Martha (Cherry) Geene

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Biography

Early Years - Martha Frances was born out of wedlock to 17 year old Lena Thompson and Melville Cherry. On the 1900 Paducah, Kentucky Census, Martha Frances is listed as the four year old daughter of Lena's mother, the widow Martha Thompson age 43. On the 1910 Paducah, Kentucky Census, her mother Lena Thompson has married Will White. Martha Frances is living as the 13 year old step daughter of Will White with a half sister Flora age 6. From the 1910 Census the mystery of Martha Frances begins. Her name is spelled Marthey, her birthplace is listed as Missouri, the unknown father's birthplace is listed as the United States. Lena lists the birthplace of her husband's father as Austria.

Her step-father, Will White, registered for the draft in Louisville, Kentucky on September 11, 1918 where the family was presumably living. It may be that she encountered David Rhea while living in Louisville. The extended family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois. Like her mother, Martha Frances gave birth out of wedlock to Boyd E. Rhea in Illinois at the age of 22 probably with her mother Lena and grandmother Martha in attendance. As of the 1920 Census, Martha Frances had married Martin Geene, 17 years her senior, and is living in Lancaster, Nebraska.

Middle Years - In 1920, Martha Frances, her infant son, Boyd, and her husband, Martin Geene are living near the village of Panama, Lancaster County, Nebraska. On the Federal Census, Martin is listed as a farmer. Mary Frances, eldest of the Geene children, was born in early February 1920. In 1922 the family fled to Duval County, Florida. A possible explanation as to why Wilma Geene was born in Duval County, Florida in 1922 is:

Sheriff is Seeking Farmer -Tecumsah, Nebraska, January 7, 1922. Martin Geene, who has been living on a rented farm five miles northwest of Stirling, is sought by the sheriff. A warrant has been issued in the county court charging Geene with obtaining money under false pretenses and selling mortgaged property." Excerpt from The Nebraska State Journal, January 8, 1922, Lincoln, Nebraska.

While in Florida, children Boyd, Mary Frances, and Wilma just three months old visited with their grandfather Melville Cherry in 1923. The Geene family moved from Duval County, Florida to East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois by 1924 when William "Billie" was born. Melvin was born in 1927 and Charles in 1930 all in East St. Louis. They are listed on the 1930 Federal Census. Martin Geene was probably employed by the railroad (per Charles Geene) or as listed on his Death Certificate in 1939, as a car builder.

Later Years - Her son Bill purchased a small house for her overlooking the Ohio River in Cannelton, Indiana. Bobby Lee, the first of the Booth children, was born in this house (As remembered by Charles Geene). Some of her children and their families migrated to San Francisco during the 1940's and 1950's. After the death of her husband Martin Geene in 1939, she married again in Tell City, Indiana on 31 August 1949. She had re-invented herself as Martha Frances Rhea. On her marriage certificate, she listed her father as a Frank Rhea and her birthplace as St. Louis, Missouri with four previous marriages. It is unclear what happened to her "husband" Alex Nelson. She eventually joined her children and their families in California. Martha Frances died at the age of 93 in Tehama County, California.

Sources

California, Death Index, 1940-1997 DEATH, BURIAL, CEMETERY & OBITUARIES NAME: Martha Frances Rhea [Martha Frances Cherry] FATHER: Cherry BIRTH: date - location DEATH: dd mm 1989 - Tehama

Marriage 31 August 1949 Perry, Indiana, United States Birth 22 August 1896 St. Louis, Missouri, United States Race White Residence Tell City, Perry, Indiana, United States Parents Frank Rhea, Lena Thompson Spouses Alex Nelson Others Burns J. Wittmer, P L Winchell, Burns J Wittmer, John Nelson, Mary Deckard https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CT2-STZ3

Martin Geene Illinois Deaths 1916-1947 birth: 6 January 1879 / 1879 Grand Rapids, Mich. death: 12 March 1939 Swansea, St Clair, Ill burial: 14 March 1939 St. Clair, St. Clair, Ill residence: 12 March 1939 Swansea, St. Clair, Ill father: Leonard Geene spouse: Martha Geene

1930 United States Federal Census CENSUS & VOTER LISTSView Image NAME: Martha Geene SPOUSE: Martin Geene BIRTH: abt 1897 - location RESIDENCE: 1930 - city, St Clair, Illinois

1920 United States Federal Census CENSUS & VOTER LISTSView Image NAME: Martin Geene SPOUSE: Martha F Geene BIRTH: abt 1880 - location RESIDENCE: 1920 - city, Lancaster, Nebraska

1920 United States Federal Census NAME: Boyd E Rhea MOTHER: Martha F Geene BIRTH: abt 1918 - location RESIDENCE: 1920 - city, Lancaster, Nebraska

Name: Marthey Cherry Event Type: Census Event Year: 1910 Event Place: Paducah Ward 1, McCracken, Kentucky, United States Gender: Female Age: 13 Marital Status: Single Race: White Relationship to Head of Household: Stepdaughter Birth Year (Estimated): 1897 Birthplace: Missouri Father's Birthplace: United States Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=Marthey_Cherry&event=_paducah-mccracken-kentucky-usa_33225&birth=1897&gender=f&priority=usa&race=White&residence=1910_paducah-mccracken-kentucky-usa_33225

Martha Thompson United States Census, 1900 Name Martha Thompson Event Type Census Event Year 1900 Event Place Paducah city Ward 1 (south, west part), McCracken, Kentucky, United States Gender Female Age 4 Marital Status Single Race White Race (Original) W Relationship to Head of Household Daughter Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Daughter Birth Date Aug 1896 Birthplace Kentucky Father's Birthplace Kentucky Mother's Birthplace Kentucky Martha Thompson Head F 43 Tennessee Lena Thompson Daughter F 22 Kentucky Perdy Thompson Daughter F 18 Kentucky Abe Thompson Son M 15 Kentucky Martha Thompson Daughter F 4 Kentucky Belle Bethel Sister-in-law M 35 Kentucky (Beall Bethel Son-in-Law) Julia Bethel Daughter F 30 Kentucky Citing this Record "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9H8-2JT : accessed 1 April 2017), Martha Thompson in household of Martha Thompson, Paducah city Ward 1 (south, west part), McCracken, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 65, sheet 7B, family 165, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,540.