OBIT: Hannibal Lincoln MARTZ, 1931, native of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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HANNIBAL LINCOLN MARTZ

  Hannibal L. Martz, born May 2, 1862, native of Southampton Township, Somerset 
County, died of heart failure quite suddenly at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. D. 
Barkman, West Church Street, Somerset, August 5th, 1931, aged 69 years, 3 months 
and 3 days.  He had complained of being sick for some time, but went about his 
regular routine of employment, and it was not known by the relatives nor his 
host of friends that his condition was serious.  For some years he made his 
residence with the Barkman's; Mrs. Jeanna Barkman, wife of A. D. Barkman, is an 
only child from his first wife.
  Mr. Martz comes down the line of the early settlers of the southeastern part 
of Somerset County.  He was the youngest son of Richard and Rebecca Boyer Martz, 
whose ancestors several generations removed came from Berks County, Pa.  He was 
twice married; his first wife was Miss Joanna Close, of Wellersburg.  This 
marriage was consumated April 2, 1885; she died March 11, 1887.  In 1894 he 
married Miss Laura Pyle, of Middlecreek Township.  Her death occurred in 1925.  
There were no children from the second marriage.  Surviving, besides the 
daughter above named, are the following named brothers and sister:  Jacob R. 
Martz, of Grundy Center, Iowa; D. J. Martz, of Watonga, Oklahoma; Charles C. 
Martz, of Ellerslie R.F.D. 1, Maryland; S. H. Martz, of Whittier, California, 
and Mrs. Laura Erhard, of Altoona, Pa., and Kermit Martz and Blair Barkman, his 
two grandchildren.   Four brothers and three sisters preceded him to the grave.
  Mr. Martz attended the public schools of his township at Kennells Mills, and 
later completed his education with five terms of normal school, two at New 
Centerville, two at Meyersdale and one at Wellersburg.  He was a successful 
teacher in the public schools of Somerset County eleven terms, having taught 
school in Summit, Northampton and Southampton townships.  He next became engaged 
in farming for a number of years in the vicinity of Casselman.  Later he 
purchased property at Barronvale, in Middlecreek Township, and for a period of 
twenty years conducted a general store and was the postmaster.  Retiring from 
the store business, he came to Somerset about ten years ago and was employed as 
bookkeeper in Barkman Brothers hardware store during the morning hours.  He 
devoted the afternoons to compiling history and genealogy of the Martz family of 
America, a work he had well in hand and nearly ready for printing at his death.
  Early in life Mr. Martz carried mail for the U.S. Government from Cooks Mills, 
Bedford County, to Kennell's Mills, (Gladdens) in Somerset County, walking to 
and fro as was then the custom, with the mail bag hung over his shoulders.
  When quite young he united with the Evangelical Lutheran church at Kennell's 
Mills.  Rev. J. B. Shoupe, of Wellersburg, was the minister.  Later he moved his 
membership to Barrons Lutheran church, in Middlecreek Township, where he 
remained a member to the end.  Here he put forth great efforts in Sunday School 
work while residing at Barronvale.  He was superintendent of the Sunday School 
at Gladdens for seven years, and on different occasions he represented  the 
Wellersburg charge as a delegate at synodical meetings.
  Hannibal L. Martz was a christian gentleman in conduct and deed, and his 
memory will be cherished by all of his acquaintances.
  The obsequies were held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Barkman last Friday 
afternoon.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. L. W. Gross, of New 
Centerville, his pastor, assisted by Rev. I. Hess Wagner, D.D., of Somerset.  
The pallbearers were his close friends and associates, Jacob B. Gerhard, Daniel 
W. Menser, William H. Shumaker, George M. Brant, Charles F. Cook and Samuel C. 
Cramer.  Edward S. Landis, a neighbor, was the undertaker.  The remains were 
interred in the Husband Cemetery at Somerset.

Meyersdale Republican, August 6, 1931