Many Marriages of Elizabeth Coyne

The Many Marriages of Elizabeth Coyne 

Elizabeth Coyne was born 21 Feb 1897 in Rock Island County, Illinois.  Elizabeth was the only child of James and Eliza (Bauer) Coyne.  Her father, James Coyne, was a successful farmer in Blackhawk Township, Rock Island County, Illinois.  She was often called Lizzy by her family and friends.  Elizabeth’s first marriage was to my grandfather, Elmer Martin.  

1915 Marriage to Elmer Martin

On 20 October 1915, Elizabeth Coyne, 18 years-old at the time, married 28 year-old Elmer Martin.  Elmer, who also was born and grew up in Rock Island County, Illinois.  His father and grandfather were prosperous farmers in Bowling Township. 

Martin - Coyne Marriage 1915

As shown in the 19 Oct 1915 Reynolds Press news article below, a bridal shower was given for Elizabeth by some of her Coyne relatives. 

 

 
Several months after their marriage, the newly weds moved into a new home that Elmer had just built. And, it seems they enjoyed a social life that included entertaining family and friends. 

Reynolds Press
22 Feb 1916

Reynolds Press
8 Dec 1916

In 1919, Elmer and Elizabeth started on a motor trip to California.  According to a news article, they started their trip on July 4th.  On 30 July 1919, Elmer's father, John S Magleby, passed away.  A news article printed almost a month later on 29 Aug 1919, stated that Elmer and Elizabeth, upon hearing of the death, had disposed of their car and were arriving back home by rail.  Not sure how they would have been notified of the death of Elmer's father, especially since they would have been on the move and telephones were not widely used or available at that time. 

Reynolds Press
4 July 1919

Reynolds Press
29 Aug 1919

During their time on the west coast, Elmer and Elizabeth traveled up to Washington State, where Elmer climbed Mount Rainier in 1919.  To read about Elmer's climb, click here.  While there are no identified photos of Elizabeth, the photo of Elmer swimming in the ocean is most likely of him and Lizzie.  

Swimming in the Pacific Ocean

Elmer and Elizabeth did not stay long in Illinois after the death of Elmer's father.  Probably just long enough to settle up affairs.  They soon returned to the west and settled in Dove Creek, Colorado by 1920.  It is not known if Dove Creek was someplace they visited on their previous trip.  In October 1920, Illinois friends, Mrs. Harry Bishop and daughter Frances, visited with "Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Martin of Dove Creek, Colorado" for two weeks.  

Reynolds Press
4 Oct 1920

The Martin's remained in Dove Creek for the next couple of years.  In 1922, Elmer filed for divorce from Elizabeth.  Elmer claimed desertion as grounds for divorce saying that Elizabeth had been gone for the past year.  Family tradition states that Elizabeth ran off with Elmer's good friend Ted Bell.  

Rico Item, Rico, CO
22 July 1922

1924 Marriage to Ted Bell

After the divorce was final in 1923 from Elmer, Elizabeth married Ted Bell a year later in 1924.  Ted Bell had divorced his wife in 1923.  So by 1924, both Elizabeth and Ted were free to marry again.  On 23 Aug 1924, Elizabeth and Ted married in Colorado Springs.  (Marriage year wrong on record - should be 1924 not 1929.)   Ten years later Elizabeth divorced Ted Bell, charging him with desertion in 1932.  It seems what goes around comes around.

Marriage year should be 1924.

Rock Island Argus
26 Feb 1934

1934 Marriage to Robert Schaffer 

Two days after the divorce from Ted Bell was granted, Elizabeth married Robert Schaffer on 28 Feb 1934.  The marriage to Schaffer would last for 8 years until 1943 when Elizabeth divorced him for desertion.  The divorce decree restored her maiden name, Elizabeth A. Coyne.

The Dispatch, Moline, Illinois
1 March 1934

Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa
3 Jun 1943

1944 Marriage to Ernest Richard Trask

On 28 Nov 1944, Elizabeth, age 47, married Richard Trask, age 37.  They were married by Rev. Lacy in the Presbyterian Church.  According to their wedding announcement, both Elizabeth and Richard were engaged in the real estate business in Rock Island County.  

The Daily Times
Davenport, Iowa
29 Nov 1944

Elizabeth and Richard Trask are found enumerated in the same household in the 1950 Federal Census of Moline, Rock Island, Illinois.  Elizabeth is listed as the wife to Richard.  The occupation for both is listed as real estate.  The census was taken on 19 May 1950.  On 25 Aug 1950, a divorce appeared in The Dispatch newspaper (Moline, Illinois).  

1951 Marriage to William Warnock 

Elizabeth, age 53, married William Marvin Warnock, age 45, on 21 April 1951 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  

In 1956, Elizabeth and Marvin, living in Phoenix, Arizona, are listed in a city directory.  Elizabeth remained married to William Marvin Warnock longer than any of her previous husbands.  When Marvin passed away in Arizona in 1971, they had been married for 20 years. Elizabeth was buried next to Marvin in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington County, Iowa.

Obituary of Elizabeth Coyne Warnock 

Elizabeth's obituary states that she was survived by several cousins.  It should be noted that there are no records to suggest that Elizabeth ever gave birth to a child.  

LeRoy and His Horses

LeRoy Martin, born in 1930, was the son of Elmer and Maymie (Wilson) Martin.  LeRoy was raised in Southwest Colorado and he grew up riding horses from the time he could walk.  Although, he did start off riding pigs first.🐖  To see LeRoy riding a pig, click here.  

LeRoy's mother, Maymie, loved to tell the following story of when LeRoy was in grade school in Cortez, Colorado.  One day she walked to the grade school wanting to see how LeRoy was doing in class that day.  When Maymie walked into the classroom, the teacher instead asked Maymie how LeRoy was doing and that she was sorry he was sick.  Apparently LeRoy sent a note to school saying he was sick and would not be attending school that day.  He had instead saddled up his horse, and started riding towards Dove Creek, some 30 miles away. 🐎🐎
 

LeRoy Martin 1949

The earliest photo of LeRoy and his horse was taken in 1941.  LeRoy would have been around 10 years old.  Name of the horse is unknown.  The original black & white and the colorized versions are both shown.

1941

The next group of  photographs look as if they were taken on the same day probably in 1942.  The photos were taken near Dolores, Colorado on LeRoy's grandparent's place.  LeRoy would refer to Tony as his "pony" when talking about him.  Tony is probably the horse LeRoy started riding to Dove Creek in the story above.  I've colorized the first two photos.

LeRoy and his horse Tony

L-R: Wilbur with Cheyenne & LeRoy with Tony  

Rounding up a calf

During WWII, the Martin family moved to Las Vegas.  LeRoy's father worked in a government defense plant during the war.  While living in Las Vegas, LeRoy had a horse named Dollar.  This photograph was probably taken about 1945.

LeRoy and his horse Dollar
Las Vegas, NV

LeRoy is shaking a hoof in this next photo.  Both LeRoy and his horse look like show-offs as they are posing for the photo  The photo was taken 1950 at Maymie's house in Cortez, Colorado.  Name of the horse is unknown.  

Show-offs

Next are two photos taken in 1951 in Yuma, Arizona.  The top photo is LeRoy and his horse, Edna Coath.  The next photo is Verna, LeRoy, and Edna Coath.  Interesting name for a horse.  LeRoy loved that horse so much, he wanted to name his first daughter Edna.  Thankfully his wife vetoed that.😄😍

Edna Coath (horse) and LeRoy
1951

Verna, LeRoy, Edna Coath
1951

In this next photo, LeRoy is with another favorite horse, Catnip.  Catnip was more like a family member in the Martin Family.  In this picture, Catnip is following LeRoy around and son, Chuck, is on the horse.  LeRoy is probably trying to teach Chuck, who was 4 years old, to ride. Taken 1957 in California. 

LeRoy, Catnip, Chuck

LeRoy has his two sons, Chuck and Dusty with him on this horse.  Horse's name unknown.  This was taken just outside of Yuma, Arizona in 1961. 

LeRoy with sons Dusty and Chuck
1961 Yuma, Arizona

LeRoy and his horse Billie at Durango Fairgrounds
1980s Durango, CO

LeRoy and Robin
1980s Cortez, Colorado

1990s LeRoy - Unknown horse
Cortez, Colorado

In the 1970's and 1980's, LeRoy raced horses in New Mexico and Arizona.  Below are a few "Win Pictures" during this time.

Note: If anyone in the family knows the name of any of the unknown horses pictured above, please let me know.  And, if I only have a color version posted here and anyone in the family wants the original black and white photo, just let me know and I will send it to you.😊

Sunbonnet Rock 50 Years Later

 In November of 2022, I posted the following question about an old family photo I had received -

Where is this?  

Martin Family abt 1934
Elmer, Wilbur, Maymie, and LeRoy in front

The location of the photo was a mystery to me. The photo was of my paternal grandparents and their two young sons, Wilbur and LeRoy, sitting on an interesting rock formation.  Judging from the ages of the boys, the photo would have been taken around 1933-1934.  In response to my question, several comments were left and I was able to pin-point the exact location of the photo and also find a postcard of the location. 

Recently several more family photos of the Navajo Twins and Sunbonnet Rock have surfaced.  It seems that when someone in the family was traveling through Bluff, Utah, Sunbonnet Rock was popular spot to stop and take a  photos.  

Below is a vintage black and white photo probably taken in the late 1940s.  The photo was taken before a commemorative plaque was placed on Sunbonnet Rock in the 1950s.  The Navajo Twins are standing in the top center and Sunbonnet Rock is on the bottom right.  The photo was most likely taken by Elmer Martin, but there was no identification or date on the back.  

Navajo Twins and Sunbonnet Rock - circa 1940s

50 Years Later

The next photo is from the 1980's and shows LeRoy Martin and four of his grandsons sitting on Sunbonnet Rock.  LeRoy who was a young 4 year old in the top photo from 1934, is 50 years older in this newer photo.  
The Sons of the Utah Pioneers attached a historic marker to Sunbonnet Rock in the 1950's. The square bronze plaque can be seen in the middle of the rock just below the top rock.  The plaque commemorates the San Juan Mission and the pioneers who settled Bluff.

LeRoy again sitting on Sunbonnet Rock 50 years later.
About 1984

Previous posts:
Where is this? 
Sunbonnet Rock 

Bobby the Bobcat

Several years ago, I posted a blog story called, Old Man Taylor and the Bobcat.  This previous blog article was about a man my family called "Old Man Taylor" and his pet bobcat.  Taylor camped in a shack along the banks of the Colorado River outside of Yuma, Arizona in the early 1950s. My grandfather and father would stop and visit with Taylor when they would go fishing at the river.  My grandfather took photos of Taylor and his bobcat during his visits to the river.  
It appears there was more for me to find about “Old Man Taylor and his Bobcat”🐯…

The Rest of the Story

At the time I wrote the article, I wondered what Old Man Taylor's full name was and if the bobcat had a name.  Thanks to a recently found 1954 news article in the Yuma Sun Newspaper, I now know both.  The bobcat's name is -- Bobby.  

Bobby the Bobcat

Yuma Sun newspaper, Yuma, Arizona, 20 Jan 1954

Our Family Photos of Bobby the Bobcat 

Taylor holding Cathy, Bobby the Bobcat, Leroy 1954

Bobby looks like he is smiling for the camera
(cropped and colorized)

The 1954 newspaper article, which I found on a new newspaper website, also gives the full name of Old Man Taylor -- Jack Taylor.  

After doing some research, I was able to find a 1967 death record for a Jack Taylor aged 94 who died in Yuma.  

The Jack Taylor in the death record had been living in a rest home when he died, but there was no personal information on the death record - no parents, no family, no known occupation, no known place of birth, etc.  If  our “Old Man Taylor” is the Jack Taylor in the death certificate, he would have been 80 years old when the above photos were taken.  I'm not sure the Taylor in the above photos looks 80 years old??  What do you think??  Just like the death record, the obituary does not contain much information.  

Yuma Sun newspaper, Yuma, AZ, 14 Aug 1967

To see more photos and read the original post, go to:  

Old Man Taylor and his Bobcat  

Merrie Merrie Christmas

 Merrie Merrie Christmas

This Christmas Post Card was from Nancy Hatfield (1860-1946) to her great-grandson LeRoy Martin.  Nancy would have given it to LeRoy in about 1940 or before.  She was living in Dove Creek, Colorado at the time and LeRoy was living nearby in Cortez, Colorado.  The card is at least 80+ years old.  The spelling of Merrie is interesting - I don't think I have seen that spelling used on a Christmas card before.  

The only picture I can find with both Grandma Hatfield and LeRoy is the following Wilson Family photo.  LeRoy is standing right in the middle between his Great-Grandmother Nancy Hatfield and his Grandmother Pearl Wilson.  They are standing just behind the children sitting on the porch. LeRoy is goofing off by poking out his tummy.  Grandma Nancy Hatfield is standing to the right of LeRoy wearing a little black cap on her head. 

 

Wilson Family Gathering

The Charles B. Wilson family gathering photo.  The date is unknown but was probably taken around 1939-1941.  If anyone has an exact date, please leave the date in comments.
Back row from left to right:
Wilber, John, Inez, Buck, Maymie, Charles B, Pearl Hatfield Wilson, LeRoy goofing off in front, great-grandma Nancy Hatfield standing to the right of LeRoy.  Anna, Jenny, & Mary standing in the back and to the far right - Mr. Graffie and Cora Rose Graffie.

Not sure who all the younger children sitting in front belong to.

Christmas Greetings from 1960

 Christmas Greetings

This vintage 1960 Christmas Card was from my mom to my dad.  The card shows a cute Victorian couple in a one-horse open sleigh.  My parents married on December 16, 1950, so 1960 would have been the anniversary of their 10th Christmas together as husband and wife. And, that makes this Christmas card sixty-three years old this year.  The card is a folding card which gives it a three dimensional effect when folded out. 

The verse inside reads:

To My Husband

I always love you, Darling,

Every day throughout the year,
But our love seems still more wonderful
When Christmas time is here. 

To LeRoy from Verna, 1960

One Horse Open Sleigh

Dashing through the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh. 

I've colorized the photo of my paternal grandfather, Elmer Martin, in his one-horse open sleigh.  This picture would have been taken about 1913 at Elmer's home in Rock Island, Illinois.  Below the photo is a 1913 newspaper article referring to Elmer and his cutter sleigh.  The Sam Love mentioned in the newspaper was Elmer's cousin.

Elmer in his one-horse open sleigh

Wonder who their "best girls" were??

Elmer Martin blog posts: 
Maymie and Elmer 
Elmer Climbed Mount Rainier 
Elmer Martin's Prize Winning Potatoes 
Shaving Mugs 
Martin Family Tree

Wintery Scene

Wintery Scene
Cortez, Colorado
Thursday, December 21, 1967

This old newspaper clipping was in my Grandmother Maymie's papers.  It was published 56 years ago today - December 21.  Not sure if there was a specific reason Maymie clipped the picture from the newspaper, but I can definitely remember that snowy December.❄️❄️❄️

It was 1967 and my family had just moved back to Cortez, Colorado from sunny Arizona.  In Arizona, I was used to driving on nice dry roads.  Not long after arriving in Cortez, this storm hit just before Christmas.  While trying to stop at a red light on main street, my car slid into the middle of the intersection.  The intersection can be seen in the background.  Thankfully I did not run into a pedestrian or a vehicle, and thankfully another car did not hit me.