The Martins:
Augustus Brown Skaggs
Annie Hughes Skaggs (circa 1920)
Charlie’s Grandparents (Kate’s side)
The Koepfers:
The Dehlers:
The Realigned Martin Tree 8/19/2026:
Samuel Martin Sr. (The Colonial Origin)
Samuel Martin II (1720–1782) & Ann (1725–Deceased) — Brought the family to Virginia
Samuel III (or Job) (Died 1777 / 1839) — The Revolutionary War Veterans
Joseph Zachariah Martin (1778–1860) & Margaret "Peggy" Wilson — Moved to the West Virginia border
Abraham Martin (1824–after 1880) & Mary Pauline Ripptoe — The Belva Homestead
Joseph Alexander Martin (1855–1920) & Ann "Annie" Eliza Dorsey — The Belva Store
Charles C. Martin Sr. — The Belva Grocer / Huntington Fire Captain
Charles C. Martin Jr. (Charles Lawrence Martin) — Charlie
Charles Martin Sr. & Catherine (Kate) Skaggs (3 children)
Charlie, Eugene, Robert
George and Lena Koepfer
Charles Sr.
The Skaggs:
The Koepfer Clan: l to r
George jr., Betty, Rita, Mary, Dorothy, Martha, Ruth, Helen, Lena, George C. Sr.
White House Tour 1962
Golden Anniversary - Lake Tahoe
Helena’s father Frederick Dehler married Rosa Amschler in June 1880. They were in Cincinnati for the 1880 census. By 1881 they had moved to Corinne Utah. Not sure why, but the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 at Promontory, Utah 6 miles from Corinne. Their first 3 children were born in Corinne, Margaret 12/27/1881, Anna 11/14/1883 and Helena, Mamaw, 4/11/1885. The youngest Frederick was born 2/12/1887 in Cincinnati.
240 Marshall, Huntington
Augustus Brown Skaggs
Annie Hughes Skaggs (circa 1895)
Charlie’s Grandparents (Kate’s side)
Family & Home
Daily life, family moments, and the people at the center of the story — the quiet places where memory lives.
Building the A-Capeharts at China Lake
Leroy Doig jr. (l) Leroy Doig III (r)
War & Service
World War II, Seabee service, and time in the Pacific — work, duty, and the building of something larger than oneself.
Santo Tomas POW Camp
Philippines 1943
POW-Leroy Doig jr.
Eeerrrp!
Newspaper photograph shows Captain Frederick L. Ashworth speaking at the China Lake Little League opening ceremonies in 1957. Standing directly behind him in the light-colored jacket is Charlie Martin, who was serving as President of the China Lake Babe Ruth League at the time.
These men didn’t just win a war. They came home and built communities.
From Tinian to Tee Ball
1945: Captain Ashworth and Charlie connected through Operation DOWNFALL.
1957: Standing together at China Lake, opening Little League season.
2026: Their sons reconnect while preserving that history.
Leroy Doig jr. (l) Leroy Doig III (r)
Elizabeth Doig’s Husband and son, (Aunt Betty Koepfer)
From Tinian: the next Generation:
2026: Captain Dave Ashworth (USN Ret.) at home in Utah
Holding books by:
John C. Martin “The Last Camelot”
Capt. Howard Rutledge (USN Ret., POW Hanoi Hilton) “In The Presence of Mine Enemies”
Capt. Rutledge and family lived next door to the Martins on Shangri-La Circle at China Lake
2026: Their sons reconnect while preserving that history.
Photo by Drew Martin
West Virginia to California
The journey west and the places that shaped the transition — from river towns to desert horizons.
John rips a pitch to the gap in left
John at Yankees Training camp
Roger stands ready to rip
Infield practice on Rowe St.
Roger, John, Dave
Dave eyeing a change up
John turns two
Duke digs into the batter’s box
Dave at LA Coliseum w/Cincinatti Reds - 1959
“The ball field is right there kids; we just have to build it” - CCM
Dave
John and Dave
Documents & Artifacts
Letters, records, and fragments of history — the physical pieces that carry the story forward.
“Huntington Heartbreak”
The Eugene Martin Murder
To truly understand a person, one must first understand the times in which they lived