In memory of William Porter Martin. William was born in Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah on July 14, 1892, to Daniel Oliver Martin and Sarah Jane Edwards. He married Wanda Iretta Easton on March 10, 1915 in Beaver City.

William with his Father Daniel and Mother Sarah

William and Wanda had seven children: Porter Authel "Thel" Martin, born April 30, 1916 in Greenville, Beaver County, Utah; Reva Martin, born December 5, 1917 in Greenville; William Samuel Martin, born December 4, 1918 in Greenville; Nina Rea Martin, born May 15, 1923 in Milford, Beaver County, Utah; Virginia Martin, born June 9, 1925 in Greenville; Daniel Easton Martin, born November 25, 1927 in Greenville; and David Ralph Martin, born February 2, 1930 in Milford. Thel died on September 10, 2002 in Beaver City; Reva died on December 8, 1917 in Greenville; William died on August 24, 1977 in Beaver City; Nina died on May 28, 1996 in Milford; Virginia died on February 14, 1988 in Hurricane, Washington County, Utah; Daniel died on May 11, 2003 in Beaver City; and David died on December 3, 1969 and was buried in Beaver City.

For the last several years of his life, William and his wife Wanda lived with Wanda's father and mother, William Joseph Easton and Eva Jane Barton in the Easton home.

William Porter Martin died in the Easton home in Beaver City, Utah on May 25, 1969 at the age of 76.

The following was written by William Porter Martin's Grandson Earnest Martin

William (Bill) Porter Martin, was the third child of 8 children of Daniel Oliver and Sara Jane. He was known around those parts as the town drunk. His main hangouts were the Beaver Pool hall or the jail in the basement of the courthouse. It was rumored that he had a cell with his name on it. He was a character with adventures you could write a book about. Wanda Easton's family must have been shocked when she took up the likes of the son of Bill Martin. He was believed to be buddies with Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid and the Hole In The Wall Gang. My dad and the Old Man (as he referred to him) did not have a great relationship, but dad could go on for hours telling tales of the adventures of his dad. I guess you could refer to him as a paradox. He was a character you could love and hate at the same time It was fascinating to sit and listen to dad tell stories of growing up with the likes of this character. Granddad was a bootlegger during Prohibition. They lived on a farm in Greenville, Utah. The Sheriff would raid the farm looking for the sour mesh and stile he was using to make moonshine. So he would station the kids up the lane so they could warn him when the law was coming. Dad said the Sheriff never did figure out where he hid the goods. When dad was about twelve, he was with his dad to deliver whisky to someone at the hotel in Beaver. They had the whisky in gallon jugs. He said when they got out of the Model T in front of the hotel, the Revenuers and the Sheriff came around the corner on both ends of the street. Dad said he thought the jig was up. But Granddad just dropped the bottles in the street and drove away.

When electricity came to the area and they were stringing the lines, they went to every house and asked if they wanted to connect. The Old Man declined. He just watched them connect other folks and when they left, he climbed the pole and connected up himself. In dad's Sophomore year in high school he got into a fight with the Old Man because he hit my grandmother. Dad hit him with a whiskey bottle, and nearly killed him. Dad moved out and lived with Grandma Easton. I could go on and on with stories about the Old Man. That could be the subject of my next book. The fact of the matter was, when he was sober, he was a real charmer.

On the other hand, there's the other half, my grandmother. She was a saint. How she got mixed up with the likes of my grandfather is a total mystery. Wanda Iretta Easton was only fifteen and he was twenty-three when they were married in 1915. She was one of six children of William Joseph and Eva Jane Easton, a farmer in Beaver and my great-grandparents

Thell stepped up and took the lead as big brother along with his mother in the business of raising the family. Dad did not get a chance to finish high school because he had so many responsibilities. Times were tough during the depression years of the 1930's.