Belinda Smart Carringer has compiled 30 years of familial history including adventures, hard times, contributions and joy into the book Martin Memories.
With the help of family members and with the painstaking gathering of information spanning over 30 years, author Belinda Smart Carringer has penned Martin Memories.
Her book is a historical look into the lives of two families, Frederick “Fred” Martin and Elsa Ora Graves, their families, ancestors and descendants. The extensive pages chronicle the passage of time, the family’s bond to the community and political contributions as well as values in Cherokee County.
Martin and Elsie Ora Graves, Carringer’s grandparents, were married in 1927. On the second night of the couple’s honeymoon, a longstanding tradition in Ogreeta came knocking at their door.
Known as “Shiveree,” folks in the community gathered to celebrate the marriage by shooting off shotguns and pistols, ringing cowbells and yelling. After an introduction of his new wife to the celebrating crowd, the partying continued until everyone left.
The Martins had seven children, five boys and two girls. All of their children were raised in Ogreeta.
The first medical facility in Cherokee County was Petrie Hospital, which was founded by Dr. R.W. Petrie in November 1933. He was an ear, eye, nose and throat specialist.
The early days of Ogreeta required men ages 21 and up to work four days each year on the county’s dirt roads. Joe Brown Highway would be paved in the early 1950s.
Folks in the community were close and worked together, helping one another. They planted, killed hogs and raised barns. Electricity came to Ogreeta in 1947, with telephone service following in the mid-1960s.
The annual Cherokee County Fair was popular. The Martin family would take animals, food and fudge to the event.
The first Ogreeta school was made of logs and also used as the community’s church. The Martins were dedicated to their faith and also impressed upon all of their children the value of education.
In October 1929, the U.S. stock market crashed. Banks and financial institutions fell into ruin. Cherokee County depositors suffered great loss. The Martins relied on self-sufficiency during the difficult times of the Great Depression.
They did not go hungry. The family ate eggs from Elsie’s chickens, with excess eggs sold for cash. They had butter and milk on hand thanks to their dairy cows, and any beef calves they had were sold for cash as well.
Fred purchased his first battery-powered radio in 1943. He was then able to be informed about the world around him.
Martin Memories was written in great detail, but in an easy-to-read manner.Discover how the Martins contributions were instrumental during World War II and how they helped bring electricity to Ogreeta. Read about Elsie’s very first washing machine and the tree-cutting accident that broke Fred’s leg.
Much of what the Martins did in the early days contributed to the heritage of Cherokee County. Family members continue to be of great benefit to Grape Creek, Murphy and
Ogreeta.
Carringer has had a lifelong interest in genealogy. Her mother, Dolly Martin Smart, started working on family genealogy prior to passing in 1989. Carringer picked up her mother’s work and continued on to the completion of Martin Memories.
Her father is John Thomas Smart Jr. His family can be discovered in the pages of the hardback book Smart Travels.
Today, Carringer is a retired human resource specialist. Her husband, Donnie, does the farming, while she makes hundreds of jars of homemade apple butter, jams, jellies and relishes as well as creamed honey and granola each year.
She enjoys gardening and growing different types of produce. The couple participates in farmers markets, festivals and other agricultural-related events.
Details: Martin Memories can be found on Amazon and in local bookstores.