McGrew, Martha A.

Other Events:

• Census: 1880, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Census:

     According to the 1880 U.S. enumeration of the household in Ward 2, Martha Gillespie, a 64 year old widow, lived with her son-in-law, Wesley R. Brink, a 30 year old publisher, his wife, Nellie Brink, age 26, keeping house, and their two daughters: Florence Brink (age 3) and Julia Brink (age 1). Also living in the home was Louisa Bernius, a 20 year old servant.
     The previous household enumerated in this census consisted of Moses Sherman (age 42, a grain dealer), his wife, Isabella Sherman (age 38) and their daughter, Martha Sherman (age 12). Also living in the household was a servant, Mary Childres (age 16).
     The household enumerated in this census just before the Sherman's was the home of David Gillespie (age 51, a lawyer), his wife, Minna Gillespie (age 45) and their children: Julia Gillespie (age 23), Edwin Gillespie (age 18), Henry Gillespie (age 15), and Mary Gillespie (age 10). Also living in the home were two boarders: Carrie Houck (age 23) and Clay H. Lynch (age 32); and two servants: Mary Mansfield (age 18), and William Meek (age 26).
     What the 1880 census does not reveal is the close family ties woven through these three homes and foreshadowing extended family associations. Wesley Brink's mother-in-law, Martha A. (McGrew) (Hynes, or Hinds) Gillespie, the second wife of Matthew Gillespie, would have been the mother of Wesley's wife, Elizabeth Eleanor "Nellie" (Gillespie) Brink. Martha was also the mother of Isabella J. (Gillespie) Sherman and the step-mother of David Gillespie, who was the son of Matthew Gillespie and his first wife, Nancy Gordon. Martha was a grandmother to all the children in these three households.
     In 1882, Julia B. Gillespie, daughter of David and Minna (Barnsback) Gillespie, became the first wife Dr. Edward William Fiegenbaum. Clay Hardin Lynch, one of the boarders living in the Gillespie home in 1880, married one of Dr. Fiegenbaum's sisters, Martha Lizette Fiegenbaum, in 1884.

Martha married Gillespie, Matthew 10 Mar 1839. Matthew was born 1807, City of New York, New York, USA; died 24 Mar 1861, Madison County, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:

     This was a second marriage for both Matthew Gillespie and Martha A. McGrew, whose first husband had been a Mr. Hynes or Hinds. The marriage license was issued in Fayette County, Illinois. Further details of the marriage are not known at this time.

1. Gillespie, Isabella J. was born 13 Nov 1841, Illinois, USA; died 10 Jan 1920; was buried , Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA.
2. Gillespie, Joseph J. was born Abt 1843–1844; died Yes, date unknown.
3. Gillespie, Elizabeth Eleanor was born Mar 1854; died Yes, date unknown.