Martha A. Binyon Sigler (1857-1911)
(Mrs. John Charles Sigler)

Sigler House, 1906

Report of the Historical Secretary of the Old Settler and Historical Association of Lake County, Indiana, and Papers, No. 7. The Register Print: Crown Point, IN. 1910.

September 26, Saturday. This day there was held at the Sigler House, on the west side of Cedar Lake, the first anniversary of the organization founded last year at Lowell, composed of members of the different schools taught several years ago by H.H. Ragon. The schools were known by the names of Pleasant Grove, Orchard Grove, Robinson Prairie, Lowell, Bailey and Buckley. A large number attended, among them many invited guests. The weather was very favorable, and all evidently enjoyed the dinner, the exercises, the music and the greetings. Mrs. Sigler certainly deserved hearty thanks for her great kindness in opening her rooms and furnishing the articles needed.

Obituary of Mrs. Charles Sigler, unknown source, (in Clipping Files at Lowell Public Library--LH--"Vital Statistics," Vol. 2, p. 59).

While the death of Mrs. Charles Sigler was not unexpected, our people were greatly shocked when a telegram was received here Friday that she had died that day at the home of her sister, Mrs. D.D. Mee, in Chicago. She has been a great sufferer for the past year; no hope being held out to her by any of the physicians that she consulted, with perhaps one and he died shortly after beginning treatment of her. Her funeral was held in Chicago Monday afternoon. Further notice of her and her life's work will be given next week.

Obituary of Mrs. Charles Sigler, unknown source, (in Clipping Files at Lowell Public Library--LH--"Vital Statistics," ). [NOTE: Blank spaces indicate that the article was illegible here.]

Martha A. Binyon, youngest daughter and child of John and Nancy (Hughes) Binyon, was born in Franklin county, Iowa, April 6th 1857 and died at the home of her sister Mrs. D. Mee in Chicago; at 1:30 p.m. Friday March 24th, 1911, at the age of 53 years, 11 months and 18 days. The cause of her death was cancer of the liver. She has been in failing health for about a year; much of time being a great sufferer. She bore her sufferings with patience and fortitude. Everything that a loving husband and kind and attentive friends could do was done to prolong her life and bring her back to health, but without avail, her life's work was done; she was called to that higher life. Jan. 2, 1877, she was united in marriage with John Charles Sigler. To this union two children were born; a son and a daughter. It is a singular coincidence that she was married at the home of her sister Nettie Mee, when they lived near Lowell and died at her home in Chicago. About three months ago she and her husband went to Heber, Arkansas ______ and from_______________ her health but she grew generally worse until it became necessary for her to return home which she was unable to reach; she being just able to reach the home of her sister. A part of her life work was teaching in our public schools, at which she was very successful. Her first term was taught when she was 16 and the last when she was 20, in the grade schools of Lowell, where she taught the primary, under the principalship of the writer. She was of a literary turn of mind; having written a number of fine stories; two of which, "The Neighborhood's Doin's" in 1904, and "Prodigal Ezra" in 1908, were printed in book form.

She was a highly cultured woman, with a bright and sunny disposition, kind and courteous to all. It was these womanly qualities, that made warm and lasting friends of all with whom she came in contact. But she is gone; she has passed from the toils and sorrows of her earth life, to that life eternal, where sickness, sorrow, pain, nor death, and the parting of friends are not known. Many a silent tear will be shed for her and her memory will be revered by her legion of friends. Her funeral occurred from the home of her sister, Mrs. D.D. Mee, in Chicago Monday, March 27, 1911. Her body was laid to rest in beautiful Mount Olive cemetery, near Chicago. She leaves her husband, one son, Cecil, of Heber, Arkansas, one daughter, Mrs. Ruby McLaughlin, of Bloomington, Indiana, one granddaughter, Martha Ellen McLaughlin, three sisters, Mrs. T.W. Cushman, of Lowell, Mrs, D.D. Mee, of Chicago, and Mrs. Mildred Higginbotham, of Cedar Lake, one brother, Christopher Binyon, of Lowell, a number of nephews and nieces and other relatives together with a legion of __________ to mourn her death.

Report of the Historical Secretary of the Old Settler and Historical Association of Lake County, Indiana, and Papers, No. 8. The Register Print: Crown Point, IN, 1911. p. 7.

Died, March 24, Mrs. Martha Binyon Sigler, wife of Charles Sigler, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Mee. She was well known to hundreds and even thousands, and her name is closely linked with Cedar Lake as a pleasure resort. With her much of its west side life has departed.