Martin 1829

Born:	2 Feb 1829, Bedford Township, Ontario, Canada,
Married:	Elizabeth Charity Merkley, 20 Jul 1853 in Where By License, Rev'd John Hill, Episcopal Methodist Minister, Farmersville., daughter of Martin Mercley and Margret Lashlee (b.16 Sep 1831 in Bellamy's Mills, Ontario, Canada) (d.8 Dec 1925 in Newboro, Ontario, Canada)
Produced:	Eliza Houghton (b.1854, Township of Bedford, Ontario, Canada. Sarah Ann Petunia (Tuny) Houghton (b.1856( (d.24 Sep 1875) Nellie Maria Houghton (b.1858) (d.1935, Newboro, Ontario, Canada) Daniel Houghton (b.18 Sep 1860, Newboro, Ontario, Canada) (d.29 August 1940, Newboro, Ontario, Canada) Nancy Totina (TOT) Houghton (b.1863, Newboro, Ontario) (d.10 Mar 1920) Margaret (Maggie) Houghton (b.26 Aug 1868, Newboro, Ontario, Canada) (d.13 July 1940.
Died:	14 Apr 1906, Newboro, Ontario, Canada
Buried:	United Church Cemetery with wife Elizabth, Newboro, IA
Narrative:	Martin is the only child of Jonathan and Nancy's family to stay in Canada. He had a carriage factory in Newboro, 1857 to 1879 , he also was the local Sheriff . He was a very tall big man and sometimes called "Mark". The Houghton Family are listed in the Ontario census of 1861 reel #C1044, 1881 reel # C13232, 1891 reel # T6350. Occupation: Carriage Maker/ Carpenter/ Sheriff On Elizabeth's grave stone the spelling is MARKLEY. Elizabeth was short and plump. She wore black dresses and a little black bonnet. She always wore a starched crisp white apron and carried a little black bag with a draw string at the top. She did practical nursing and walked many miles to care for the sick. There were no pensions in those days and after Martin died she had financial difficulties. She was also very independent and proud. When George and Joan Houghton had their grocery store in Newboro they offered to help her but the offer was refused very firmly. One Saturday night she walked up to the store with her little basket. In it was a folded white starched tea towel. Before gathering the things she would need , she put her basket on the end of the counter and went to visit the other shoppers in the store. While his grandmother was busy doing this George took her basket and heaped it full, then tucked the towel over the top and put the basket back exactly where she left it When she finished her visit she went to get her basket, she looked at it, picked it up and left. After that every Saturday night the basket was left to be filled to overflowing. Once when Elizabeth was doing practical nursing, she walked up to see an old man who was very sick. He told her that the doctor had called on him that morning and didn't know what was the matter with him and didn't know what to do for his terrible fever. The doctor told him he wouldn't live through the night, but under no condition to drink cold water. He told grandmother he wanted cold water so badly and if he was going to die anyway what was the difference. She went to the well and pumped him a pail of very cold water. She left that and a dipper beside his bed. She went up in the morning expecting to see him dead. He had drank the entire pail. His fever had broken and he was on his way to recovery. There was an article in the paper about it and it was written up in the medical journal. Grandmother was cited for saving his life. *Newspaper clipping: Newboro's oldest resident is called by death. Mrs. M. Houghton was 94 years of age-Newboro December 12/25. On Tuesday evening December 8th at the home of Ernest Hull, Newboro there passed away Mrs. Mart. Houghton, age 94, the oldest resident of the village. She was very active and lived in her home on Mill Street until stricken with paralysis, after which she was moved to the home of her daughter Mrs. Ernest Hull, about two weeks before her death. She leaves to mourn her loss one son and two daughters, Daniel, Mrs. James Kneller and Mrs. Ernest Hull. The funeral was held on Thursday afternoon. The remains being placed in the vault. Elizabeth had two sisters 1. Lousia (Mrs. Samual Wing) 2. Katie (Mrs. Delorm Deacon) .She had two brothers Daniel 1830 -1894 .He had two wives and many , many children who still reside in Westport. And William 1839-1841. Merkleys (also can be spelled Markly or Miracle) came from Upper Canada Village area and moved to Westport after the war of 1812.