Martha Maddox Short, was born in Georgia Nov. 13, 1807, and lived in that state about six years, when she came with her parents to Illinois in 1813 and settled on a farm near Belleville.

She was married to Thos. J. Short Feb. 2, 1825, in Clinton County near Carlyle. This union was blessed with eleven children, five boys and six girls, all of whom have preceded her to the better world save Alfred, now 76 years old, and James W., with whom deceased was living at the time of her death.

She professed a faith in Christ and joined the M.E. Church in 1827 and has ever since lived a devoted Christian life. She was converted at a camp meeting at Ridge campground conducted by Rev. Simeon Walker, one of the pioneer Methodist preachers. Sister Short was one among the oldest, if not the oldest, residents of our county.

The writer and her former pastor, Rev. J.C. Kinison have often heard her relate stirring incidents of the camp meeting conducted by Peter Cartwright and Lorenzo Dow, also of the inconveniences of the county in its infancy.

She moved with her husband to a farm in 1853, near where Uncle Alfred Short now lives. At the time there was no church in this part of the county, services being held in private houses. Her doors were often thrown wide open for the worship of God. She and her companion were instrumental in building the old log church, which stood one quarter of a mile south of Zion church.

During the civil war, which brought sorrow to so many homes, she placed a husband and two sons upon the altar of her country, trusting in God for their safety and her prayers were answered by their safe return.

After 44 years of sojourn together, God in his providence took from her the companion of her bosom.

Her trouble in this life were great, having a husband and nine children precede her to the eternal home of the soul, yet, like Job of old, she was enabled to say, "The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the lord."

Not withstanding her extreme age she possessed a strong memory, being able to converse very intelligently upon matters connected with the early history of the county.

Her last thoughts were of her oldest son, asking the favor of God to rest upon him, her last words being, "The Lord bless you, Alfred." Her daughter-in-law, seeing her lips move, asked her what she wanted. She replied, "Oh, my blessed Savior." To her son, James, she, "I will soon be done suffering," then sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, Friday evening, Feb. 28, 1902.

The funeral service was held at the residence, conducted by Rev. J.H. Davis. Internment at

Source: Newspaper article found in old family Bible of Curtis Gale Short
Date Unknown
Submitted by: Lori Lisenby Leonard
Relationship: GGG Granddaughter

Note from Sandy: the following notes are from my Marlow family records:

Patricia Martha (Mattox) Short, also known as "Granny Patsy" married Thomas Jefferson Short in Illinois in the early 1800s. Together they had eleven children, eight of them growing to maturity; William Alfred, Priscilla, Joshua, Nancy, Lydia, Martha E., William James, and Thomas B. The relationship to the Marlow family is through Priscilla, who married James Allen Marlow in 1850.

Nell King, a great-grand-daughter of Granny Patsy, recalls at the age of fourteen visiting Jim Short and his wife, Ninnie and having to sleep in a bed Granny Patsy. Nell recounts that during the middle of the night she was "scared to death" when Granny Patsy began to feel over her and then called out "Laws-a-mercy, Ninnie, this child's big as a cow!" Granny Patsy was ninety at the time.

Nell also recalls that while eating, Granny Patsy would reach across the table and take meat off the platter with her fingers. Since Nell knows the family had plenty of bone-handled tableware, she feels that Granny Patsy was just old and a little forgetful about using her fork. Nell said in a soft voice, "That was alright because I was always glad to see her anyway."

During the Civil War when Thomas Short and three of his sons were enlisted, the women and children were left alone to fend for themselves. Granny Patsy told the family later how frightened she was when the Indians came around the home, even though she was Indian.

Granny Patsy died on February 28, 1902 in Clinton County, Illinois and is buried in Atkinson Cemetery, east of Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Here is her Findagrave Memorial with photos.