Ada Margaret Martin

The oldest of four children, she was daughter of Ivan Lee & Jennie Celestia (Wells) Ingalls of Irasburg, VT. Though her father was born in Canada and spoke a mix of French and English, he was of England descent. Ada grew up a farmgirl, helping out in the barn, the fields and the sugarbush. At the time of the 1920 U.S. Census, the family was renting a dairy farm in Irasburg, VT from Jennie's parents Samuel & Ada (Hackett) Wells. A young hired man, George Jerome, was staying with them on the farm (he was Jennie's nephew by her sister Viola).

By the 1930 U.S. Census, Ada was 16 and attending Orleans High School. Her younger siblings were also in school, and her widowed great-uncle Henry Trescott (Ivan's uncle) was living with them and helping with the farming. That summer she graduated as salutatorian of the Class of 1930. She graduated UVM in 1934 with a B.S. in education, majoring in math, English and education. She began teaching in a grade 1-8 one-room school in East Peacham, VT. After two years there she moved back home to Irasburg and applied herself at the local Irasburg Elementary School, where she was the teaching principal for grades 6, 7 and 8. She also was 4-H club leader, basketball coach and taught square dancing.

The 1940 U.S. Census has Ada lodging with the Benjamin Read family on North Ave in Richford, VT. She shared a space with fellow lodger and co-teacher Louise Whittemore, a younger girl of 21, who hailed from Waltham, MA. Ada had begun teaching at Richford High School in 1937, and had worked 39 weeks that last year.

On 14 Jun 1940 she married Reuben Charles Martin in Irasburg, VT at her family's home. Marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Albert B. Kettell of the Irasburg United Church. Ada had been walking past the Martin house on her way to and from the apartment she rented. After the wedding they lived there with Reuben's parents - a convenient location for caring for his aging parents, and a short walk to her job and his.

In 1943 Reuben was drafted into WWII. He was enlisted in the U.S. Navy 01 Jan 1943 to 21 Oct 1945. She held down the homefront while he was gone, looking in on her parents and living with his. They were members of the Burlington Gem & Mineral Club. From 1946-1961 they operated Reuben's Greenhouse and Florist Shop, and then she went back to teaching.

From her obit: "For 27 years she taught math at Richford High School, retiring in 1982. While at Richford she coached girls basketball from 1939-41, was advisor to the National Honor Society for several years, coached girls softball for 12 years, organized and sponsored the Future Teachers of America at RHS for several years, was senior class advisor for 21 years, official time-keeper for all home basketball games (both boys and girls) for over 20 years, and was advisor to RHS cheerleaders for two years 1980-82. Ada was very active in many organizations including the following: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Vermont Council of Teachers of Mathematics (Director of Zone one for one term), NEA, VEA, Delta Kappa Gamma, recipient of Outstanding Math Teacher in Vermont Award in 1981 given by Sigma Zi, and was an original board member of the Richford Health Center, serving until 1982. She was a member and deaconess of the Richford First Baptist Church. She also served as director of the State Women's Conference for four years, and president of the Vermont State Baptist Convention from 1981-82."

Children born are Peter (1943), Marianne (1946) and Paul (1952).