Martha Kenyon
Martha with her siblings. She is at the far left, then clockwise Raymond, Delbert, Nathan, Frank, Susie holding baby Dorothy, Allena, Charlie and Florence. Randall died in 1898 at age 1. Circa 1900
Martha was born in Holland, Michigan on 16, 1882 to Henry and Mary (Fuller) Kenyon. She was their third child and second daughter (Mary had a child prior to their marriage named, Delbert). Over the years there would be seven more children joining the family for a total of eleven! Sometime between 1898 and 1900 the family relocated to Sebewa Township in Ionia County, Michigan.
The years between 1900 and 1908 are lost until June 19, 1908 when Martha is married to Ernest J. Hiller in Sebewa Township (just east of Odessa Township) however it has been suggested that she was possibly a teacher. Martha's sister Florence and Ernest's brother Archie were witnesses. Ernest had previously relocated from Lake Odessa in Ionia County, Michigan to Charlevoix and was working as a book keeper at the lumber mill.
Martha and Ernest Hiller's marriage record entry on the bottom line.
Postcard received by Martha & EJ after the birth of Don.
After the wedding the couple made their home at 304 Antrim Street in Charlevoix and in April, 1909 Martha gave birth to their first son (my grandfather) Don C. Hiller. During this time, Charlevoix was also undergoing plenty of change moving from a lumbering community to a summer tourist destination. People began arriving by rail in 1892 which sparked the development of luxury hotels (The Inn and The Beach) train depots and summer associations (Belvedere Club, Sequanota Club and Chicago Club).
Photos obtained from a souvenir book published by W.C Bellinger Curio Store in Charlevoix, Michigan. The book was given to me by Dorothy Hiller Mather.
Unfortunately, this is where Martha's story becomes tragic. On May 3, 1912 during the difficult delivery of her second child her daughter, Opal, was stillborn. By May 16, Martha succumbed to a uterine infection that brought about a septic blood infection. At the time, this was known as "childbed fever". She may well have survived with antibiotics, however, it would be another 16 years before they were available.
My great grandmother's story has always touched me. I continue to wonder how many lives would have unfolded differently if she had not passed so young. Her husband and parents no doubt were devastated, however, my heart really went out to my grandfather, Don, who was much too young to understand his loss.
As with everyone I write about in this blog, as long as I continue to tell their stories a part of them and their history is with us. So, this is Martha Kenyon Hiller's tribute and hopefully someday I will be able to make additions to her story.