MARTIN A.⁷ BOOTS (HANS ADAM⁶ STIEFFEL, HANS MELCHIOR⁵, CHRISTOPH⁴ STIEFEL, JACOB³, HANß², OTTO¹) was born 1777 in Hardy (now Grant) Co., (W)VA, and died Sep 13, 1842 in Marion, Grant Co., IN¹. He married (1) EVE ARAHOOD¹ Jun 18, 1804 in Ross Co., OH¹. She was born Unknown in OH, and died Bef. Sep 01, 1805 in Ross Co., OH¹. He married (2) MARY J. ODLE² Aug 31, 1805 in Ross Co., OH. She was born Abt. 1786 in Hampshire Co., VA (now WV), and died Unknown in Marion, Grant Co., IN. He married (3) NANCY NORMAN Jun 19, 1833 in Marion, IN³. She was born Unknown in ?³, and died Unknown in ?Marion, IN³.

Notes for MARTIN A. BOOTS:

• A few years ago (early 1990's) the following paper was written for Pioneer's Day for the State of Indiana by Anna (Boots) Fox.

" I have always been told of how Martin Boots was the founder of Marion. The story goes something like this... On October 19, 1825, a short older man strode into the Muncie Land Office and announced his interest in preempting land in Northwestern Delaware County, and along the river which the Miami Indians had called "laughing water." The man knew that the U.S. Government asked $1.25 an acre and he had sufficient funds to make an investment, that was destined to be Historic. The short older man who would be troubled with Gout, entered the west half of the southeast fractional quarter of Section 6, township 24, north, range 8 east, containing 107.7 acres. The buyer was Martin Boots. It was not until the following August 26, that a red haired man, David Branson, went to Muncie to enter the east half of the southeast fractional quarter of Section 6, township 24 north, range 8 east, containing 95.35 acres. Branson was the second land owner of Grant County, which proved ideal within a brief space of time. I have a copy of the deed from Martin Boots and David Branson to Nathan Branson, Grant County Agent. I also have a copy of Land Grant to Martin Boots from U.S. Government, (J.Q. Adams) Legend has it... That Martin Boots donated the land for the county seat with a few conditions; 1. That the hitching racks around the Courthouse remain standing and 2. Noone would ever receive the Death Penalty in Grant County. The land was to revert back to the Heirs if these conditions were not met. In 1968 Charles Adams was sentenced to Death. The above story has been handed down through the years in our family. I found this in an article in the 12/4/68 issue of the Chronicle Tribune, Marion, Ind. I don't know how true this is. The following story is true and I have done follow up research on it. There are countless articles and paperwork on it, so I know it's true. Martin Boots set aside 2 acres of land on the Third street hill as a Boots Family Burial Plot. The city acquired the land for $1.00 at a Sheriff's sale in 1889. The bones of the town's founder and his family were moved to I.O.O.F. Cemetery, (now Estates of Serenity) in a long trench; all the remains were put in one grave. The City charged $.25 for people to help load the bones in a wagon to be taken to the cemetery. People actually paid for the opportunity to touch the bones of Martin Boots. He does not even have a proper marker. The family keeps up the graves. He was not only the first land owner of Grant County, he was also a veteran of the War of 1812. The city built a school on the land where the Burial ground was. It burned down 3 times, always on a damp misty Sunday. They tore down the Martin Boots School a few years ago and built apartments there. I have always felt this was wrong. They should not have disturbed the graves in the first place. The Burial ground should have remained in the family. It was a private cemetery. He donated 30 acres in the center of town for the purpose of forming a County seat. David Branson also donated 30 acres. It seems both men have been forgotten. The burial ground on Third street hill was not for City use. We are not even sure all the remains were moved. This can all be verified through my records, Grant County Library and the Chronicle Tribune in Marion, Ind. I hope you don't let this hamper my application. I just though it might be helpful to include some Family history. (My native American hereitage comes from both the Boots side and my grandmother Grace O'Bannion - Miami Indians of Indiana). Another story handed down to all new brides in the family follows; while Mary (Odell) Boots was the first bona-fide housewife in the community, she never had seen coffee until one day when Martin, her husband came home with 2 lbs. She did not understand the roasting process, and she boiled the green coffee without developing the aroma. Needless to say the coffee was not fit to drink. "

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• (source: Lewis Ellingham - )

• Marion, IN Library Genealogical Records: marriage #3: last 2 children; died of dropsy;

• "Descendants of Adam Boots (1733-1803)" [LDS film #1036425] by Clyde S. Boots, pp. 557-559ff; Marion, IN Library Genealogical Records: marriage #3: last 2 children; died < dropsy;

• Local news columnist W. H. McGrew, "Heavilin Family Records Trace Early History of The Community" [n.d.];

• "Descendants of Hans Adam Stieffel" by Sherrin Winn Rooney [2001]: 2nd marriage date ‘31 Aug 1805’; 3rd, ‘20 Jun 1833’;

• "I.O.O.F. Cemetery Records (per DAR Cemetery Records)": ‘died 13 Sep 1842’;

• "Jack MacDonald’s Odell/Odle Family" website Item #255: vital data — occasionally a middle initial ‘A.’ is used with this Martin Boots, but justification for it seems uncertain at best

More About MARTIN A. BOOTS:

• Burial: Sep 1842, I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Marion, Grant Co., IN

• Cause of Death: Dropsy

• Occupation: business, smithy, miller³

• Probate: Oct 15, 1842, Will entered for probate⁴

• Religion: Methodist⁵

• Will: Sep 05, 1842, Will Book A of Grant county, Indiana⁶

Notes for EVE ARAHOOD:

• "Descendants of Adam Boots (1733-1803)" [LDS film #1036425] by Clyde S. Boots, p. 559; marr. d. <

• Ross Co. Marriages marr. d. - Ross Co. Marriages

More About EVE ARAHOOD:

• Occupation: housewife⁷

More About MARTIN BOOTS and EVE ARAHOOD:

• Marriage: Jun 18, 1804, Ross Co., OH⁷

Notes for MARY J. ODLE:

• Surname also written as Odleon, Odell. Family name of Odell seems to be the most common form, however, son John Odle used the ODLE spelling.

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(source: Lewis Ellingham - )

• Birth year 1788, from "History of Grant Co. IN"; 1786 or 1789 - C. S. Boots; Marion, IN Library Genealogical Records: couple's children by Mary Odle except that husband's marriage #3 gives last 2 children;

• Local news columnist W. H. McGrew, "Heavilin Family Records Trace Early History of The Community" [n.d.]

• "Descendants of Adam Boots (1733-1803)" [LDS film #1036425] by Clyde S. Boots, pp. 557ff, esp. p. 560; birth year 1788, from "History of Grant Co. IN";

• 1786 or 1789 from C. S. Boots; Marion, IN Library Genealogical Records: couple’s children by Mary Odle except that husband’s marriage #3 gives last 2 children;

• "Descendants of Hans Adam Stieffel" by Sherrin Winn Rooney [2001]: marriage date ‘31 Aug 1805’; 255: vital data, with birth ‘in 1789 in Hampshire Co., VA’;

• "Jack MacDonald’s Odell/Odle Family" website Item #255: vital data, with birth ‘1789’;

• "Ross Co., OH Families" Vol. II (Ross Co. Gen. Soc.) ‘Eileen Dawson researcher’ p. 254: ‘b. ca. 1788’

More About MARY J. ODLE:

• Burial: I.O.O.F. Cem., Marion, IN [present name]

• Occupation: Housewife

• Religion: Married in Methodist Church

Marriage Notes for MARTIN BOOTS and MARY ODLE:

• FROM: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jacmac/odell.htm

ODELL / ODLE FAMILY HOME PAGE

(marriage date differs by one day)

255. Mary

b. 1789 in Hampshire Co., VA. (now WV.)

m. 1 September 1805 to Martin Boots in Ross Co., OH.

d. in Grant Co., IN.

More About MARTIN BOOTS and MARY ODLE:

• Marriage: Aug 31, 1805, Ross Co., OH

Notes for NANCY NORMAN:

• "Descendants of Hans Adam Stieffel" by Sherrin Winn Rooney [2001]: marriage date ‘20 Jun 1833’;

• "Descendants of Adam Boots (1733-1803)" [LDS film #1036425] by Clyde S. Boots, pp. 557ff;

• Cindy Hyman to L. Ellingham (<cynah@msn.com> to <magicpool@earthlink.net>; Subject: Martin Boots [Fri, 6 Sep 2002 22:45:57]: ‘… There was a Ray/Roy Boots who was related to Boots. His paternal side was Boots and maternal was Miami Indian. I have a letter from Boots' grandson who refers to Roy Boots as a son. Nancy was MRS. Nancy Norman. Don't have maiden name. She did own land that was later part of the Matter farm and later, Matter Park. Wonder if she's connected or maybe friends of Fraziers who owned land that bacame Matter's also.’

More About NANCY NORMAN:

• Occupation: housewife⁷

More About MARTIN BOOTS and NANCY NORMAN:

• Marriage: Jun 19, 1833, Marion, IN⁷

Children of MARTIN BOOTS and MARY ODLE are:

i. NANCY ANN BOOTS⁷, b. May 10, 1806, Ross Co., OH⁷; d. Dec 17, 1872, Winchester, IN⁷; m. (JUDGE) DANIEL BROMLEY MILLER⁷, May 24, 1832, Grant Co., IN⁷; b. Nov 29, 1797, Torringford, CT⁷; d. Mar 21, 1881, Winchester, IN⁷.

 

ii. JOHN ODLE BOOTS, b. 1809, Ross Co., OH; d. Dec 12, 1851, Somerset, Miami Co., IN; m. CATHERINE CONNER⁷, Oct 23, 1836, Grant Co., IN⁷; b. Jul 09, 1821, Wayne Co., IN⁷; d. Jul 14, 1895, Knox, IN⁷.

 

iii. ASENATH BOOTS⁷, b. 1810, Ross Co., OH; d. Aft. 1860, ?Grant Co., IN⁷; m. GEORGE BRODERICK⁷, Jun 22, 1828, Randolph Co., IN; b. Abt. 1810, OH⁷; d. Aft. 1860, ?Grant Co., IN⁷.

 

iv. SARAH BOOTS⁷, b. Mar 24, 1811, Ross Co., OH⁷; d. Mar 20, 1890, near Largo, Wabash Co., IN; m. (1) WILLIAM NELSON CONNER, Apr 15, 1831, Grant Co., IN; b. 1812, SC⁸; d. Mar 14, 1889, Jalapa, IN; m. (2) WILLIAM NELSON ("NELSON") CONNER⁹, Apr 15, 1831, Delaware Co., IN⁹; b. Mar 14, 1811, Marlborough Co., SC⁹; d. Mar 14, 1889, Jalapa, IN⁹.

 

v. WILLIAM NELSON BOOTS⁹, b. 1814, Ross Co., OH⁹; d. 1860, Peru, IN⁹; m. (1) JULIA ANN HURLEY⁹, Jul 04, 1833, Grant Co., IN⁹; b. Unknown, OH⁹; d. 1848, Grant Co., IN⁹; m. (2) ELIZA JANE BOCOCK, May 03, 1849, Grant Co., IN; b. Abt. 1811, OH; d. Unknown, ?IN; m. (3) ELIZA JANE NEWLAND⁹, May 03, 1849, Grant Co., IN⁹; b. Abt. 1811, OH⁹; d. Unknown, ?IN⁹.

 

vi. MARY BOOTS⁹, b. Nov 29, 1817, Ross Co., OH⁹; d. Aft. 1883, ?Bremer Co., IA⁹; m. WILLIAM HURLEY⁹, Dec 01, 1836, Grant Co., IN⁹; b. Abt. 1810, OH; d. Aft. 1850, ?Elkhart Co., IN.

 

vii. MARTHA BOOTS⁹, b. Jun 18, 1819, Ross Co., OH⁹; d. Oct 14, 1864, Grant Co., IN⁹; m. NATHAN WAY FRAZIER⁹, Aug 18, 1841, Grant Co., IN⁹; b. Oct 01, 1808, Guilford Co., NC⁹; d. Jan 12, 1875, Grant Co., IN⁹.

 

viii. REBECCA BOOTS⁹, b. 1820, Ross Co., OH⁹; d. Jul 19, 1848, Grant Co., IN⁹; m. JOHN WESLEY FLINN⁹, Oct 21, 1841, Grant Co., IN⁹; b. Aug 01, 1813, Miami Co., OH⁹; d. Jun 25, 1893, Grant Co., IN⁹.

 

ix. CALEB SANFORD BOOTS⁹, b. Apr 22, 1821, Randolph Co., IN; d. Apr 02, 1881, Marion, Grant Co., IN; m. (1) AMANDA JOHNSON⁹, Apr 25, 1849, Grant Co., IN; b. Abt. 1831, OH; d. Aft. 1850, ?; m. (2) ELIZA JANE HODGE⁹, Jan 05, 1853, Grant Co., IN; b. Abt. 1835, IN⁹; d. 1905, ?IN⁹.

Children of MARTIN BOOTS and NANCY NORMAN are:

x. NELSON RIDLEY BOOTS⁹, b. Abt. 1837, Grant Co., IN⁹; d. Jan 29, 1873, Bremer Co., IA⁹; m. RHODILLA SAILOR⁹, Oct 18, 1866, Bremer Co., IA⁹; b. Abt. 1847, IN⁹; d. Aft. 1870, ?IA⁹.

 

xi. GEORGE W. BOOTS¹¹, b. Abt. 1839, Grant Co., IN; d. 1882, IL; m. (1) MARY, Unknown, ?IN; b. Abt. 1849, IN; d. Aft. 1870, ?Piatt Co., IL; m. (2) MARY E. …¹¹, Unknown, ?IN¹¹; b. Abt. 1849, IN¹¹; d. Aft. 1880, ?Piatt Co., IL¹¹.

 

 

Endnotes