Martha was baptized on April 10, 1892, at Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, with Bernhard Rebescher and Rosalia Schwert as witnesses. The baptism ledger at Saint Boniface notes that she was baptized as "Mary Martha Schwert." Martha's daughter, Olive, observes that Martha probably changed her name from "Mary Martha" to "Martha Ruth" when she got married. Otherwise, Martha's married name would have been " Mary Mary."

Martha worked at a jewelry box company in Buffalo, NY. She met Edward G. Mary (machinist at Pullman Company) at Hertel and Main St., while waiting for a streetcar. Edward was born in Lancaster, NY. He was the son of Jacob Mary (born in France) and Barbara Schill (born in Canada). Edward was a widower, having once been married to Margaret Porth.

Edward followed Martha home one day. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1920, by Rev. George Sellinger. The church was probably Saint Matthew's R.C. Church in Buffalo. The marriage was witnessed by Martha's brother Paul and by Matthew Donahue.

Martha Schwert. 1st Communion, 1905 (Click to enlarge, 16K)

During the Depression, Edward lost his job as a machinist but found work as a nightwatchman at a feed factory across the street from where they lived at 163 Leslie Street in Buffalo. Then, in the early 1940's, he was a painter and maintenance man at Sisters of Charity Hospital.

Martha was a meticulous housekeeper. She loved to cook and bake, especially her mother's (Julia [née Schlee] Schwert's) bread (click here for Julia's recipe). Julia lived a few blocks away, and Martha helped her with her laundry, shopping, and cleaning, as her mother was up in years and had bad ulcers on her legs. After Julia died in 1938, Ed and Martha purchased Julia's home at 115 Nevada Street in Buffalo.

Martha and Edward enjoyed the simple things in life: fishing, swimming, picnics with family and friends, playing cards, and gardening. They had three children: John, Grace, and Olive.

Edward died on October 2, 1961. Martha went to live with her daughter Olive and family for 14 years. Martha loved playing the organ, playing cards and bingo, crocheting afghans, and being with her grandchildren. She had a stroke in 1976 and died of a heart attack on the Feast of Saint Martha (July 29, 1977) at the age of 85. Martha is interred in Lot 250, Section D, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY, along with Edward, her son John, her daughter Grace, and her brother, the Reverend John B. Schwert.