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Summary: Dates are inconsistent throughout the file. (ex: Martin and Lona’s date of marriage). There is a letter that said Martin died on October 21, 1864 near Point of Rocks, VA, of chronic diarrhea rather than a gunshot wound. Another page says that Martin died on December 20, 1864 (pg. 24). Page 26 reports that Martin died on October 2, 1864 at Saltville, VA.
Martin Sears was born in Nelson Co, KY and was 23 years of age at the time of his enlistment. He previously worked as a farmer owned by Alexander Sears.
Lona Sears had been sick for 11 months and died on January 15, 1871 of consumption.
Martin Sears was enrolled on August 26, 1864 and killed in action on December 24, 1864. Captain D.C. Stone of Matin's company testified that Martin was wounded in battle on October 2, 1864 and died on October 3, 1864. Martin and Lona Greathouse were married on July 15, 1864. One of their two children was stillborn.
Martin died on the battlefield near Saltville, Virginia. There was one child, Emma Sears, who may not have been the legitimate child of Martin Sears. Moses Greathouse, Lona’s brother, was her guardian after Lona died. Moses Greathouse was married to Violet Greathouse. Violet stated that she knew Emma was born in March of 1866. She later admitted to Moses that Emma was likely not the legitimate child of Martin Sears. Moses was in service alongside Martin Sears.
Lona Greathouse was living in Nelson County, Kentucky. Martin's enslaver was listed as Alexander Sayers.