reverend William Cook Martin is my 3rd great grandfather.













Tuscola Illinois Feb 14th-85
Rev Wm C Martin
Dear Nephew
You can hardly appreciate the joy and gladness of my heart at receiving yours of the 27th of last month. I am so glad that God has called one of the Martin stock to labor in his vineyard, having taken on yourself holy orders to preach the word is a calling far above the common walks of life altho to be a Methodist preacher is not very profitable so far as dollars and cents is concerned. But if duty is faithfully performed in humble trust and faith, you will have stars of rejoicing in your crown and by and by shall return bring your sheanes with you, This will be a far richer treasure than this poor Earth can afford them. Let the Vanderbilt and Gould pour over their millions life soon passes away and where is their accumulated gold it is left behind. Not so with God's faithful followers. When their lamp of life is blown out,
they enter into possesion of their treasures which is lasting as God and eternity. We have here a "sweet prelibation of that glorious inheritance while we wander up and down" here below. We may "read our title clear to mansions in the sky prepared for us by our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." "Then let sickness blast and death devour." And poverty stare us in the face. We look beyond to our inheritance.
I regret to learn that your wife is an invalid for so long a time. I pray God to remove the trouble and restore her to health. Amen.
J H Martin family are well Mollie the oldest girl married Dr. Washburn of Atica Ind. Henry's are well his oldest girl Marie Jacob Smith have three children John is married and has a son no more of their children are married. Wills folks are well. Mr. Wm B. Wilson + Sophia is hear teaching superintendant of the high school salary $1200.00 per year but will move to Nebraska in June or July where he thinks he can do better & Jenkins and family are near.
Councill Bluff Iowa Mary you know is dead died without issue. Mc Cormick her husband is in Mineapolis Min. My health is good and I am tolerable active for a man of my age. I am in my 80th year since the 13th of Jan last.
I received a letter from Moses Akers he lives in North Lawrence Kansas has been confined to his room for over a year with rheumatics his physician tell him he will never get up again. He appears happy in a Saviours love. Write him a letter very soon or he may be gone no doubt it will cheer him to get a line from you.
There are many revivals of religion in Ohio, Ind and in this state. We are holding a protract effort in this town now with some success not with great manifestation of mighty power as you have seen it. Write often.
Your Uncle
Wm H Martin
P.S. You can see how my hand trembles and how many words I leave out. This is on account of age.
Wm H M

Johnoff's Rose Bowl Restaurant

Johnoff's Rose Bowl was a restaurant and place for dancing and entertainment in Saint Louis, Missouri. My dad remembers this place fondly. His childhood friend Al Albrecht (not sure if I spelled that correctly, the phonetic pronunciation "all-brick") was the grandson of the owner, a Bulgarian immigrant who went by the name "Johnoff." His mother was Vivien Albrecht, a tough Bulgarian woman who raised Al on her own after Al's father deserted the family many years prior. Johnoff and his daughter Vivien ran the restaurant which started out in 1938 according to legal documents.
1940's Saint Louis was an exciting time and the restaurant had many patrons including wise guys such as Costello a well known mobster.
My father remembers hanging out as a kid with friend Al at the restaurant. At night, there was dancing and singing and gambling at tables with body guards, like a scene out of the movie "Goodfellas."
The restaurant no longer exists but photos of those times are sure to surface and I welcome anyone with memories of this place to contribute.

Above is a picture from January 5, 1946 at Johnoff's Rose Bowl Restaurant.

My memorials on findagrave.com

Search Tiffany Young's cemetery records at by entering a surname and clicking search: This contributor's recordsAll of Find A Grave (85.8 million names) Restrict search to Surname

Alwin Gundlach

Alwin Gundlach with daughter Edna Olive

(coutesy of Dolly Krallman)

Alwin Gundlach is my 2nd great grand uncle and his daughter Edna Olive Gundlach is my 1st cousin 3x removed.  Frederick Gundlach and Sophie Roepe are my 3rd great grandparents.  I would love to know more and talk to any relatives who may carry any information on the Pullman family as well as the Gundlach and Roepe families.

Below is an excerpt taken from "St. Louis, the fourth city, 1764-1909 (volume 2)"pg 749-750:

Alwin Gundlach is president and treasurer of the Excelsior Box & Manufacturing Company of St. Louis and in the upbuilding and development of this enterprise he has displayed the elemental strength of his character and his ready resource.  He faced at the outset of his career in this undertaking conditions such as were unknown to the business world a half century or less ago.  Today large corporations which have been formed seem to resent as an intrusion upon their rights the establishment of a new enterprise of similar character, and Mr. Gundlach in the organization and development of his business had to fight his way against grasping corporations, but regarding the worth of his output as his best advertisement he has steadily advanced through methods which neither seek nor require disguise, and the business has been almost phenomenally successful.
A native of St. Louis, Mr. Gundlach was born in 1865, a son of Fred and Sophia (Roepe) Gundlach.  The father was born in Germany and as a young man came to St. Louis.  He afterward went to California with the gold hunters, but returned to this city after an absence of three years and resumed the dry goods business, in which he had formerly been engaged.  He continued in this field of activity until his demise in 1869, carrying on the store on Market near 7th street.  He costumed for theatrical people and did an extensive business in that line.  His wife, like her husband, was a native of Hanover, and she arrived in St. Louis a year after Fred Gundlach became a resident of this city.
Alwin Gundlach pursued his education in the public schools to the age of 13 years, when he was apprenticed to the trade of saddle and harness making.  He never worked as a journeyman, however, but turned his attention to the leather business as a clerk in the employ of Henry Schwaner & Company.  He determined to master the business and remained there until 22 years of age, being successively promoted to the position of bookkeeper, city salesman and eventually traveling salesman.  He left that concern to become traveling representative for E. G. Willis & Brother, jobbers in leather, and was associated with the house until he withdrew to organize his present business of a capital of $2500.  This money he had borrowed and he began operations on a small scale, but he soon outgrew the original quarters and has erected a new factory with every facility for the manufacture of boxes.  The capital has been increased to $30,000 and the force of workmen has grown from 5 to 35.  They manufacture all kinds of wood packing cases, selling mostly to the local trade, and they have considerable country trade.  Business is conducted under the name of the Excelsior Box & Manufacturing Company and the enterprise has had a marvelous growth, facing the opposition of corporations and yet winning its way to a prominent place in industrial circles.  Mr. Gundlach gives to the business his personal attention and active management, being president and treasurer of the company, with Louis F. Pullman as its secretary.
In 1887 occurred the marriage of Alwin Gundlach and Miss Cora B. Pullman, of St. Louis, and they have one child, Edna Olive, born February 6, 1889.  Mr. Gundlach is a member of the Missouri Athletic Club, which he joined on its organization.  He also belongs to the North St. Louis Turner Society, to the Royal Arcanum and to the Royal League.  He is an ardent sportsman, delighting in hunting and fishing, and he belongs to many clubs of that character, including the Gilead Hunting and Fishing Club, of Calhoun county, Illinois.  In politics he is a republican, but not a party worker.  He stands today as a splendid type of the self-made man who has constantly developed his mental powers, as well as built up his fortunes, through hard work, unfaltering energy and unabating concentration.

Henry Hirschberg found in "Favorable Reports, 62nd Congress" pg. 39-42

Elizabeth Ann Young "Eliza" and husband Governor Thomas Reynolds

Eliza Ann Young is my 1st cousin 5x removed.  She is the daughter of Ambrose Madison Young.  She is one  of the first ladies of Missouri, the wife of Governor Thomas Reynolds.

Ambrose Madison Young's Will

Ambrose Madison Young was born October 12, 1772 in Kentucky and is my 4th great grand uncle. His older brother Abner Young is my 4th great grandfather. This is his will, courtesy of Kentucky Archives
Ambrose Madison Young September 10 1836 Fayette-Barren County KyArchives Will Source: Fayette Co, Ky, Will Book P, Written: September 10 1836 Recorded: May 1839 

 I, Ambrose Young of the Couty of Fayette and State of Kentucky being of sound mind and memory do make, ordain and restitute this my last Will and testament in manner and form following, That all my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid. And the remainder of my estate of every kind, both real and personal that I know, profess or hereafter may profess at my death. I tend unto my beloved Wife, One hundred acres of land including the building on the North end of the tract of land adjoining Walter C. Young's in Jessamine County, KY to be laid off in good form. Also six negroes Viz; Lucy, Robert, Anderson, Henry, Alcy and Boy. …Horses, ox cart and pair of oxen all of my kitchen furniture, one half of my house furniture and as much of the farming utensils (such as plow and axes) as she may need. One year's provision to her use during her natural life and after her death to be equally divided between all my children, excepting the land. 

 I give and bequeath to my son Ambrose M. Young, the tract of land adjoining Walter C. Young's, containing 315 acres reserving to his mother 100 acres out of said tract after her death to be his, 3 negroes Viz; Nancy, Joseph and Louisa, two feather beds and furniture and one hundred dollars in cash. And it is further wish that my Son A.M. Young will live with his mother and take care of her. It is my will that the tract of land I now live on containing 550 acres to be sold at 1/3 in hand, one 1/3 in twelve months and 1/3 in two years, and the proceeds of Sale together with all the estate including which has heretofore been given be equally divided between my children herein after named. My Son, John T. Young, Richard B. Young, my daughter Elizabeth Reynolds, Fanny Owings, Mary Gray, Emily Young and my two grand daughters Francis and Malvina Young, daughters of my son Marcus A. Young, their father's part as legetee to them and their lawful issue. 

 

I give to my son Richard the tract of land containing seventy one acres adjoining the tract he lives on. The value estimated in the amount he is charged with. Now in order that all my property be equally divided as possible, agreeably to this my will between all my children I have left an estimate of what each them have had- Thomas A. Young $3600 in cash and negroes; John T. Young $2800 in cash and negroes; Richard B. Young $3000 in cash and negroes; Eliza W. Reynolds $2,040 in cash and negroes; Fanny Owings $2040 in cash and negroes; Mary Gray $2110 in cash and negroes; Emily Young $2197 in cash and Negroes. Now it is expressly understood that it is my Will that if either of my children or grandchildren die without lawful issue of their own body and whatever estate they have received or may hereafter receive shall return to their brothers and sisters or their lawful Issue whether increase of negroes …It is further my Will that the negro man I purchased of John D. Harrison by name of Eli shall be hired out by my Executors and the proceeds to be divided equally between said John D. Harrison and his two sons Viz- Hezekiah and Ambrose Harrison also the tract of land containing 80 acres in Shelby County, State of Indiana and also an Entry of Eighty Acres to be entered in Illinois or Indiana out of my estate which for the use of said John D. Harrison and his said two sons Hezekiah and Ambrose during the life of said John D. Harrison and after his death to be equally divided between his said two sons Hezekiah and Ambrose to them and their heirs forever. 

And last I constitute and approve Waller (or Walter) Bullock, Charles Carr and Thomas H. Shelby of this my last will and testament whereoff …all other will or wills by me heretofore made establishing this my last will and testament. In withness whereof I set my hand and seal this 10 th day of September, 1836. A. Young Ambrose Young Signed and acknowledged in the presence of Attest: Benjamin T. Bott, Richard Martin P.E. Todhunter State of Kentucky, Fayette county, towit May Court 1839. This Last Will and Testament of Ambrose Young, dec. was produced in Court and proved by the oaths of Richard Martin and Parker E. Todhunter, Witnesses. thereto and ordered to be recorded …is duly done in my offic. 

Att. JC. Rodes??? Additional Comments: Barron County Court Records/Depositions AMBROSE YOUNG States four or five yrs. before his father's (John Young) death he heard him express some uneasiness about his grandchildren, viz: John Charles and Polly Proctor. Deposition of Walter Cave states sometime in yr. 1786 he was going to Va., that pursuant to his departure, Mr. Young informed him he was desirous of his son-in-law, Hezekiah Proctor coming to this country, first because he was anxious about his daughter and second, that Proctor would be an advantage to the neighborhood. 

 Appraisal of the Estate of Ambrose M. Young is on file in family notes. (Several pages referring to farm animals and household goods at "home place" and "upper farm." Value of 19 slaves in appraisal: One negro man named Betty, age 45 $500 " Abraham, age 60 $300 " boy, Bob, age 16 $700 " man, Anderson, age 25 $1,000 " boy, Mat, age 16, $750 " boy, Dick, age 15, $750 Charles, 20, $800 Lewis, 14, $700 Tom, 8, $400 Aron, 7, $250 Dick, 60, $1 " woman, Jenny, 50, $50 " , Mary, 50, $50 ", Phillis, 60, $50 " girl, Mahaley, 13, $400 " girl, Ailey, 16, $600 " girl, Sarah, 7, $350 " boy, Henry, 30, $900 " woman, Lucy, 50 $50 " man, James, 35 $850