There were eight children in my dad's family, five boys and three girls. There were Porter Authel ( Thel - the oldest),
Bill, Louise, Nina, Dan, Virginia, Ralph and Mitch. Big families were the norm out in the country. You must
remember, this is Utah we're talking about. And on top of that, there was no TV. The Martin side descends from
my great-great-grandfather, Daniel Stiles Martin. Daniel Stiles was the second child of six born to Irish-Catholic
immigrant parents. His father, Edward, a tailor, and mother, Anne left Londonderry, Ireland, on May 10, 1834,
and arrived in St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada, June 13, 1834. Their immigration papers revealed that their
hometown was Strabane, Tyrone County, Ireland. Their final destination was Newark, New Jersey where other family
members resided. We can only speculate that upon disembarking in St. Johns the young couple probably engaged a
small boat to the mainland and then procured a wagon for transportation as was the customary mode of travel for
these times. Daniel was born February 6, 1836, just a year shy of a century before my birth. The fate of the other
five children is unknown. Daniel was fifteen when he enlisted in the United States Army on the 6th of April 1858
in New York City. His occupation list at the time of enlistment was farmer. His physical description was: hair
brown, eyes hazel, complexion fair, height 5 feet 5 ½ inches. He was assigned to the Company E, 2nd Dragoons. In
1857 when James Buchanan became president there were charges by Federal officials that the only authority recognized
in Utah was the Mormon Church. They charged that the Mormon majority thwarted attempts by the Federal government
to punish polygamy and murder and failure to protect gentiles who were victims of illegal actions. In May, 1858,
three hundred new recruits, including Daniel Stiles Martin, arrived in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the major point
of concentration for supplies and men for the upcoming campaign against the Mormons. However, peace was negotiated
between the Mormons and the federal government. Indian problems in Utah and Oregon Territories, a civil war in Mexico
and the impending war between the states gave the young recruits much to think about. Nearly half the dragoons deserted.
We will never know what caused Daniel to desert on August 2, 1859 and eventually brought him to Beaver, Utah, where
he would meet his future wife, Elizabeth Ann Porter.
Virginia married Almon Blaine Miller in Las Vages, January 2, 1944. She was Blaine's 2nd wife, his first wife was
Jessie Howard who he had married in 1935.
I am the resurrection and the Life, Saith the Lord:
He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
and whosoever liveth and believeth in
me shall never die.
I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth:
and though his body be destroyed, yet shall I see GOD:
whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and
not as a stranger.
We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain
we can carry nothing out.
The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the LORD. AMEN
