James Monroe Martz ²

  General Notes:

The following was posted on Ancestry.com by Sharon Williams:

History of Sonoma, County and Redwood Township


Book Title: History Of Sonoma County

REDWOOD.

Redwood is in the very heart of the timber country, and is bounded on the
north and east by Mendocino township, on the south by Bodega and Analy, and on
the west by Ocean. Through its center the Russian river, now expanded to a
considerable breadth, finds its tortuous way, while along its banks grow the
mightiest of those trees from whence the township took its name. This part of
the district is known as the Big Bottom, and here stood the finest timber in the
State, for four miles along the line of the stream being covered by a dense
growth of these trees, which in the best localities would yield, it is said,
lumber to the vast amount of eight hundred thousand feet to the acre. The
largest tree in the bottom measured eighteen feet in diameter, and produced one
hundred and eighty thousand feet of lumber while the tallest of them was three
hundred and forty-four feet nine inches in height. Immediately above the site of
the present town of Guerneville, there stood a hollow stump, wherein it was
estimated twenty horses could easily stand.

GUERNEVILLE.This is the only town in Redwood township, and is purely a
lumber manufacturing center. It is situated on the Russian river, sixteen miles
north-west of Santa Rosa, and was originally settled by R. B. Lunsford, on May
1, 1860. Connecting it with the main line is a branch of the San Francisco and
North Pacific Railroad which run* from Fulton, and connects the great central
valley of Sonoma county with the prolific timber section. This route, as well as
being used for the immense lumber interests, offers an opportunity for tourists
to visit the redwood trees of Sonoma, which are second only to the large timbers
of Calaveras and Mariposa.


Methodist Episcopal Church. This place of worship was constructed in May,
1875, and dedicated in June of that year. The building is twenty-eight by
forty-four feet, and was erected at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. There is a
present membership of about twenty, while Rev. J. L. Burchard, who preaches
twice a month, is pastor.

Christian Church. This church was organized in the month of July, 1879, the
charter members being twenty-six in number; the membership at the present
writing being thirty-six. This congregation have as yet no church building of
their own; service is therefore held on each Sunday in Independence Hall, by
Elder Briggs. In connection with the Christian Church, there is a Sunday School,
having an average attendance of from fifty to eighty scholars, under the
superintendence of J. M. Martz. ³

  Noted events in his life were:

• Resided: US Census, 1880, Redwood, Sonoma, California.

• Residence: US Census, 1900, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana, USA. This census shows that his father was born in Ohio and that his mother was born in Indiana.

• Residence: U.S. National Home for Disabled and Wounded Soldiers, Jul 1907, Sawtell, Los Angeles County, California. Discharged in July, 1907. He and his wife moved back to Indiana.

• Residence: US Census, 1910, Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana, USA. Age 64. Census shows that his father was born in Ohio and that his mother was born in Indiana.

• Residence: US Census, 1920, Hampshire County, Virginia, USA. Age 74

James married Belle Eudora Willets, daughter of Charles Martin Willets and Sarah E. Hill, about 1869.¹ (Belle Eudora Willets was born in Feb 1852 in Illinois, USA and died in 1930 in Indiana State Soldiers Home, Lafayette, , Indiana.)