Obituaries: "Uncle" Ike Martin, 1935, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: June 6, 1935 Winn Parish Enterprise

"Uncle" Ike Martin, Nearly 100 Year Old Negro Slave Dies

"Uncle" Ike Martin, negro, a familiar face on the streets of Winnfield, died
in the T. & G. quarters Tuesday of this week.  His white friends made
donations of cash so that he could have a 'fit' funeral.

According to information gained form Mrs. B. W. Bailey, "Uncle" Ike was
between 95 and 97 years of age.  He was not over 100 years old, Mrs. Bailey
said, as some people believed.

"He belonged to my grandmother, Mrs. E. A. Jackson, who lived about four miles
from Winnfield, and he lived on my father's place (J. J. Dickerson)
practically all my life there," Mrs. Bailey said.

"According to stories I have heard, he was the son of a negro slave brought
from Congo, Africa, and traded to a plantation owner in Virginia.  His father
was a very huge and strong negro.  His father was traded to a plantation owner
in Caldwell Parish and while he and his wife were there, "Uncle" Ike was born.

"'Uncle' Ike was traded to my grandmother, Mrs. Jackson and here he married
"Aunt" Millie, slave.

"'Uncle' Ike has lived in Winnfield for more than the past forty years. 
'Aunt' Millie at one time operated a ten-room boarding house on the old
bottling works lot, and 'Uncle' Ike farmed.  Following 'Aunt' Millie's death,
'Uncle' Ike was fed by his white friends and taken care of by them until his
death.  He was very kind and I never saw him out of humor in my life, Mrs.
Bailey said.