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mahatmakanejeeves

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40. 2004: Last Civil War widow dies at 97

Sun Dec 10, 2017, 02:15 PM

Dec 2017

Last Updated: Tuesday, 1 June, 2004, 11:34 GMT 12:34 UK

Last Civil War widow dies at 97

The last surviving widow of a US Civil War veteran has died - nearly 140 years after the conflict ended. ... Alberta Martin passed away aged 97 at a nursing home in Alabama on 31 May after suffering a heart attack.

In 1927, she married the 81-year-old war veteran of the Confederate army, William Martin, when she was 21. ... After living in poverty and obscurity for much of her life, she later achieved prominence, regularly attending Confederate parades.

"She was what we call the last link to Dixie," Dr Kenneth Chancery, Martin's caretaker, said. ... "The war hasn't been that far removed, particularly for southerners, and she reminded us of that," he said.

'Link to past'

Martin had already been widowed with a son when she met William Martin, also a widower who had served with the 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment during the siege of Petersburg in 1864-65 and had a $50-a-month pension. ... The two lived on the same road in Opp, Alabama, and soon a marriage of convenience was born. ... Ten months later the couple had a son, also called William. He survives Martin. ... Soon after her husband died in 1931, Martin married his grandson, Charlie Martin. He died in 1983.

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Fox News guest: Seducing 14-year-olds may not have been that unusual 40 years ago [View all] TomCADem Dec 2017 OP

Maybe about 10,000 years ago or more. 40?!!! Roland99 Dec 2017 #1

In the 1800's Yupster Dec 2017 #13

Before the 1920's Revanchist Dec 2017 #20

Still happens here Kilgore Dec 2017 #30

Not according to mall security guards lame54 Dec 2017 #2

The day folks here actually defend it BootinUp Dec 2017 #3

shame on these craven lunatics spanone Dec 2017 #4

40 years ago I was a college sophomore lapfog_1 Dec 2017 #5

Spring breaks latest menace? Horny old men TomCADem Dec 2017 #6

it was creepy 40 years ago too... lapfog_1 Dec 2017 #10

I was 34 years old in 1979 Dale Neiburg Dec 2017 #22

Calling those you seduced liars years later for political gain IS a major character flaw Freethinker65 Dec 2017 #7

OMG. Yes it was unusual! They called them perverts and for good reason! nt ginnyinWI Dec 2017 #8

Ted Bundy was a young 30-year-old Republican 40 years ago too Generic Other Dec 2017 #9

And your father probably would have been locked up Mariana Dec 2017 #15

I'm not sure it would have stopped him Generic Other Dec 2017 #16

The fact remains that nothing much was done. Mariana Dec 2017 #18

No due process for the *victims*, that's for sure. KitSileya Dec 2017 #24

What stands out is that the girls banded together Generic Other Dec 2017 #32

I wasn't near Gadsden, so I never heard about him. Mariana Dec 2017 #35

Didn't Jerry Lee Lewis kill his career by marrying a young'un? shraby Dec 2017 #11

It was a big scandal but it didn't permanently ruin his career TexasBushwhacker Dec 2017 #21

There is absolutely nothing. Snackshack Dec 2017 #12

If it was so common, Grammy23 Dec 2017 #14

Maybe forty years ago customerserviceguy Dec 2017 #17

My great great grandmother was 14 when she married in 1874 Mariana Dec 2017 #19

Actually, just this morning customerserviceguy Dec 2017 #36

Gadsden is not rural now and it wasn't then. Mariana Dec 2017 #37

Gadsden doesn't have to be rural for this mentality customerserviceguy Dec 2017 #41

The fact remains that he tried to avoid the girls' parents most of the time. Mariana Dec 2017 #48

Agreed customerserviceguy Dec 2017 #50

This message was self-deleted by its author Mariana Dec 2017 #45

It is not rare today - a good percentage of early teen pregnancies involve men in 20s and 30s FarCenter Dec 2017 #23

They're trying to pretend what Moore did was socially acceptable. Mariana Dec 2017 #38

The only problem is, the seducing was probably done by other 14 year olds. Oneironaut Dec 2017 #25

WTAF shenmue Dec 2017 #26

The fuck it wasn't unusual. I was around back then. Yavin4 Dec 2017 #27

Sick. Sick that Pedo Roy did it, sick that they are thing to normalize it The Genealogist Dec 2017 #28

Recent personal experience which shocked me Kilgore Dec 2017 #29

Were their spouses in their 30's when they got married? Mariana Dec 2017 #39

No clue, so i asked her Kilgore Dec 2017 #49

Oh Yes It Was ProfessorGAC Dec 2017 #31

nope, no, just no. I was 14 years old in 1979 and it never was OK. all american girl Dec 2017 #33

That's news to Roman Polanski Johonny Dec 2017 #34

2004: Last Civil War widow dies at 97 mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2017 #40

Some years ago, I slogged my way thru The Oldest... 3catwoman3 Dec 2017 #55

Vigorously defending Al Franken for putting his arm around someone during a photo op... Iggo Dec 2017 #42

I was 15 in 1977. Any mid 30's guy going after after classmates Thor_MN Dec 2017 #43

I'm about the same age as you. Iggo Dec 2017 #46

Huguette Clark mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2017 #44

What? That's insane. alarimer Dec 2017 #47

Our media needs to ask Rocky888 Dec 2017 #51

I was 14 in Alabama 60 years ago, and if a man 32 dated a girl 14, he was seen Sophia4 Dec 2017 #52

Is that why Roman Polanski is still a fugitive? McCamy Taylor Dec 2017 #53

But wasn't it illegal back then? Beaverhausen Dec 2017 #54

The term "jailbait" dates back to the early 1930s. Dave Starsky Dec 2017 #56