49. Harrison Garrett (Harry) Martin
Harry Martin
From: Dickens County - It’s Land and People, 1986, page 225On January 15, 1915, a son was born to Forrest and Mamie Garrett Martin, 12 miles west of Spur. The land is still owned by the Martin family. Forrest and Mamie were children of early Dickens County settlers. Forrest was the son of W.H. and Belle martin and Mamie was the daughter of Clint and Melinda Garrett. The Garretts came to Dickens County in 1893 from Oklahoma, and the Martins in 1892 from Jones County. Harrison Garrett was named after both sides of the family. He was called Harry from birth and haws always been called that. This is the story of Harry and his family.
Being a farm and ranch boy he learned to ride horses at an early age and still rides when the occasion demands. He started to school at West End, not far from where they lived; then went to Highway School driving a Model T Ford school bus at age 15. When Highway high School transferred to Spur, he had a new 1931 pickup with hand built body to take high school students to Spur. He played football for Spur, graduating in 1934, going on to college on a football scholarship. He first went to Amarillo College, then Altus, Oklahoma and to New Mexico State at Las Cruces where he received a degree in 1941. He later attended Texas Tech for work on a masters degree.
In 1940 he married Bessie Lee Hendrix, went back to Las Cruces to finish college. They both worked toward this goal. In 1941 a son, Harry Bob was born at Roswell, New Mexico where Bessie Lee’s parents lived.
After seeking their fortune at El Paso, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Gallup where he was employed with Standard Oil Company, they decided Dickens County looked best. They moved to a farm near Spur. On July 28, 1943, a daughter, Melinda Bess was born in the old Nicholas Hospital above the post office. Melinda has been teased by her older brother for being born in a post office. In 1945, James Michael joined the family. “Mike”, as he became known, was born in Lubbock, Texas.
Farming was not to our liking so we decided to into the teaching profession. After one year at Dickens as coach and history teacher, we went to Idalou as coach and teacher. Harry was offered the superintendent’s job in Dickens in 1947, so back we came to Dickens County and after 7 years, resigned and ran for county school superintendent. We got beat and had to look for a job. We were hired as Hamlin junior high coach and teacher where we stayed for 5 years. We bought a farm in Highway Community and spent our summers there working the farm. In 1959 we built our home there where we live now.
Harry Bob graduated from Hamlin High School in 1959, and we decided it was time to move to the farm permanently. Melinda and Mike graduated from Spur High School in 1961 and 1963.
Athletics is still Harry’s first love so we enjoy all games for and near. Our hobby is antiques. Bessie Lee opened an antique glass shop in 1979. Harry collects lamps, old harnesses, and old fruit jars. We also enjoy our church work where Harry is an elder at the Church of Christ in Spur, Texas.
By Bessie Martin
Last name could be Hendrix
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
51. Clarence Forrest Martin Jr.
His nick name was Junnie Martin. I originally had his birthday as January 17, 1920, but the book has a different date so I'm following the book since it was written by his wife, Iva.
Forrest Martin
Taken From: Dickens County - It’s Land and People, 1986, page 224Forrest Martin and Iva Smith were married June 24, 1941, in Spur, Texas, in the home of the Methodist preacher, Hershel Thurston. Their attendants were Fred and Cleo Delisle, Betty Miller Lewhew and Mary Draper Saxon.
Clarence Forrest Martin, Jr. was born January 19, 1920 in the family home at West End. He was the fourth child and second son of Forrest and Mamie Garrett Martin. Attending were Mrs. J. I. Greer and Dr. Morris. He started to school at Highway in 1926 and in 1933 entered Spur High School. Early in the life Forrest’s Uncle Brokie Martin started calling him “June”, some of the family still call him that. He went through school and college as “Junior”. In high school his schoolmates called him “Fuzzy” and in college he was nicknamed “Pinto”. Forrest went through college on a football scholarship and farmed in the summer. He followed bug brother Harry to Altus Jr. College in Altus, Oklahoma and New Mexico A&M at Las Cruces, but then went with his Altus coach, W.W. Nicklous, to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He received his B.S. degree from East Texas State Teachers College at Commerce in 1942 and his Masters from Texas Tech in 1955.
Iva Oleta Smith was born in a newly rebuilt five room house in Dry Lake Community on May 29, 1922 to Jeff and Mollie Smith. Attending were Mrs. Sims and Dr. Morris. The Smiths lived in this house until the children were all gone from home. Iva started to school at Dry Lake in 1928 to Miss Canna Stephens. When brother Benard and sister Lois finished school at dry Lake, Jeff bought a pinto pony from Tom McArthur named “Denver” for Cleo and Iva to ride to school. School was about 2 ½ miles from home. The neighbors thought Denver was mean and would kill someone-he didn’t! Iva had to ride behind the saddle as she was younger. Cleo started to Spur High School in the 8th grade and Iva had two more years at Dry Lake so she had Denver to ride alone.
Sandra Joyce was born May 14, 1942 at Commerce, Texas, just ten days before Forrest graduated from college. After coaching a year at Ralls, the Martins moved back to Dickens County and farmed. Sheila Juaquin was born November 8, 1943 at Ralls. Forrest entered the Navy in January, 1945. Shelley Joy was born at Spur on February 7, 1945. Iva and three girls joined Forrest in San Diego in March and lived in National City, California until his discharge in October. In January 1946, Forrest took a coaching job at Morton, Texas. In June 1948 they moved to Littlefield to coach. Littlefield is still home. All three girls attended Littlefield school for 12 years.
Forrest coached 5 years and then was principal of junior high, elementary II, and finally ended up in primary the last 10 years. He retired in 1979.
For 35 years Forrest has had a gunshop in the backyard for a hobby. After his school retirement he worked full time in it. We are proud of “Forrest’s Gunshop”.
Iva was Littlefield School Lunchroom Supervisor for 20 years. She retired in 1971. Now her free time is spent quilting.
Grandchildren: we have 8 wonderful ones. Summer and fall vacations are taken at an old adobe house ten miles west of Antonito, Colorado, just off the Conejos River.
By Iva Martin
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
The following was taken from the book: Dickens County - It's Land and People, 1986
"Sandra Joyse Martin, daughter of Iva and Forrest martin, Jr., was born May 14, 1942 in Commerce, Texas, just before her father graduated from East Texas State Teacher's College. She moved to the Highway Community 2 weeks later to live with the Forrest Martin, Sr. family while Forrest, Jr. farmed with his dad. In September, the family moved to Ralls, Texas where Forrest coached for a year; then went back to farm in Dickens Country, as the war had started. In January, 1944, the Martins rented the Elliot farm n Dry Lake Community until Forrest entered the Navy in January, 1945. after the birth of their third baby, Iva and the 3 girls joined Forrest, Jr. In San Diego, California in March, 1945. Sandra contracted scarlet fever the week after reaching California, and was in isolation at the Navy Hospital for 6 weeeks and 2 days. Every day, Iva, with her other 2 babies, would walk blocks to phone the doctor to ask about Sandra.
February, 1946, Forrest had a coaching job in Morton, Texas, and in Littlefield September 1948. Sandra went to school twelve years in Littlefield while her dad coached 5 years and then was junior high principal. Favorite times were spent with "Pa" and "Gram", the Forrest Martin, Sr's, and "Papa" and "Granny", the Jeff Smiths and cousins. Santa Claus always came to Spur. On Christmas, the sleigh bells rang ouside Papa and Granny's. Gram would take the grandchildren to the barn to watch the cows kneel to the newborn Savior at midnight.
Ronnie Field and Sandra married November 18, 1972 in Lubock, Texas, where Sandra was teaching school. This was the second marriage for both. Ronnie was born in Nocona, Texas December 19, 1948 to GeNeil and Carrol. He attended Lubbock Christian Schools from grades 5 through 12; then entered the US Marines. He attended Lubbock Christian College, Texas Tech, and Corpus Christi A& I, and is now an independent insurance agent. He has a son, Michael Wesley Field, born January 6, 1970, in Lubbock.
Sandra got a bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian College, a master's degree from Texas Tech, and certifications for counseling, educational diagnostician, and supervision. She is an educational diagnostician for Erath County, after teaching junior high math and Physical education for 12 years.
The Fields adopted a daughter, Margaret Lea, May, 1984, who was 9 years old. Margaret was born August 1, 1974. The Fields have been in Stephenville, Texas since October, 1979. "Gram" Martin and "Granny" Smith were happy to welcome Margaret in Spur as a member of the family. Margaret loves to visit "Nonnie and Grandad", Iva and Forrest Martin, Jr. in Littlefield where Forrest retired in May, 1979 from his job as principal. Margaret and Michael enjoy Grandad's gun "workshop" where Forrest works on guns as a business which started as a hobby, and go fishing in Antonito, Colorado to Grandad and Nonnie's place. Nonnie has finished a quilt for Margaret which Granny Smith pieced for her 17th living great-grandchild.
written by Sandra Martin Field
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001
Info from Shelly Sailsbury, April 14, 2001