Somerset County PA Archives Obituaries.....Shank, Martin  September 23, 1880
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 October 18, 2023, 1:30 am

The Somerset herald. (Somerset, Pa.) October 06, 1880
Died, Sept. 23, 1880, Martin Shank, of Shanksville, Pa., aged 88 years, 5 months and
23 days.
His father migrated from the vicinity of Hagerstown, Md.. to this county in 1798,
when the deceased was but six years old. He settled down in the midst of a pine and
hemlock forest, on the south bank of the Stonycreek, built cabin and began a
clearing. His natural foresight led him select a good location for a mill which he
also built on the site of the one still there. He laid out the village which now
bears his name. 
His son, Martin, grew up to youth and manhood amid the trials and hardships of the
early settlers. Hewing down the forest and hunting the wolf, the bear and the deer,
were no doubt among his first
sports and employments. These developed his extraordinary physical vigor. His
ancestors were a stalwart race of men, whose like is seldom seen in our time. But
one of his father's family survives him, at the age of 83, Mrs. Keller, of
Shanksville.
He was married to Catharine Trent, in 1816. His wife, now 82 years old, lingers
behind yet awhile. They might have celebrated their "golden wedding” fourteen years
ago, but being a plain practical folk,
they let that event pass by unhonored and unsung. We have here, one of the old kind
of families, husband, wife and a puny son, and perhaps daughter as has become the
modern fashion. There were fourteen children in this household, six sons and eight
daughters, three sons and five daughters are still living. The grand children number
87, the great grand children 113, the great great grand children 3, making a total
of 103 descendants
When 29 years of age, he and his wife had faith and humility enough to seek
religious instruction at the Glade church, from the sainted father Giesyenonler to
prepare themselves membership in the Reformed
church. For fifty-nine years he kept the faith and served God according to his
confession. All his surviving children are members of the Reformed and other
churches.
As a citizen, Martin Shank was plain spoken and patriotic, never missed an election
since his majority, not contentious, though positive in his views. As a neighbor he
was obliging, and as a christian he was
steadfast in the faith, regular and constant in the use of the means of grace,
devoted and prayerful. "With long life will I satisfy him and show him my
salvation," was fulfilled unto him. During the many years of his life, he was never
ill beyond a cold, until seven months ago he was attacked with "Cardiac Dropsy" and
slowly declined until his death. His funeral was very largely attended by the
community in
which he was one of the oldest citizens. His affliction was severe, but he bore it
patiently and died in the hope of a blessed immortality.

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