The Martin Southern Squyres Family

From Our Island Heritage, Vol. 2, 1977, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith:

Martin Southern Squyres was born on January 12, 1863 in Summerville, Louisiana to Martin C. and Joanna C. Oliphant Squyres.  His childhood years were spent around Aimwell.  He was married to Lieuella Ford of that community.  They purchased land in the hills near Aimwell and settled there.  To this marriage was born one son, Wilson Alvie, in 1887.  Lieuella died in May of 1890.

(Editor's note:  Research shows that Lieulla's last name was Beasley and that Martin's second wife, Louvenia Beasley was probably a sister to Lieuella.  Louisiana marriage records show an M. S. Squyres married E. L. Beasley on December 30, 1885 in Sabi, Louisiana.  Also, Memorial # 42865305 at FindAGrave.com shows an infant son who was born and died in 1890.  Both mother and son are buried in Aimwell Cemetery, Catahoula, Louisiana with a double marker.  Tombstone photographs are courtesy of Tommye Price at FindAGrave.com)

E. Lieuella Squyres-double marker with son

Infant Son Squyres-bottom of double marker

The second wife of Martin Squyres was Louvenia "Fannie" Beasley of Harrisonburg.  This marriage took place on October 23, 1890.  Around the turn of the century, Martin, Fannie and his young son, Alvie, moved on to Sicily Island where he had purchased land.  This was mostly woodlands and had no house on it so they lived in a tent while Martin built their home.  The house was a typical plantation style house of that day with rooms located on either side of a long open hallway and having a full front porch.  The house was located near the intersection of the Cane Road and the Hill Road.  They were not to enjoy this house together for long as Fannie Squyres died on December 28, 1905. She is buried in Aimwell Cemetery, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Tommye Price at FindAGrave.com)

Louvenia Fannie Beasley Squyres

Miss Julia Isabelle Sorg, a sister to Camilla Lilla Sorg Enright, became the third wife of Martin Squyres in 1907.  Julia was born on January 14, 1874 and died in childbirth on November 14, 1907.  She and their infant son are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Julia Isabelle Sorg Squyres

Infant son of Julia and M S Squyres

On August 5, 1908, Martin Squyres took as his fourth wife, the widow of Will Punchard, Ida Eva Blaney Punchard.  Ida was born on May 15, 1880.  She and her four children, Ada, George, Willie, and Lee, came to live in the Squyres home on the Cane Road.  

The following children were born to the union of Martin and Ida Squyres:

Martin "Bud", 1909-1975
Ida, 1911-?  (m. Dozier H. Harrell)
Hansford, 1912-1913
Herbert, 1914-1971 (m. Ann Young)
Milford, 1915-1995 (m. Hattie Chaudoin)
Isabelle, 1919-? (m. Washburn)
Maggie, 1922-? (m. Delaney)
Calvert, 1923-1990 (m. Martha Pearl Buckles)

The Squyres family worked the 120 acre farm and Martin began a long tenure of working for the Catahoula Parish School Board.  His first contract was to drive a school wagon.  When the high school was built in the country in 1912, he contracted to supply three school wagons.  These were equipped with long wooden bench seats along either side, and one down the middle of the wagon bed.  The wagons were covered with a canvas tops supported by wooden strips.  The canvas sides could be rolled up in hot weather and dropped down in cold or rainy weather.  The school wagons were driven by himself, his son, Martin and step-son, Willie.

In 1923, when the high school was moved to the village of Sicily Island, Martin moved along with it in his Model-T Ford school bus.  He continued to operate a school bus, updating the model, until his retirement in 1935.

Many are the memories of those school wagon days.  The big sand bed on Guice Road necessitated unloading the older students to give an added push on the wagon to help the horses through the sand.  Many courtships started on those long rides.  Sing-songs and all sorts of games were used to make the time pass more enjoyably.

Martin Southern Squyres died on January 1, 1941. In December of 1941, Ida sold the place to F. A. Crawford, reserving the right to occupy the home until her death.  Ida lived on in the big house until shortly before her death on September 19, 1953.  Martin and Ida are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Martin Southern Squyres

Ida Blaney Punchard Squyres