I consider myself a family historian rather than a genealogy reseacher. I am intrigued by the hitorical migration of my ancetors from the British Isles and Europe to the southern United States and then across this great country to the west and nortwest. I have concnetrated here on family stories, the historical events surrounding my ancestors, and where known, their participation in thiose historical events.

Much of what is written here is nothing more that an oral history put onto paper. I am grateful to my cousin Cleta Stuart-Porterfield for having the foresight and determination to pull together most of this information and published it as the Martin Family Stories. I have noted any additions or deletions to her original work so as not to detract from its quality. Each story has links to the people referenced and to other genealogy related web sites.

Janet and I were born and raised in Heber Springs, Arkansas.  We were high school sweethearts and married young.  After high school, I joined the US Army and travelled all over the world. Upon my retirement from the military, we settled in Washington state and except for a 3 year span of living in Arizona have remained there.

During my military service I was an Aviation Warrant Officer and flew helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.  I had tours of duty in Vietnam (2) Germany, Alaska, Hawaii, and many different places in the US. After retirement from the Army I turned my hobby (computers) into a paying job and have worked for the State of Washington and the State of Arizona managing various computer operations.