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Eden-Martin family papers - Additions

 Collection
Identifier: Midwest-MS-Eden-2

Scope and Content of the Collection

Primarily letters of Ivory J. Martin of Sullivan, Illinois, to his daughter Olive Eden Martin, while she was a student at the University of Illinois, and later when she lived and taught in LaSalle, Illinois. Ivory often writes about current affairs, politics, and the books, journals, and newspapers he has read. Also includes a few letters to Olive from her mother, Rose Eden Martin, siblings, and friends along with an essay written by Olive for the "Little Old New York" Washington Irving essay contest and one of her report cards. The letters are published in R. Eden Martin’s 2017 book, As Ever: The Letters of I. J. Martin to His Daughters: Olive Eden Martin and Mabel Martin George. A copy of this book has been separated from the collection and individually cataloged in the Newberry Library collections.

Dates

  • Creation: 1905-1941

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Eden-Martin family papers - Additions are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Eden-Martin family papers - Additions are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of Eden and Martin Family Members

The family of John Rice Eden (1826-1909), Illinois U.S. Representative, and Roxanne Meeker.

John Rice Eden was born in Bath County, Kentucky on February 1, 1826. After earning his law degree, John moved to Sullivan, Illinois, where he began his practice. In 1856, John married Roxanne Meeker, with whom he had six children: Emma (b. 1857), Rose (b. 1858), Hartwell (b. 1860), Walter (b. 1862), Belle (b. 1863), and Blanche (b. 1877). Between 1856 and 1860, John served as prosecuting attorney for the seventeenth judicial district of Illinois and, in 1863, he was elected to the 38th Congress. He would go on serve in the 38th, 43rd, 44th, 45th, and 49th Congresses. In between and after his terms in Congress, John continued to practice law in Moultrie County, IL. He died on June 9, 1909 in Sullivan, Illinois.

John R. Eden’s daughter, Rose, was born in Sullivan, Illinois on November 2, 1958. She attended the Georgetown Visitation Academy in Washington, D.C., where she graduated as valedictorian in 1877. After graduation, Rose returned to Sullivan, Illinois. In 1885, Rose began a courtship with Ivory J. Martin, who had recently arrived in Sullivan from a neighboring township. Ivory, born November 7, 1859, worked as the editor and manager of the Sullivan Progress, the town’s local newspaper. The couple married in 1886 and had six children: Olive (b. 1887), John Eden (b. 1889), Joel Neely (b. 1891), Robert Walter (b. 1895), Mabel (b. 1899), and Elvina, who died at the age of four. John and Robert went on to serve in World War I. (Joel was married with a young child and running the Sullivan Progress at the start of the War and was, therefore, exempt). Rose died in 1907 from a form of kidney disease. After her death, Ivory, with the help of his eldest daughter Olive, raised the children in Sullivan, where he continued to run the newspaper. He also worked in the abstract business and served on local school and library boards. Ivory died on April 8, 1953, at the age of 93.

Extent

0.8 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Abstract

Letters of Ivory J. Martin of Sullivan, Illinois, to his daughter Olive Eden Martin, while she was a student at the University of Illinois, and later when she lived and taught in LaSalle, Illinois. Also includes a few letters to Olive from her mother, Rose Eden Martin, siblings, and friends. The letters are published in R. Eden Martin’s 2017 book, As Ever: The Letters of I. J. Martin to His Daughters: Olive Eden Martin and Mabel Martin George.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Collection Stack Location

1 37 5

Provenance

Gift, Robert Eden Martin, 2017.

Processed by

Catherine Grandgeorge, 2017.

Title
Inventory of the Eden-Martin Family Papers - Additions, 1905-1941
Status
Completed
Author
Catherine Grandgeorge
Date
©2017.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
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