Otto Martini and Johanna "Hannah" Gustafsdotter

 Left: Otto and Hanna Martini Right: Martini Family Home (taken in 2014)

Otto Martini, born 4 November 1860 in Östra Ljungby of Socken, Kristianstad, Sweden to Nils Elof and Sofia (Jeppson) Martini.¹ On November 3^rd 1886 he married Hanna Gustafson in San Bernardino, California.² Johanna Gustafsdotter, also known as Hannah Gustafson, born 30 October 1864 in Tofteryd, Jönköpings, Sweden to Gustaf Nilsson and Vendela Christina Johansdotter.³ Otto and Hanna had eight children, two boys died before they were five years old. In 1891, after Otto’s father’s death, his half-brother Peter and half-sister Sophia, were taken in and treated as part of the family evidence appeared in the 1900 U.S. Census where they were listed as Otto and Hannah’s children.⁴ Otto’s and Hannah’s children were:

Martini Family Christmas ~ 1915-1920

Name	Birth	Marriage	Death
Verner Nefton Martin	13 February 1888 Riverside, Riverside, CA	NA	1891 Riverside, Riverside, CA
Lillie Evelyn Martin	17 May 1890 Riverside, Riverside, CA	About 1920 California Harry Dunann	6 July 1957 Riverside, Riverside, CA
Olga Vendla Christina Martin	21 October 1893 Riverside, Riverside, CA	20 January 1926 Orange, Orange, CA Milton Floyd Goodhart	3 July 1976 Hemet, Riverside, CA
Paul Gustaf Martin	7 April 1895 Riverside, Riverside, CA	24 April 1919 Long Beach, Los Angeles, CA Myrtle Evelyn Johnson	9 January 1957 Roosevelt, Duchesne, UT
Walter Myron Martin	12 July 1898 Riverside, Riverside, CA	Unknown	1950 Riverside, Riverside, CA
Roy E. Phillip Martin	1 May 1900 Riverside, Riverside, CA	NA	1901 Riverside, Riverside, CA
Clifford William Martin	29 January 1902 Riverside, Riverside, CA	Unknown	24 January 1953 Riverside, Riverside, CA
Florence Margaret Martin	9 July 1904 Riverside, Riverside, CA	Unknown California Edmund C Hooper	21 September 1987 Riverside, Riverside, CA
Information on Children came from “Family Tree,” Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed Sept 2016

  

Otto and Hannah had a ranch at the west end of Central Avenue in Riverside. Here they grew a variety of crops that included: alfalfa, beans, walnuts, and at times they had dairy cows. The milk barn burned down at least twice and was rebuilt once. After raising their children, they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. The ranch was large and so they had to work together to keep the ranch going. They lived in the same home on Central Avenue from at least 1900 until they both passed away. Otto and Hannah were hard workers. Otto maintained the farm and managed the ranch hands he employed. Hannah maintained the home garden, which grew a variety of vegetables and several fruit trees, milked cows and provided meals for the men, as well as caring for the children.⁵ Hannah’s sister Christina lived close by, although the nearest home was a couple blocks away at the time. While several of Otto’s siblings lived in Riverside, most of them farmed either for themselves or hired out.  Otto and Hannah left a legacy of hard work, determination and a spirit of adventure. The home they lived in stayed in the family for a couple generations and is still standing today. When Otto and Hannah died they were buried in the Olivewood Cemetery  close to their siblings.⁶

Pictures: 

Top Left: Otto with Grandsons Bill and Ray (Paul Martin sons)

Top Right: Farm life with Clifford Martin

Bottom Left: Otto and Hannah with grandkids

Mid Right : Otto with brothers Harry and Anders (Andrew) - Harry, Anders, Otto

Bottom Right: Hanna with oldest grandchild Bill

References:

[1]  Otto Martini (273X-2L3), "Family Tree", database, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed September 2016).

2  Otto Martin to Hanna Gustafson, 3 November 1886, San Bernardino, California, “California, County Marriages, 1850-1892,” database, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed September 2016) p. 493.

3 Johanna “Hannah” Gustafsdotter (2MPK-379), “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch.org.

4 1900 U.S. Census, Riverside County, California, Precinct 7 Riverside City, stamped p. 135A, dwelling 172, Otto Martini Household; digital image, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed September 2016); citing NARA microfilm    publication T623.  

5 Personal Interview, Raymond Charles Martin, grandson, conducted at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Amy Woodward on 17 September 2016,

6 Otto Martini, digital image, Find a Grave (http://findagrave.com: accessed September 2016), memorial # 63595844. Hannah (Gustofson) Martini, digital image, Find a Grave, memorial #63595947.  

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