Mr. and Mrs. Gust Martin Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Antigo Daily Journal
Thursday, August 1, 1957; page 5

Mr. and Mrs. Gust Martin Celebrate 50th Anniversary

   Mr. and Mrs. Gust Martin of Polar, who were married fifty years July 23 were guests at a surprise dance given for them July 27 at the Polar country club. Music was furnished by the Phil Fleischmann orchestra and lunch was served.
   Mr. and Mrs. Martin were married July 23, 1907 by the Rev. Griese at  St. Peter's Lutheran church at Polar. Mrs. Hattie Shank and Carl Summ of route 2, members of the original wedding party, were present for the dance.
   Mrs. Martin, the former Marie Summ, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Summ of Antigo, was born July 23, 1873 (Incorrect! 1883), in Antigo. Gust Martin, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Martin, was born in Germany June 21, 1872 (Incorrect! 1882), and came to Polar with his parents as a child. Since their marriage, the Gust Martins have lived on a farm in Polar.
   The couple had six children, of which a son Harold is deceased. They are: Mrs. Ewald Flemming of Bryant; Mrs. James McMorrow of Honolulu, Hawaii; Leonard Martin of Cudahy; Marlow Martin of Waukesha; and Oscar Martin of Antigo; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
   Among the gifts they received were two bouquets of orchids from their daughter in Hawaii.
   The 250 guests attended from Pearson, Bryant, Antigo, White Lake, Polar, Cudahy, Waukesha and Chicago, Ill.

Obituary of Wilhelm Flemming; 11 Nov 1893

Langlade County Special

11 November 1893; Page 1

Wm. Flemming Sr. of the town of Polar died last Saturday. Cause of death dropsy. The funeral services were held at the Lutheran church in Polar Tuesday.

2 Year Anniversary

Tomorrow, January 12th, it'll be two years since the passing of my great-grandmother, Sylvia Flemming. I'd like to share a little information about her and include some pictures. You won't be forgotten, grandma.

(Elaine Stuempges & Sylvia Flemming before a plane ride)

She was born Sylvia Laura Hattie Martin on 28 May 1909 in Langlade County, Wisconsin. Her parents were Gustav Martin and Maria Summ. Gustav's family were from Brandenburg and Pommern, and Maria's family was from Baden. Sylvia was baptized on 13 June 1909 at St. Peter's church in Polar. Her baptismal name was Sylvia Maria Bertha Hedwig Martin.

(Elaine Stuempges & Sylvia Flemming in Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan)

Sylvia was married to Walter John Stuempges on 21 Sep 1927 in Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota. They had two daughter, Elaine (my grandmother) on 31 Dec 1926 in Polar, and Eunice on 27 Sep 1928. The marriage was an unhappy one, Walter was an abusive alcoholic. Sylvia divorced him in 1944.

(Elaine Stuempges & Sylvia Flemming at Brookfield Zoo)

Sylvia later married a widower named Ewald Ferdinand Flemming. They farmed and lived happily until his death in July of 1987, just one month after her daughter Elaine (my grandma) passed away. She was a loved and well-spoken of woman and she'll always be remembered as such. Rest In Peace, grandma.