Our Amazing Ancestors

Last week was Father's Day where many of you live, and a cousin of mine posted an interesting shout out to our Great Great Grandfather to mark the occasion. Of course I knew about him vaguely, I even remember posing for a picture with his daughter in law Libby for a "Great Grandmother picture, but let me share some of my research with you.

His name was Martin Van Buren Smith.   If you google him, you’re going to need to get some popcorn, because you'll be reading for quite a while.

As you search though, I don't want you to be confused with Martin Van Buren, the 8th president of the United States.  That Van Buren was about 50 years ahead and probably was an influence in naming him.

Our 'Van Burens' have manifested themselves through several people in our lineage as they have jumped on this auspicious name.  Our ancestor gave himself and his name to many of his 11 children (10 who reached adulthood).  We have my grandfather, Charlie Martin, my father Robert Martin, possibly me, (Marsha since there were no boys in our family), my cousin James Martin, and the list continues.

Martin Van Buren was born in the mid 1800's, got off to a slow start due to ill health and having to move as a family to where there was no school (in Texas).  Because of all that, he had to stop schooling at age 11.  Fortunately, a few years later he'd found his feet and by 21 had a complete education including the Greek, Hebrew, Latin, etc that was considered the rigor of the day.  

He felt called to the ministry and began to preach here and there, often at great distances apart and on the same day. He became a supported Missionary to the area, and significantly went on to organise a company and together with them entered the Civil War where he was a Captain as well as a Chaplain until the war was over.  Then he returned to really get busy and was a large help founding Baylor University. (Which for youA ussie readers is one of the most prestigious Christian Universities in the USA)  Also  he was instrumental in fundraising both for the town of Belton and the building of the campus of Mary Hardin Baylor, an affiliate of  the bigger Baylor University system there in Benton.  It was noted that when he died at 56, the entire town of Belton, including the 6 saloons, closed down for an entire day.  

And then, as if he had nothing else to do, he was also responsible for starting the Texas newspaper, “The Baptist Standard”, which was the mainstay of all things Baptist for quite a few of you readers out there.  It's still in full operation today, 133 years down the track.   I'm pretty sure Tony's folks always had a copy in the house.

As I sat there last Sunday taking all this in, I'll have to say my chest stuck out a bit with pride.  It's nice to know you've got some real Royal (at least by  Baptist measures) blood in your veins.  I also remembered that my great Granny Smith, who was a daughter-in-law of MVB Smith was the resident artist for the Mary Hardin Baylor University and was responsible for all the murals that adorn the halls there.

I also revelled in the fact that I married a guy with some real similarities. He loves preaching and caring for others. As I write this, he's on a couple of boards that are helping others get things done.  But then I had to continue to keep thinking downward to my kids and their spouses and their wonderful little amazing kids. They're making a difference already, at least in our lives.

There's a song that was going around during the pandemic, called "The Blessing".  The line that hit me then and still does is, "May His favour be upon you and your children for a thousand generations". 

Did you know that's in the Bible?  Several times, actually, but the exact one is in Exodus 20:6, “but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

I know I know, God was talking to Israel when he said this, but still those people are our ancestors, at least spiritually.

You prayed with us last week that we could all get well enough to take a family vacation and I'd like to say a big "thank you".   It took some effort, but we made it to Fraiser Island, albeit with some of us dragging boxes of Kleenex and pillows. We then had some good times, with plenty of “four-wheeling” on a 74-mile-long beach and tackling some impressive tracks along the island’s interior before son Nathan relapsed and was pretty sick.  Of course on an island, there are no services, so he had to gut it out with aspirin, cup noodles and a (sometimes) sympathetic family.  Today we're all back home and on the mend.  

The 'take away' from the whole experience though was, simply stated, “We are family, no one left behind.” As we told our grandkids, “We are four generations away from a man who in spite of major obstacles made a difference; and you can do the same.” 

While their daddy was sick, the three boys discovered fishing.  Some of you know that thrill.  I had to correct one who insisted his brother had caught the 'same fish' five times. I suppose it’s possible that it was one dumb fish, but more likely it was the same species he caught over and over, as opposed to his brother/accuser who managed to reel in several varieties during the same time. So cute.  Anyway, they got a lot out of the trip, even though some of the spectacular things on Fraiser, such as a shipwreck on the beach, and some amazingly warm lakes free of crocs, sharks, jelly fish and rip tides just waiting for intrepid swimmers, will have to wait till next time.

Back to my blog.  Aren't generations amazing?  And aren't we blessed to be in them?  Doesn't God enjoy seeing what you're contributing to yours? If you don’t think you have any outstanding family members, keep looking. If nothing else, you’ll arrive eventually at Noah and his clan, who you can claim as ancestors!

Keep on Keeping on, watching both behind and ahead, and we'll see you next week.  

Marsha