Robert Walter Martin, my father, was born on February 16, 1895, in Sullivan, Illinois. He was the son of Ivory John and Rose Eden Martin. Rose Eden was the daughter of John Rice and Roxana Meeker Eden.

Grandfather I.J. Martin believed that our Martin ancestors were of English extraction, and that they had moved from Virginia into Kentucky about 1780. The family lived somewhere in Central Kentucky from about 1780 until 1797, when they moved to Logan Cou nty in Southwest Kentucky. From about 1797 until about 1817, "Old John" Martin and his family (wife "Sarah" and children, including James Scott Martin and William Harvey Martin) had lived on a farm east of Russellville in Logan County -- a farm later acq uired by a prominent Russellville family, the Bibbs. Then about 1817 the family moved from Logan County into Southeastern Illinois. James Scott Martin (our line) settled first in Crawford County, just across the Wabash River from Vincennes; William Harv ey Martin (his brother) settled in Lawrence County. Later these families moved to Coles County, and then, in the 1830's, to the area of Whitley Creek, about 10 miles southeast of Sullivan, in what later became Moultrie County. Grandfather Martin was bor n in 1859; and in 1883 -- at the age of 23 -- he moved into Sullivan and went to work in the County Clerk's office. He married Rose Eden on June 30, 1886 -- a marriage arranged (as Olive Ruth Hewett, one of I.J.'s granddaughters remembers being told) by John R. Eden, Rose's father.

Father was the next to youngest child of this family. The eldest child was Olive -- whom I remember well as Aunt Olive, a heavy-set lady who had been a school teacher all of

Then there were two brothers -- John Eden and Joel Neely. I do not remember Eden. His family had lived in Sullivan and then moved to Memphis, where he died shortly after World War II. His family later moved to Mississippi. I remember Eden's son Tommy well. A fine singer, he was for a time in the Mississippi legislature; he became a Mormon and now is retired and lives in Florida. Neely was always to me "Uncle Bill." His three daughters by his first marriage were Olive Ruth (Hewett), Rose Eden (Willis ), and Sally (Moore); all three of these daughters, and their husbands and children, lived in Decatur when I was growing up, and we visited frequently. Uncle Bill was for many years a reporter for the Decatur Herald and Review, and later a Justice of the Peace or magistrate in the Decatur or Macon County judicial system. This was when a magistrate did not have to be a lawyer.

Father was next. And after Father came the last child, Mabel (born in 1899) -- Aunt Mabel George. She married Bill George and raised two children, John and Eleanor. When I was very young, she and Uncle Bill lived in Sullivan and operated a restaurant o n the northeast corner opposite the County Court House. About 1947 they left Sullivan and moved to St. Paul, where we visited them once or twice. Mabel was a talented musician and composer, mostly of children's songs. Her daughter Eleanor was an accom plished singer; and John is a fine musician, having taught high school musicians many years.

When I first remember my Grandfather I.J. Martin, he was living with Aunt Olive in the old family house, known as

Father once told me that his first memory was of a troop train passing through Sullivan with open box cars of troops on their way to service in the Spanish American War. This would probably have been in 1898, or perhaps early 1899. Father would have bee n just about 4 years old.

Early in his life, Grandfather Martin had been a country school teacher. He had been educated at Lee's Academy in Coles County, began teaching school at the age of 17, and continued to teach for 7 years in various country schools in Coles and Moultrie Co unties. In 1883 Grandfather was appointed Deputy County Clerk of Moultrie County.

Grandfather's principal business during the early years of Father's childhood was the newspaper and printing business. In 1885, he had purchased a one-third interest in The Progress, a small weekly Sullivan newspaper whose roots went back to a newspaper founded in 1857 known as the Sullivan Express. At one time, John R. Eden (Grandfather's

The offices of the newspaper were located on the town square, opposite the Court House on the southeast corner. Grandfather's office occupied the corner rooms on the first floor. In addition to publishing the newspaper, he also operated a print shop, wh ich printed advertisements and other forms or documents for local businesses. Grandfather continued to edit the newspaper until 1899, and he retained an interest in the company until 1912, when it was sold. He continued after that time to be associated with The Progress, which was owned by two of his sons (Neely and Bob) from 1917-1919, and later with the Herald (which was operated by John Eden and later by Neely).

In 1899, Grandfather acquired an interest in and became Manager of the Moultrie County Abstract Company, which provided abstracts of title for land transactions. (Instead of using title insurance, which is prevalent now, at that time the buyer of a farm o r home would obtain a lawyer's opinion that the title was good, and the opinion would be accompanied by the abstract of title provided by the abstractor -- i.e., Grandfather Martin.) He continued to work at the Abstract office until he was almost 82 years old, in 1941.

Father grew up in Sullivan and attended its public schools. He was called Walter by his mother (who had named him after her brother) and occasionally by I.J.; but he was called Bob by everyone else. When he was growing up, the town had about 2-3000 resi dents.

Local transportation was by foot ("Shanks mare") or by horse and buggy. The Martins did not own their own horse, but borrowed Uncle Joe (Joel Kester) Martin's horse, Old Dan, and buggy whenever they were needed -- for example, one of the family's frequen t trips to their grandparents' farm (I.J.'s parents) at Whitley Creek. The 10-mile trip took most of the morning to make the trip, and most of the afternoon to return. An intercity trip of any significant distance was made by passenger train. Aunt Mabe l remembered taking frequent train trips to Decatur -- about 25 miles from Sullivan -- to go shopping.

As a boy, Father was responsible for his share of the chores around the house -- tending the animals, carrying wood for the kitchen stove, bringing coal for the heating stove, and removing the ashes. From the age of about 14 he also worked from time to t ime in the family print shop where he learned how to set type by hand.

In the absence of radio, television, and motion pictures, the family was responsible for its own entertainment -- reading, family music, and the like. Sullivan did not,

In addition to the theater, there were occasional tent shows. As Mabel wrote, "Theatrical troupes came and stayed a week, doing a different play each evening. Comedies and melodramas made up their repertoire, and always there were productions of 'East L ynne' and 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. The Chatauqua was another source of entertainment and inspiration. For two weeks every summer I went each day to the area where the big tent was pitched and watched an afternoon program and another one in the evening. Ban ds, orchestras, choruses, soloists, magicians, impersonators, plays and operettas opened a new world for me." Father surely enjoyed these productions along with his brothers and sisters, and other boyhood friends.

However, in at least two ways Father's upbringing must have been quite different from that of most of his contemporaries. First, his father, though not formally well educated, was unusually curious about life and history. Although not a wealthy man, he managed to accumulate a library that was quite remarkable by the standards of small Illinois towns during that period -- and in fact would be remarkable by Chicago standards today. He read constantly and had an excellent memory. At different times, he p urchased several editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and he read at least one edition cover to cover, making marginal notations along the way. He was interested in

In her autobiographical sketch, Aunt Mabel wrote that Grandfather "had a fine speaking voice and read with great expression. I could never forget his rendition of Poe's The Bells and The Raven. He waxed quite dramatic when he read stirring passages from Scott's Marmion or Lady of the Lake." Father must also have enjoyed these readings, or at least have been impressed by them, for I remember one occasion as a child when he conducted a similar poetry reading for Philip and me. One of the poems he chose w as "The Raven." There must have been other similar occasions when I was younger, for I remember memorizing a good deal of "Hiawatha." Mabel continued: "There was never much money at our house and we had few luxuries, but we always had the necessities. Fa ther's only extravagance was books, and he encouraged us to read them and taught us to respect them. We had few books written especially for children or young adults, but read the ones our parents enjoyed." So Father grew up in a household that had an un common interest in books and education. His favorite subject, according to Mabel, was history.

Second, his father -- my Grandfather I.J. Martin -- was not at all religious. His parents had been Hard Shell Baptists, and so had their predecessors going back several generations to Kentucky. But somewhere along the line, Grandfather

On November 7, 1907, when Father was 12 years old, his mother died of Bright's disease. Mabel, born in 1899, was 8 years old at the time. Rose Eden had been ill for some time before she died. Mabel told me that on the night her mother died, both Father and Mabel were awakened and taken individually to see her one last time. She apparently

Father's Grandfather, John R. Eden (Rose Eden's father), died in 1909, not long after Rose Eden's death. Upon his death, he left his children and their families the Eden house and a substantial farm (originally the homestead of the Meeker family, John R. Eden's wife's parents, acquired by Eden at a tax sale) a short distance southwest of Sullivan. Father and his brothers and sisters each inherited a small fraction of the Eden farm -- approximately 10 acres. Most of the children sold their interests wit hin a few years: Mabel sold to Neely, and Olive and Eden sold to I.J. But Father kept his parcel, according to Mabel; I believe he kept this small tract until 1946, when he was 51 years old.

Father was a good but not an outstanding student. Mabel told me that he did not work hard at his school work, but he made good grades in most subjects. However, he failed Latin. According to Mabel, after he failed it the first

He was a fine athlete. By the time he graduated from high school, he was 6'2" tall, and well proportioned, judging from his pictures of that era. Football was the main sport in high school. During Father's junior year, the Sullivan High School team was acclaimed the best team in the state. I have no idea how such ratings were awarded or claimed. But the team went undefeated. Father alternated at playing line (tackle or guard, I think) and fullback. He also played baseball in high school, but not ba sketball.

Grandfather Martin was not a musical person. He is supposed to have said once that he knew only two songs. One was Yankee Doodle, and one wasn't. However, Rose Eden was very musical. She had studied piano under a pupil of Liszt when she was attending a convent school in Georgetown, D.C. (while her father was in Congress); and later she gave piano lessons. Aunt Mabel remembers that when she was young, the family would gather around the piano, singing popular songs of the day as well as hymns. Rose Ed en played the piano, and four of the children formed a quartet: Eden, Neely, Olive (the soprano), and Mabel (the alto). "Only my youngest brother [Le., Father] and Father [I.J.] did not take part in this group singing. They preferred books to making mus ic." It must have been because of Rose Eden's aptitude, not Grandfather's, that several of their children -- and also many of their grandchildren -- inherited musical ability. I do not remember ever hearing Olive play the piano or sing, but Mabel has sai d that she was the best musician of the family; she could play very well by ear, not just the melody lines, but the chords as well. I do not know about Eden, but at least one of his children -- Tommy -- was a naturally talented singer. Neely had not stu died the piano seriously, but had a good ear and could play simple pieces on

Like I.J., Father had little interest in music. I do not remember him ever sitting at the piano or trying to play any musical instrument. Mabel told me that when he was 12 or so, arrangements were made for him to take piano lessons. He was tall for 12. The lady who was to give the lessons apparently sent a message that it would now be all right to send the "little boy" over for his first lesson. This led to a good deal of kidding from the older brothers, Eden and Neely. As a result of the kidding, F ather refused to go to the lesson. As Mabel reported, he was the only one of the children who did not participate in the family group singing. Later, when he was grown, I do not remember him ever singing as part of any group. Occasionally, he would sin g simple songs around the house, if no one was around. One of his favorites was "Way Down Upon (?) the Indian Nation", which I think was a Woody Guthrie song. He would also sing, generally in the mornings when it was time to get up, a song he had picked up in the Army: "Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning; oh, how I'd like to remain in bed. Some day I'll get that dirty pup, the guy who gets the bugler up; and then I'll spend the rest of my life in bed." There were a couple of others -- Abdul Da Boo l Bool De Meer,* and Soloman Levi. Yet despite his lack of interest in music, Philip and I both inherited some musical aptitude, and it probably came from Rose Eden, via Father.

*"The sons of a seer are both brave and bold, and wholly unknowing of fear. But the greatest of all was a man who was called, Abdul da Bool Bool de Meer."

In any event, he was a lifelong Democrat. He told me once when I was young that the Republicans were the party of the wealthy and the privileged, and that the Democrats stood up for those having less income and the less privileged. But this was simply a n initial effort to explain to a youngster the basic difference between the two parties in fairly simplified terms. I do not remember him ever being ideological in his politics, or hostile to Republicans (except Senator McCarthy from Wisconsin, and Richa rd Nixon). Father had simply inherited his politics; and this inheritance was reinforced when he had the chance to run for States

So Father grew up in a small rural town in downstate Illinois, in a big family with a kind and very well-read father, but without a mother during some of his formative years, without any church influences, and without the advantages of rigorous schooling.

He evidently got along well with his brothers and sisters, although one episode during his teenage years led to some family distress. At the age of 16, Father developed a crush on an attractive 18-year old girl named Leone Shockey, who lived with the Roy al Eden family and attended the Sullivan High School. Father liked to walk to school with her, even though she was two classes ahead of him. Father's older brother, Neely, also liked Leone. They began to see each other, and eventually became engaged. Olive Ruth (Neely's second daughter) remembers being told that Father was very upset and complained to I.J., perhaps thinking that he would intervene and stop the marriage. But he did not. The marriage took place, and Father and Neely were later reconci led.

Father graduated from Sullivan High School in 1913, at the age of 18. According to the foreword of the class yearbook for that year, The Retrospect, this was the first

Father's yearbook picture shows a tall, attractive young man with light well-trimmed hair. His name is shown as "Walter Martin." In his football team picture he is identified as "R. Martin." Next to his class picture appears a summary of his activities and a one line description: "Football 1909-'10-'ll-'12; Baseball 'll-'12-'13. 'A mighty man, if he but knew it.'"

The team's football record in 1912 -13 was only 4/4 -- not nearly as good as the prior year's record. The Retrospect writer explained that, "The team was handicapped in having to follow a championship team. We were handicapped in at least three w ays: First, we had a difficult record to uphold; Second, we had difficulty in getting games with the smaller towns; Third, our team was composed largely of new men. But with these difficulties facing us we made a good showing, playing the larger towns in Illinois." Father played as the

At the end of The Retrospect appears a section entitled "Humorous." This includes a "Senior Classification" listing all seniors and their supposed ambitions, what they were noted for, their favorite pastimes, and their favorite phrases. "Bob Marti n" (note: not "Walter") is described as having the ambition "to be left alone" -- as being noted for "working???" with a favorite pastime of "winking," -- and with a favorite phrase, "Now you hush." A listing of humorous events contains the following: "On e evening Bob Martin, Twenty Wolf, Brownie Lee, Frank Smith, and Omar Hill, shot nickels at a crack to see who would take Thelma Barton home from town. Brownie won." Other witticisms: "Bob, Twenty and Brownie were so fond of first year Latin that they to ok it three years." And, "There must be hard work in him, for none ever came out -- Bob Martin." The school year ended with a junior/senior banquet on May 2, 1913, with the "Sullivan Orchestra" furnishing the music. Commencement took place on May 29.

Having graduated, the question then arose what Father was going to do next. In the fall of 1913, he briefly attended the University of Illinois at Champaign. He told me once that he was only there a few weeks, and that he withdrew for two reasons. One was that he broke his finger playing football on the Illinois freshman team. As an adult, he continued to have one finger joint stiff from the injury. That, he said, was discouraging. The other reason was that he ran out of money. It is not at all cle ar how much Grandfather was able -- or willing -- to help. Rose Eden Willis told me

Sometime between 1913 and 1916, Father moved to Chicago. At the time he left home, according to Mabel, he was engaged to Edna Cummins, his girlfriend from his senior year in high school. After he left, she met someone else and decided to marry him rathe r than wait.

In Chicago Father worked in a print shop in order to support himself, and in 1916 he enrolled in Kent Law School. He had learned the printing business from his father in the Sullivan print shop. At this time, type was set by hand, and to be able to pick the type out of the boxes accurately and quickly, and then set it in the wooden frames, working backwards from right to left, was a marketable talent. Philip remembers that one of the print shops where he worked (perhaps the only one) was at the Essanay Motion Picture studio, where he helped prepare subtitles for newsreels. This was at the time when the studio was making Keystone Cops pictures. One of the studio's stars was

A few of Father's letters to his father from this period survive. They were given to me by Mabel, who apparently was the recipient of the family letters when Grandfather Martin died, and later when Aunt Olive died. Passages from these letters convey som e- sense of what Father's life was like during this period.

August 21, 1916

I haven't been down to see Mr. Kelly yet, but intend to go one of these days. Neither have I tried to get a job, but the papers usually have a few "wants" for printers. A law clerk position would suit me better tho'. It turned cool in the middle of las t night, and being surprised in my sleep with little cover, I have a cold. Feels like it is going to my lungs a little.

January 8, 1917

4456 Magnolia Avenue

T'he box of sox arrived o.k. and have since been taking turns at surrounding my lower appendages, serving the purpose very satisfactorily....

I have a lot of studying to do and have been putting in the morning very advantageously, but they assign such long lessons that I don't have much time to review. Will have to go over to school early to read the cases assigned, the reading of some of whic h is very imperative. I sometimes wonder just what I'd do if I knew the law, to make a living; and my thoughts are not the least bit pleasant when it comes to the living part of it. My main trouble is in a practical way and I know it too well. A person who has a large amount of conceit and thinks himself the greatest man on earth has a big advantage a lot of ways.

I suppose you still think the Germans the aggressors in the European war, and headed for destruction. It begins to look to me as if the best thing for this country, outside of universal service, is for Europe to fight to a draw, and keep at it until they are thoroughly tired of it.

September 8, 1917

4456 Magnolia Avenue

I certainly would like to finish this year, but I don't feel like staying here very long without a job. Haven't looked around so very much, but there are very few ads for printers, and most of what there are, I wouldn't qualify or else the location is so me out-of-the way place. I'll need a little money, and if you can send me some I'll pay it back some time. Sort of indefinite, isn't it.

Carl Wolf and I went out to the Sox ball park Saturday at 8 a.m. and stood in line until 11:30 a.m. when we got in the park to see a world series game start at 2:00 p.m. If we had got there a half hour later, we couldn't have got in. The game was worth t he trouble and the dollar it cost me.

October 14, 1917

4456 Magnolia Avenue

There isn't much to write about only I've got some studying to do yet this evening. Since going to work, I'll have to do it of nights and on Sundays, and it's hard to get used to.

November 11, 1917

4456 Magnolia Avenue

Everything has been going fairly well and outside of my dislike for Chicago and city ways I couldn't complain, but I don't believe I'd be satisfied here with the best the world offers. Have only had one full payday since I began work and as I had to purc hase several little things I'm not exactly "flush" but will manage to get along until the 17th when I have another. It costs lots to eat and I don't stint myself one bit if I have the pull -- those days are past.

The war situation is getting more serious every day, and instead of the Kaiser being on his last legs as was represented to us by the allies and probably a few Americans, he appears to be very healthy and doing well.

Am getting on alright at school, all but my tuition, but they should worry about that, and they're pretty lenient the last year. They know they can collect it before you graduate....

One of my instructors, Mr. Guenin in corporations, was elected to the superior court bench, which ranks with the circuit court, on the fusion ticket last Tuesday. By the way, that was about the boldest way to disfranchise voters and let the bosses select judges ever pulled I think. Mr. Guenin is a smart man and should make a good judge, but his being a corporations lawyer is something against him. They get to honestly believing that corporations are the most abused creatures on the face of the earth.

It's too bad your business doesn't pick up, but as Aunt Emma says, "there's this consolation, that _________." I hope Eden won't be sent across right away at least, and I don't believe this country will send a big army "over there" at all. As one of the owners of the Tribune says, "This war is an outrage upon the American people" and the mere fact that

That letter, written by Father on November 11, 1917, was his last letter -- or at least the last letter saved -- from Chicago before the War.

Several years ago, I prevailed on a friend of mine who was the Dean at Kent to let me look in the school's files to see what records they had on Father's attendance. His file shows that he entered Kent in January 1916. He lived at 4456 Magnolia. He fin ished his first year's courses on September 7, 1916, and started the second year's work six days later, on September 13, 1916. He finished that year's work on June 7, 1917, took the summer off, and started the third year's work on September 12, 1917. He left without completing that year's courses on November 20, 1917.

In the first year, his grades were:
Contracts	84
Torts	92
Personal Property	92
Agency	88
Sales	85
Domestic Relations	85
Criminal Law	96
Real Property I	Cr.
-327- In the second year, his grades were:
Real Property II	92
C.L. Pleading	85
Equity Juris	93
Equity Pleading	75
Evidence	80
Partnership	P
Abst. & Conv.	Cr.

These grades appear to be reasonably good, particularly in light of the fact that while he was studying law, Father was also working in a print shop. Unfortunately, he did not get 'a chance to finish the law school program.

However, there is a curious gap in the sequence of events. Father dropped out of Kent in November 1917. He did not enter the U.S. Army until May 1918. It appears that he may have returned to Sullivan and worked at the Progress during that interi m period. According to I.J.'s notes on the history of Sullivan newspapers "in the fall of 1917, J.N. and R.W. Martin became the owners of the paper. The corporation had been dissolved and the paper was published by the new owners under the firm name of Martin Bros. until June 1, 1919, when it was transferred by purchase to Ed C. Brandenburger, who came to this city from Belleville ...." Perhaps, as suggested in one of his letters, Father learned that he would likely be drafted, and to foreclose that he volunteered -- and then spent the next few months, before being called up, with the family in Sullivan while he worked at the newspaper.

A few of Father's letters to I.J. from the period of the War remain and are in my file cabinet at home. Some of these were in our attic in Sullivan at the time Father died. Others were given to me by Aunt Mabel.

May 29, 1918

So far I don't think much of the army. The feed is getting a little better, but still I don't like it. Haven't had any sugar or salt since I got here and positively can't drink the coffee. But I didn't expect to like it so I'm not disappointed.

Got along fine in all the drilling we've had. All the boys seem to be in pretty good spirits, but I think none of them like it. We took our physical examinations this morning and were vaccinated and had a shot in the back. Everyone passed I guess and m ost of them have sore arms by now and sun burned also. It gets awful hot in the day time but you need a blanket at night, and they say it isn't hot yet. Well, I'll have to close as its about mess time.

June 7, 1918

Skipped mess this evening and went over to the canteen and got myself something to eat, consisting of a small pie, a ham sandwich, some ice cream and a bottle of pop. The bunch are a disgusted lot and in one case I know of they are going to spoil the mak ings of a perfectly good soldier. How a man can go thru this and have any great love of country left in him I can't understand. In lots of cases I'm afraid it would turn real honest patriotism into anarchism.

Guess I've prognosticated (if that is correct) on the service about as much as is good for one letter, but you can tell the wide world, and I'll tell anyone who asks me, that I think less of the service every day, and my thoughts on the subject at first w as a minus mark. If you were treated like men instead of slaves it wouldn't be quite so bad.

June 12, 1918

.... Just got my third and last inoculation or "shot in the back" as it is popularly or unpopularly known, and as it often

The authorities down here evidently look upon the whole crowd of us as slackers for every one from the corporal to the high moguls give us a talk on the necessity of this war, German atrocities etc., every chance they get....

June 17, 1918

Everyone was glad to get out of detention for they certainly worked us hard there and the non coms. they had over us were almost unbearable at times. We haven't had anything to do here yet and everyone says there isn't much to do, but expect us green one s will be drilled quite a bit for we have a gun and therefore have to learn the manual of arms. The mess also is a good deal better over here and all the fellows are fine so far. Most of them are from the old Indiana and West Virginia Guard....

Everyone I've talked to since coming over here seems to think we won't be here long, but none know where we'll go.

The only thing I'm worried about now is how to remain in this company. Some of the fellows will be transferred to other companies, I feel sure, but I'm satisfied here, although it would have been about the last place in my mind if I had been picking, for I knew nothing about it.... Have Neely be sure and send me a paper and tell him I'm not broke yet, but neither am I affluent.

June 25, 1918

It's a known fact that our regiment and possibly most or all of the 38th Division are going over in the near future. The Colonel (who is a fine fellow) told us that much at retreat and added that he didn't think we would be on the way over before the las t of July. That is sort of indefinite and I don't have much idea when we'll leave here. I don't think there will be any chance of a training school although there is one here. It would be awfully hard work anyway owing to the heat and I don't know whet her I'd want to tackle it or not. This is hard enough here. We are being trained with sighting apparatus now and expect to go to the range before long. Have also had occasion to try the gas

I'm perfectly satisfied with the Engineers if they can use me. It's not altogether a pick and shovel brigade for they are well trained and if you remember the newspaper reports, will probably see some fighting. It would be sort of disappointing to learn all this and go clear to Europe tho' and then not get to do any actual fighting. I'm not the least bit worried for there are comparatively small casualties and I've got as much chance as the next one if my training is as good, and I don't intend to sligh t that any. As the Colonel says there will be lives lost here the next week or two by those who don't pay attention to what they are told and shown. Don't worry any about me for I feel capable of taking care of O' Bob under any ordinary circumstances.

July 3, 1918

.... Don't mind the hot weather much for we don't work hard enough to hurt a child, but that may not last forever. Haven't even got a horse yet and am not feeling sorry, for besides the work that goes with them, they are not the most pleasant critters to be around at times.... I don't mind it here, only of evenings when there is nothing to do but wait for taps. It gets pretty lonesome then.

Guess I'll have to close. Don't worry any about me for things have turned out pretty lucky, and luck is about all there is to trust to in the army.

August 7, 1918

Olive had told me you were expecting to run for county Judge so it wasn't much of a surprise to get your card. No matter how confident you feel about the outcome, my advice is to make a thorough campaign as far as that is possible. Your idea about becom ing a lawyer is alright for when I get through, as I expect to, I'll need a good partner to make the firm a go.

I really don't believe we'll be here past the 12th or 15th, so if you or Neely are going to get me any money you'd better hurry. I'm not quite broke yet, but don't know when we'll have another payday. If Neely can't raise it and I suppose he's a little short, try to borrow some. It doesn't make a great deal of difference how much, if you borrow it, but would like to have $25 or $30 at least -- may be gone for a long, long time, you know. It might be a good idea to telegraph it.

August 16, 1918

They've been working us unusually hard for the past week or so and O'Bob very nearly got down once or twice, but so did lots of others. Soldiering is certainly more strenuous than kitchen police. It sure looks better for the Allies on the western front than it has for a long time. If they could once get the German on the run and keep him going for awhile, maybe his father, mother, brother and sister

August 21, 1918

.... Finished drilling with the recruits last week and am now a full fledged private. My next promotion will probably be to kitchen police and I'm expecting that any day. It's not so bad now since most of the dishes are packed and they are serving cafet eria style. We're on field rations now. In some ways we have better feed than before, but its usually beef and potatoes three times a day.

September 4, 1918

Don't ever worry any about me for I guess I can stand anything the majority can. If you write to me here, it will be forwarded, but I'll send you a new address as soon as possible. I'll write Neely a card tomorrow I think. Please be sure and tell him.< P> Tell any of my friends you may see good-bye for me, and don't worry, for I'm feeling fit and everything is o.k.

On September 6, he sent Grandfather a card from Birmingham, Alabama, containing only the date and place. On Saturday, September 7, he sent his sister Olive a card saying, "We are in So. Carolina and have been moving since Thursday evening. Everything i s o.k. but its getting cool for my southern constitution."

The next day he sent another card (postmarked September 9) saying: "Arrived in Washington at 10:00 a.m. Sunday (today).... Civilization is a welcome sight."

The next card, undated, arrived in Sullivan October 2, 1918, and stated simply, in preprinted type, "the ship on which I sailed has arrived safely overseas." A little more

The first letter from overseas that has survived was sent to Grandfather a little more than two weeks after the first card arrived.

October 19, 1918

.... Probably you get all the war news before we do, but what we do get is exceedingly favorable. The weather is the most disagreeable part of the war I have experienced so far. Although' it is nice out today, it usually is rainy and the mud is about th e same as Illinois mud.

I understand each one over here will be allowed to receive one package at Christmas. There is nothing I need unless it would be wool socks, etc. and maybe some razor blacks. I think there is some red tape about us sending home a permit but don't know fo r sure what it is. If it's too much bother, I'll just let it go for the army provides for us very well.

October 27, 1918

It is a little unusual that all the male members of our family excepting J.N., who undoubtedly has excellent grounds for exemption, should be in France, but our grandfather should remember there are a couple of million others, and I for one don't feel tha t I exactly deserve his feeling. But I guess I'm getting on as well as the majority of the army so I should manifest concern. We're working hard, but of course that is to be expected. We have plenty to eat and good quarters, better really than we had a t Camp Shelby.

... We hear lots of wild rumors about the war. I am not exactly from Missouri, but I have some interests there (or did have, the last I heard), and I don't put a lot of faith in rumors. Notwithstanding the "horn blowing" inclinations, I don't have to see the war for I have seen some of the wounded. We passed them on the way down here. They were all in good spirits and advised us to practice running or we'd never get in shooting distance of the "huns."

The Christmas package I spoke of will necessarily have to be "passed" for the coupon only allowed a comparatively small package, and the article would have had to be mailed sometime by November 20th. I misplaced the coupon unless I put it in the other le tter, but it doesn't matter much for there is nothing I really need.

November 20, 1918

once more and then I'm willing to stand to her back in the future.

November 24, 1918

Our outfit is located in Letrecey, a small town about one hundred and five miles southeast of Paris and about twenty miles southwest of Chaumont. I don't know exactly how far we were from the front when it took its sudden move, but you can tell by lookin g at the map. This camp is an aerial depot and was barely started when we arrived here on the 6th of October. Now it is quite a different looking place. A great deal of construction work has been done and our outfit has done its share. Since arriving here I've never been more than a mile or so from camp, so don't know much about the surrounding country. We are just in the edge of the hilly country and the town is almost surrounded by three large hills, which leave only the south side open. It is a p retty town from a little distance, but I don't like any of them at close range.

I've been hearing from Eden right along, his last letter being written on November 11, just after orders to cease firing had been received .... I can assure you there was no one felt better about it than I did. I guess maybe we've had it

... I've been feeling fairly well all the time excepting for a head cold. We have comfortable barracks and good grub.

There isn't much difference in this and Shelby only there has been an overabundance of work here. They have about stopped that now.

January 16, 1919

As I've been getting your letters pretty regularly, two in the last two days, I guess it is about time for me to write. Probably by now you've noticed that the writing mood doesn't strike me very often, but you should feel flattered to know that most of my mail has been addressed to you.

Our outfit is still stationed in the same place we pulled into on the 5th of October and so far as we are concerned there isn't a great deal of difference now from before November llth. We work about the same only Saturday afternoon and Sunday off regula r now. Before we got off about every other Sunday. It rains just the same and there is the same speculation as to when we will move -- only now it is back, while before it was up. Needless to say, we're much more anxious to move now than we were then. I have too good an imagination to ever regret the fact that we were never under artillery or machine gun fire. Several combat

stories they tell. Those stories satisfied me thoroughly.

The army life is getting dull here. It rains about every day, but it hasn't got my cold yet. I'm hoping we will escape a severe winter and believe we will now.... Not having the slightest idea of what is keeping us, I have no idea when we'll leave. Pro bably everyone over here is in the same fix -- I don't know.

Last week I spent one day and night in Chaumont. There is nothing there except a Y.M.C.A., and a lot of narrow streets and sidewalks, but the change is worth the few francs that it cost. There isn't much you can do with your money over here.

... As for what I'll do when I get home, I don't know. My mind hasn't been turned much in that direction. I would like to see Neely get to finish his course tho'.

... The Christmas box which the girls sent me somehow had a mishap. Several of them arrived in the company intact and the wrappers off of a few others arrived. Of course I was somewhat disappointed but I felt a little doubtful all along about the succes s of its voyage.

I just got an army balling out from another "buck" which consists of quite a little profanity. I took it tho. The reason for it was that I called him from the other end of the barracks to give me a light off his cigarette. He's my bunkie so I'm used to his moods.

January 26, 1919

About three inches of snow fell yesterday and last night, but at the rate it's melting today it will soon be gone. It has been pretty cold thru' January but nothing like what we have in Illinois.... It isn't the greatest pleasure in the world to be worki ng out on the road or some other outside job and having the chilly breezes concentrate themselves upon you. I've been inside now for about a week on "fatigue" as I've been feeling not the best.

The prospects for the return home aren't seen to be very good.... We're expecting to move up to a town near Metz and become attached to the 7th division. I understand that is a regular army outfit and will probably be among the last to leave France.

If I should decide that our "crusade" will be extended to such a length of time that it will be necessary to the full enjoyment of life, I may get married over here and rear a family. I'm sure you would welcome me in your declining years with my frau and a host of your grandchildren. Maybe the aforesaid money, if invested judiciously would afford a means for educating the children if they are not beyond the school going age.

I hear politics in some sections of the states has taken a change of course. Certainly I hate to see the county go as it did, but it's just an indication of what will be widespread later on. Not for the world would I insinuate but some of our leading me n seem to follow the sayings of Barnum

To Olive,

... From the rumors that are making the rounds now we are going to see duty in Germany before travelling back to the new world. If that is the case we ought to get home in time for the celebration of the first anniversary of Victory Day. I don't feel su re we're going up there, but that is the prevailing opinion now. I just heard we might go to Turkey. We've already been to Russia and lower California. Maybe some kind soul will send us home. He'll be a man after the heart of the A.E.F.

We had a payday the third and I bought a souvenir each for you and Mabel. One of the Sergeants bought some also and sent his and mine to his girl or his mother. She will send them on to you, if they ever get safely across the pond. They were a couple o f silk articles and probably won't be of any practical use. Maybe you could have bought them cheaper at home, but you seem to want something from France. As for me, I want nothing. I have all I care for and need nothing to remind me of this country. I t would be more appropriate if some great man would be smart enough to discover something to make me forget it.

February 24, 1919

We've left our old stand at Letrecey and are now located at Saizerais, about fifteen miles northwest of Nancy. Our regiment is attached to the 7th Division which is considered regular army. Not more than fifteen or twenty percent of the men are regulars , I think. It is rumored that the 7th Division is to relieve some division in Germany in a month or so, and I take it we were sent here for the purpose of gomg with them. The 5th Engineers who were with this division sailed on the same ship with Pres. Wilson. As they were regulars I can't understand why we should relieve them here so they might go back to the states. But so much for the army. It can't be figured.

This is certainly some town to be exiled in. It would be a fit punishment for the Kaiser to sentence him to spend the remainder of his days here. It is only a small place. The residences, cafes, and stables set back a convenient distance from the road in most cases, allowing room for the manure heap in front. Usually the buildings are joined together making one string of low stone along the side of the street. Evidently building lines were not in vogue when these houses were put up, tho'. The cafes sell nothing but very weak beer, and as water is scarce and dangerous, that is the main drink. I can't imagine anyone with capacity enough to become intoxicated on it. In Letrecey it was possible to obtain any kind of a drink from greased lightening dow n if it was wished and the francs held out.

March 18, 1919

... Neely is certainly doing well with the paper considering the scarcity of help. A copy dated Feb. 20 came this morning and it looked good to me. I imagine the night and day work both will tell on his health. I would certainly like to be there to hel p, but about the only chance for a discharge is because of dependents or being needed at home. Of course I have no dependents (lucky for them) and I suspect that kind of a need would not be recognized.

I didn't expect you or Olive to take me seriously as regards the German family. As yet I haven't seen any Germans of either sex. The French appeal to me only when they can manage some eggs, beefsteak and french fried spuds. Eggs are about the only "fru it" that can be bought in this town and meat is very scarce. The eggs cost 7-1/2 francs

From a long distance view, politics seem to be in sort of a disheveled state over there. Probably we get only the mumblings of it. But I don't take a great deal of interest in things like that any more. To an ardent democrat like you have always been s ince '96, things must look a trifle serious. I expect when Eden, you and I get together over there, opinions about things in general will be widely divergent.

March 27, 1919

I thought probably you would be a little worried over that card I sent Neely, but the cards were issued to us with orders to fill them out and mail them. I supposed the army was taking sort of a census so didn't feel like saying I was in the best of heal th. As far as ordinary health is concerned, I am as well off as before coming in the army with the exception of a little rheumatism, but I strained myself at Letrecey and have been bothered by that since then. I've been thinking some of going to a hospi tal. There is no need of you worrying about it any, for I wouldn't have even mentioned it had the army not put it up to me.

You mentioned about the possibility of getting a discharge. There are many trying it now on the grounds of dependents or distress of some kind at home. That's about the only grounds I know of to get one, but if you can start something through the war de partment it would be alright. I know I'm needed there to help Neely in the business but I don't know if that would be any ground for discharge.

To Olive     

... You understand I don't keep much track of the letters I owe but I miss the ones I don't get.... We got into this town yesterday and if there is any difference, this is a better place than we were before.

I'm now in my bunk and consequently not in a very convenient position for writing. We're located in barracks and everything is fairly comfortable considering it is getting warm enough that we don't need a fire much, and that helps

I'm still carrying around some silk "stuff" that I've been intending to send home. Maybe I'll get it off some time.

May 11, 1919
Uruffe, France

... Batson has decided to stay over for awhile and will be stationed at Brest. Possibly I'll get to see him if we go through there. It will be the first time I've seen anyone from home since I came to the Eng. with the exception of Frank Baker. There i s no one in this regiment from nearer home than Decatur, and I don't know any of them personally.

We have had fine sunshiny weather for about a week. Its hard to become accustomed to after so much rain. The country is pretty and is not marred any by fences, farmhouses and barns. All the farmers live in the villages. I don't know who owns the land but each man farms a small strip with no fences between them. They certainly do farm tho' and the ground resembles a well tended garden. It seems there is quite a bit not under cultivation tho'.

I do not remember Father ever talking much about the War. This was not because anything horrible burdened his memory -- he was there less than two months before the Armistice was signed, and he was never close to the fighting -- but because the experienc e had simply been tedious and uninteresting. Certainly he never seemed to take much pride in his military service, and he was never active in organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As he indicated in his letter of May 11, he had no local fr iends with whom he had shared his experiences in the War.

During the period immediately following the War, the events of Father's life are quite hazy to me. For a short time during and just after the War, he had an interest in the Progress, the newspaper his father had previously edited. As already expl ained (supra, p. 328), Father and his brother Neely had become the owners of the paper in the "fall of 1917." They continued to publish the newspaper under the firm name of Martin Bros. until June 1. 1919, when it was sold to Ed C. Brandenburger.

One of my first assignments at Sidley & Austin as a young lawyer was to research the law relating to covenants not to compete; and in the course of this research I came upon the case of Brandenburger v. J.N. Martin, 225 111. App. 439 (1922). As I write this, I have the decision before me. It is a decision of the Appellate Court for the Third District affirming a decision of the Circuit Court of Moultrie County enjoining Neely Martin, Father's brother, from engaging in

The Circuit Court, in late 1920 or early 1921, granted an injunction prohibiting J.N. Martin "from entering or engaging in the newspaper or printing business...... However, the Court declined to enjoin Neely from "working as a servant or employee" in the newspaper or printing business for any other person, or from working "as agent, representative, solicitor, manager, foreman, reporter, editor, buyer of supplies, or printer...... Brandenburger then appealed on the ground that the injunction extended only to preclude Neely from "engaging in the business" but did not preclude his

Thus, the Appellate Court decision permitted Neely to continue to work for the Herald. The Herald offices were located on the east side of the town square. The actual ownership of the newspaper during this period cannot now be determined. Olive Ruth recalls that Neely continued to publish the newspaper and run the print shop until 1927, when the newspaper was sold to the proprietors of the other two Sullivan newspapers. It was about this time that Neely began to work for the Decatur H erald.

Father had been named a defendant in the lawsuit along with his brother, but the complaint contained no suggestion that during 1919 or 1920 he was working at the Herald or the printshop.

During the post-War decade, Father lived at home with his father. His room was in the back of the house, on the second floor, near the back stairs that led down to the kitchen. Although I.J. had never remarried after Rose Eden died and Father was not ma rried, the Martin family social life was active. On Sundays the family -- including Eden and his family (after they returned from living in Mississippi in 1923), Neely and his family, Olive, Mabel (during some of these years), and Father -- would gather for dinner at the Martin home. Father's Grandfather John Neely Martin, then in his mid and late 80's, often walked in from the farm just west of Sullivan where he lived with I.J.'s brother, Joel Kester Martin. The family often played cards and sang, wit h Olive at the piano; but all cardplaying and singing stopped when Grandpa Martin arrived. A strict Baptist, he disapproved of such entertainments, particularly on Sundays.

Not long after he returned from France, Father developed a serious interest in hunting and bird dogs. He did not get this interest from his father -- I.J. did not believe in killing the birds. Mabel's recollection is that Father did not hunt much, if at all, until after the War. At that time he took up the hobby with some of his friends -- Guy Bupp, Frank Wolf, and (perhaps) Jim Pifer. When I was growing up, we always had bird dogs in the back yard in a run and dog house -- at first one or two pointer s, and then later, several generations of English setters. Father always kept two or three shotguns around, all side-by-side double barrels. He used them for hunting doves, quail, and pheasants -- and also, if they presented themselves, rabbits. He was not as enthusiastic about shooting the rabbits because he did not

Aunt Mabel told me that in the period just after the War, there were one or two Sullivan girls whom Father was quite interested in (before meeting Mother), and that at one point he was close to being engaged again. The lady in question was Ruth Billman M oore, who had been married but was then divorced. She had two young children by her earlier marriage. She made the mistake, Mabel says, of permitting one of the youngsters to greet Father on one of his visits with a loud "Daddy." This episode seems to h ave soured Father on either Mrs. Moore or her family situation -- perhaps another instance of being (or feeling) pushed.

The Martin family did not escape the ravages of the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression which ensued. I.J., though very far from being wealthy, would probably have been considered well off. He lived in a nice home -- the old Eden house - - and had a business which provided him an adequate living. And he had approximately $11,000 in the Sullivan bank, which failed after the 1929 crash. There was no deposit insurance at that time, so his savings were lost. At the age of 70 years, Grandfa ther faced the need to continue working in order to support himself

Father -- at the age of 35 -- faced a similar problem. From 1929 until sometime in 1931, he worked for Joseph L. McLaughlin at the McLaughlin Bond and Mortgage Co. In addition to his bond and mortgage business, McLaughlin was also a lawyer, and was later elected Judge of the Eighth Circuit, which included Moultrie County. After serving one term as judge, he ran for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court; when he was not elected, he reentered the private practice of law.

Father married Ruth Pifer in June 1935, when he was 40 years old. She was the daughter of Leonard White and Lena Davis White, both of Sullivan. Born on March 3, 1909, she was 26 in 1935. Lena died when Mother was a baby, and Leonard was unable to take care of her and her two older brothers. Accordingly, she was adopted by Finley and Hattie Pifer, who had no children of their own. Leonard White was a brick layer by trade. He moved then (or about that time) to Decatur, where he lived the rest of his l ife. I remember being taken to visit him many times when he was an old man. Finley Pifer died about 1921, and Mother was raised from that time by Hattie alone. Finley Pifer had been a man of substance, the owner at one time of a brick making establishm ent and of some other real estate, including one property south of the square used as a lumber yard, a commercial building or buildings west of the square, and a piece of land on Jackson Street used later as a gas station.

Ruth graduated from the University of Illinois in 1931. Except for part of one year when she lived in Chicago working at Carsons department store, she lived in Sullivan after 1931. Because the Pifer house on Jackson Street was rented out, Ruth lived in an apartment on the second floor in one of the Pffer commercial buildings, a half-block or so west of Father's law office, and just above a pool hall where he liked to shoot pool. Perhaps this explains how they became acquainted.

In 1935 when Father and Mother were married, Grandmother Pifer owned the brick house at 108 E. Jackson Street where I grew up, and also the small frame house just to the north. Grandmother moved into the small frame house, leaving the brick house to Fath er and Mother.

Father and Mother took a honeymoon trip to the East -- including Niagara Falls and West Virginia. Because it was the heart of the Depression, they were lucky to have any trip.

In 1936 Father was re-elected States Attorney. This four-year term took him until 1940. In that year, two events complicated Father's life. First, I was born in May. Father at that time was 45, and Mother was 31. I was delivered in one of the hospita ls in Decatur, the facilities in Sullivan being deemed inadequate. Second, Father was defeated in the race for States Attorney by Rodney Scott, who later became Moultrie County Judge.

Fortunately, at that time a States Attorney was permitted to maintain a private law practice on the side. By the time Father was defeated in his bid for reelection in 1940, he had already commenced to build up a private practice. His office

An old account book of Father's, which I found after he died, starts with a page entitled "Wolf & Martin Account" and commences with receipts in January 1939. A separate sheet showing "Receipts by R.W. Martin - Personal" shows the first receipt to be on January 22, 1939, for $200, and is labeled "1938 earnings." Another $200 receipt on April 15 is likewise labeled "1938 earnings." Evidently Father must have started his law practice in partnership with Frank Wolf sometime during mid-or late 1938, although I do not remember ever hearing about it. The partnership must have been short. Receipts and disbursements are shown only from January through June 1939. Receipts are for such services as "writing will" -- for which the charge was $5. Examination of a n abstract also cost $5. A divorce cost $20. The largest item was for handling an estate, which brought in $25.

Commencing in June 1939, a separate page is headed "R.W. Martin Collections." Apparently Father and Frank

The record continues in 1940. Total receipts in that year were $1108 (in addition to his salary as States Attorney). Pickings were pretty slim. In the month of April, no fees are recorded. In the month I was born, May, two receipts are recorded -- one for $5, for an "exam" (probably a title examination), and one for $100.00, for an estate. Another entry is for examining an abstract for I.J. Martin -- $3.

Father's early account book confirms my impression of his later practice -- that he had very little litigation work. His experience as States Attorney had not included much trial work. There may have been a few criminal prosecutions, but as I remember it later, there was a general disinclination to call many grand juries or trial juries because of the expense to the County. So somehow those responsible for the affairs of the City and County managed to get by without many trials. In any event, there was n't much litigation of the sort that could afford lawyers. The good -- i.e. "profitable" -- work was handling estates, particularly those of farmers with large farms. The practice at that time was for lawyers to charge a fee based on the amount o f property in the estate. The larger the estate, the larger the fee. So if a lawyer managed to attract and handle several large estates in the course of a year, the fees from these could provide a decent living. Apart from probating wills and handling estates, Father's practice included occasional real estate contracts (some of which business he got because of his proximity to and interest in the abstract office) and other small business matters. He also prepared some individual tax returns, mostly fo r farmers. Virtually all of his

Father never made much money practicing law, and he was almost never busy. The problem was that there simply was not much business. Also, there were a good many lawyers in Sullivan, which was the county seat of Moultrie County. I believe there were per haps from 8 to 12 lawyers in Sullivan during the 1940's and 1950's. As a youngster, I remember Father coming home from the office for lunch, and staying an hour or so before going back to the office. I do not recall him ever staying late at the office i n the evening, or working on the weekends. The modest income level generated by his private practice led him later to run again (unsuccessfully) for States Attorney in 1952 and 1960, and (successfully) for County Judge in 1962.

This absence of a thriving law practice was a good thing as far as Philip and I were concerned. We never lacked for fatherly attention or company. I do not recall a time I did not get whatever help I needed with homework. If there was free time, we pla yed catch -- or checkers -- or we listened to a ballgame or a boxing match on the radio. Later, during the summer months, we would go to the park a few blocks north of our home to watch summer league softball, or Little League baseball. When I was old e nough to play baseball, Father was almost always there -- but only with suggestions, never criticisms. I remember him patiently explaining on several occasions how I should position myself in relation to

In 1954, Father ran for Congress. He was nominated by the Democrats as a write-in candidate, the nomination not being thought to be worth much. This proved to be the case, as Father went on to be defeated in the general election by the incumbent, Willia m Springer. Father knew that he had virtually no chance to win, but he may have believed that the publicity generated by the campaign might help his law practice. He did not spend much time on the campaign, as I recall, and gave few speeches. I remembe r attending one speech in Decatur. He had prepared the speech in long hand on a yellow, legalsized tablet; but when the time came, he gave the speech without using his notes. I thought it was the best speech I had ever heard although, of course, I hadn' t heard many. One of the "issues" in the campaign had to do with the Dixon-Yates offshore oil controversy; I remember one of the Democratic slogans of that year -- characterizing the Republican Party as the party of "Nixon, Dixon, and Yates."

There were several years during the 1950's when Father did not have a regular legal secretary. During two or three

In 1962, my senior year at Illinois, Father was elected County Judge of Moultrie County, succeeding Vernon Elder. Vernon later told me that Father was elected because a number of the lawyers in Sullivan got together and worked to get him elected. As Cou nty Judge, Father initially received $525 per month in salary from the county and $433.33 per month from the State, for a total of $11,500 per year. Later this was increased to $17,500 per year. At some point after 1962, when the court system was reorga nized, he became Associate Circuit Judge, with roughly the same responsibilities. One difference was that under the reorganized judicial system, Father could be directed by the State administrator to hold court in other areas of the state.

Birmingham, Michigan. Father died on July 29, 1970. John, our first child, was born in June 1971.

Robert W. Martin, 75, associate circuit judge in Moultrie County, died at 12:20 p.m., July 29 [1970] in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Judge Martin became associate circuit judge when the judicial amendment was approved by the voters in 1964. In 1966 he was retained in office on a judicial retention ballot for a term of six years.

He was elected to the office of county judge in 1962. From 1961 to 1962 he served as assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois.

From 1932 to 1941 he served as Moultrie County state's attorney.

Judge Martin was born February 16, 1895, in Sullivan, the son of I.J. and Rose Eden Martin. He was graduated from Sullivan High School in 1913 and attended Kent College in Chicago from 1915 to 1917. From May 1918 to June 1919 he served in World War I wi th the Army Corps of Engineers.

He was associated with the Sullivan Abstract Co. from 1925 to 1929 and with the McLaughlin Bond and Mortgage Co. from 1929 through 1931. He was admitted to the bar in 1931.

He married Ruth Pifer June 9, 1935, and practiced law from 1940 through 1962. He was a member of the American Legion, the Illinois Bar Association and the Illinois Associate Judge Association.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, Phillip and Eden, both of Chicago, and a sister, Mrs. Mabel George of Forks, Washington.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday [August 2] in McMullin Funeral Home in Sullivan with the Rev. James Van Lear officiating, assisted by the Rev. Hubert Lytle.

Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery.