INDIANA-L Archives

From:
Subject: Martin, Haviner, Ferguson, Cox, Herget, Smith
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 18:45:22 EST

This book has no cover, and no index, and no author. I bought it on Ebay; it
just has the insides, but it is full of Indiana biographies. I am not
researching this family, just thought I would share. I do not know anymore about
these families or these surnames. NOTE: I don’t know if there is any additional
mention of this family in the book, it has no index. I do not want to sell
this book. I am typing the biographies from it. Please no not post this
biography anywhere without my permission. Thank You. Typed By Lora Radiches

Surnames mentioned in the biography of Rev. Summer L. Martin are: Martin,
Haviner, Ferguson, Cox, Herget, Smith,

REV. SUMMER L. MARTIN. Numbered among the men who have devoted their lives
to the work of the ministry in Indiana, fewer have attained greater or more
well-merited degree the affection and confidence of their fellow-men than
Rev. Sumner L. Martin, minister of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at
Washington, Daviess County. A man of scholarly habits and great intellectuality,
he possesses the qualities that carry him at once into the esteem and
brotherly friendship of those with whom he comes into contact, and these
characteristics have been important factors in rounding out a career of great usefulness.
Sumner L. Martin was born October 30, 1887, at Cadiz, Ohio, and is a son of
John C. and Mollie (Haviner) Martin. The former, who was born at Cadiz,
August 1, 1858, is still living, and the latter was a daughter of Joseph
Haviner, a native of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. There were two children in the
family: Mary and Sumner L. Mary Martin married Harry Ferguson, a resident of
Midway, Pennsylvania, and has three children, Howard, Lois and Francis. The
early education of Sumner L. Martin was acquired in the district schools of
Harrison County, Ohio, and the high school at Hope-dale, that state, and then
entered Scio College at Scio, Ohio, from which institution he received the
degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Oratory. Subsequently he occupied
the pulpit of the First Methodist Church of Burkholz, Ohio, but feeling the urge
for a still higher education gave up his charge and took a three-year
post-graduate course in the School of Theology of Boston University, from which he
was graduated with the added degree of Sacred Theology, S. T. B., as a member
of the class of 1914. During this period of his life his existence was no
sinecure, as in order to secure the money to pay for his tuition and living
expenses he had to go to all kinds of expediencies. For a time he worked as a
night watchman and then opened a rug-making agency and laundry agency, and one
of the latter, which he started with a capital of $30, he later sold for
$400, after having cleared a goodly sum during his college years. After
completing his education Doctor Martin occupied the pulpits of the Methodist
Episcopal churches at Sterling, Connecticut; Hubbardston, Massachusetts, and New
Cumberland, Ohio, and took charge of St. Paul’s Church, at Cincinnati, Ohio. At
the King Avenue Methodist Church, at Columbus, Ohio, he worked with the
students of Ohio State University, conducting a mission in the slums of that city.
He also preached at Pleasantville, Ohio, for two years, and then, in 1917,
realizing that his services were needed in the World war, he organized Company
B of the Ohio National Guard in Fairfield County, Ohio, after consultation
with Governor Cox. He was named first lieutenant of his company, but yielded
his commission to induce an Ohio town to send in a quota of men. Ultimately,
however, the army recognized him and he was rewarded with a commission as first
lieutenant, being detailed as chaplain at Camp Zachary Taylor and later
going overseas for two years. It may be toted that the company which he had
recruited was accepted into the army ten days after war had been declared.
After the signing of the armistice Doctor Martin was appointed a member of a
special commission to search the battlefields for unburied dead and took 700
photographs of the battle front for the official records. He had served in
the Vosges Mountains, Argonne, St. Mihiel, Flanders and in Belgium during two
offensives, acting on various occasions as morale and amusement officer, as
assistant to Capt. John F. Herget and later took the latter’s place as division
chaplain. Finally, following the war, he served as a member of a commission
detailed to investigate conditions concerning demobilization of the soldiers
and conditions in army prisons, which information he now holds confidential.
Upon his return to civilian life Doctor Martin preached two years at Liberty,
Union County, Indiana, and one year at the Evansville First Methodist
Episcopal Church. For six years he has been minister at the First Methodist
Episcopal Church at Washington, where he is widely known not only for his
ministerial labors, but for his cooperation in every worthy movement inaugurated
by the citizens of the community. His life thus far has been one filled with
good deeds and many achievements and accomplishments, and as he is still in
the prime of life it may be expected that there are many years of usefulness
still before him. On June 5, 1912, Doctor Martin was united in marriage with
Miss Bernice Smith, daughter of James M. Smith, of Canton, Ohio, and to this
union there have been born four children: Birney Dean, born in 1914; Glenn
C., born in 1917; Mary Anna, born in 1922; and Bernice Louise, born in 1926.

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