Martin was born September 7, 1846 in Luzerne County Pennsylvania, married Mary Elizabeth Lutz there in 1868, -

Mary E. Pembleton died Feb 23, 1879 - wife of M.L. Pembleton - reported in the Wahoo, Nebraska paper.

In 1880 Saunders County Nebraska he's a tinsmith, widowed, with daughters Nora U. 4 Pennsylvania and Lizzie May, two, Nebraska. 

His biography said Bertha Udora, born July 2, 1873 near Berwick, married Ulysses H. Franklin October 5, 1892 in Seward, Nebraska, with one child, Maurice.

He married Mattie J. Kauffman March 17, 1881.   Martha Jane Kauffman was born Oct 25, 1857 in Juniata County, Pennsylvania to John D. and Catherine Shellenberger Kauffman.

In 1885 Saunders County, M.L. is 38, Mattie 27, Lillian 14, Bertha 11, Nora 10, Lizzie 8, and Daisy 2.
 Lillian and Albert Kester homesteaded a few miles away.  One tree said Daisy was born June 29, 1882 in Wahoo and died in York October 1, 1897.  His biography said Isaac Ray Pembleton was born September 13, 1883 in Polk County and died January 20, 1884,

Emma Jane was born January 17, 1892 in York.

October 30, 1887 Lansing items in the Rocky Mountain News "Mrs. M. L. Pembleton arrived home from Stromsburg, Neb., with her brother’s infant child, its mother having recently died."
(This might be Samuel S. Kauffman's daughter Sarah.

December 9, 1937 Gothenburg, Nebraska "Word has been received here of the death on Monday, Nov. 29th, of Edith Kaufman Smith, of Turlock, Calif., as the result of a skull fracture received in an auto accident the morning of Thanksgiving day. Her husband, J. E. Smith remains in critical condition in the hospital. Mrs. Smith was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Kaufman, and will be remembered by many Gothenburg people. She was 54 years of age and is survived by her mother and three daughters. A sister, Sarah Kaufman Ferguson, is also a resident of Turlock."

Samuel S. Kaufman BIRTH 26 Aug 1850 DEATH 10 Oct 1931 BURIAL Gothenburg Cemetery Gothenburg, Dawson County, Nebraska, USA MEMORIAL ID 30592886.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 am tomorrow, May 13, 1970 at the First United Methodist Church, Modesto, California, for Sara K. Ferguson, 82, who died Sunday in a local nursing home after a lingering illness. Private interment will be in Turlock Memorial Park. A native of Nebraska, she moved to this area in 1909. She was the widow of W. W. Ferguson, a long-time Turlock banker and civic leader. She was a member of the Modem Woodmen of the World and was active in local parent-teacher association and the district PTA council. She also was a member of the Republican Womens Club and was a member of the First United Methodist Church for 59 years and was a charter member of the Women’s Society for Christian Service.
She leaves a son, Dr. Leonard W. Ferguson of Ohio, two daughters, Mrs. George A. (Edith) Howard of Turlock, and Mrs. Paul K. Dean of Stockton, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren." FindaGrave MEMORIAL ID 55762703. )

April 10, 1889 Castle Rock, Colorado "Major Pembleton gave an exhibition last Wednesday evening, at the court house, which was listened to by a full house, and frequently applauded. He has no superior in handling the drum sticks. The calls almost brought the boys in blue into line. The Major's little girls also did their part to the satisfaction of the audience. Both young and old seemed to enjoy the evening."

Martin L. Pembleton cash-claimed a quarter in section 4, 4S 43W, Yuma County, in 1890. That is a few miles east of Idalia, near the Lansing office.

April 1890 at the G.A.R. encampment in Denver, "Music was furnished by the Cactus Blossom Drum Corps, the Mendelssohn Quartette and Miss Nora Pemberton."

April 25, 1890 Idaho Springs, Colorado
The Cactus Blossoms
"Majors Pembleton and Hawley, assisted by two pretty little “cactus blossoms” in the shape of Major Pembleton's bright little daughters, Lizzie and Nora, gave a very enjoyable entertainment at the Opera House on Tuesday evening, playing to a fair sized audience. The show previous and the inclemency of the weather accounted for the absence of many people who missed a most interesting programme.
In our opinion it would not be near so difficult to manufacture the proverbial silk purse from a sow’s ear as it would be to beat anything like melody out of a drum. We are free to say, however, that Major Pembleton manipulates the sticks with rare ability, and his drumming in no way interferes with the enjoyment of the audience. His performance upon five drums, fife and triangle at one time is certainly a feat worth witnessing. Major Hawley’s meritorious work with fifes, flute, ocarina and tin whistle is also entitled to special mention. The recitations by the little girls were clever and well received. They both displayed remarkably retentive memories and pronounced dramatic ability. It is a pretty sight to see them handling the drum sticks with combined grace and power. The company plays a return engagement here on Tuesday evening of next week, when those who missed hearing them last week should make an effort to be present. Reserved seats, 50 cents; general admission, 35c; children, 25c."

May 15, 1890 Fort COllins, Colorado
" The Cactus Blossoms hare something entirely new in the line of a musical and literary entertainment. Major Pembleton is undoubtedly the finest snare drummer in the United States and Major Hawley plays a large variety of musical instruments. The little girls, Misses Nora and Lizzie Pembleton, will interest the audience with numerous songs and recitations, both comic and pathetic. The execution of difficult music, by the two majors, on ten instruments at once, is truly wonderful and is alone worth the small price of admission."

May 22 "A very fair audience listened attentively to the entertainmeat given last Friday evening at the opera house by The Cactus Blossoms, assisted by Major Pembleton, the drummer boy of the Shenandoah and Fife Major S. L. Hawley. The recitations and songs by the girls, Nora and Lizzie Pembleton, were very good, considering the age and experience of the performers. The singing of Miss Nora was frequently applauded. The little misses are also expert performers on the snare drum and their father, Major Pembleton, has no superior with the drum sticks."

June 1890 Georgetown, Colorado Memorial Day "In the forenoon the services of speech and song drew a large number to the opera house. Some very excellent music was rendered by the Cactus Blossom Company, and the address by Mr. E. K. Stimpson was in his best vein. In the afternoon hundreds availed themselves of the opportunity to witness the simple and pathetic ceremony- of decoration at Alvarado cemetery, the most solemn and touching part of the memorial services."

May 12, 1891 "M. L. Pembleton et al. to J. C. Worley, sw qr sec. 4, twp 4s, r 43w, 160 acres, $ 1,600."

Martin Luther Pembleton (seen here at left) was father and leader of the Pembletons Family Band, also known as Pembletons Ladies Martial Band and the Pembleton Baby Drummers. The drum and fife corps traveled Nebraska from its home base in York beginning in the year 1889. His son Martin Luther Pembleton Jr. (that might be incorrect - Martin wasn't born until 1889) and wife Martha are seen first and second from the right. This photo and story appeared in the York News-Times of York, NE on June 27, 2008.

Castle Rock Colorado April 10, 1889

Fort Collins Colorado May 22, 1890

Nora Eugenia, born October 23, 1875 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, married Arthur V. Rhine December 6, 1892 in York, Nebraska. 

In 1900 Fillmore, Nebraska "Lenore E" Rhine, born October 1875 in Pennsylvania, is divorced.  She's had two children, one living. Harold W. born July 1897 in Nebraska, father in Illinois.  She and boarder Jessie Morrison are milliners.  In 1910 Lancaster County Nebraska Harold V. Rine is living with grandparents Michel P. and Eliza J. Rine.

 

In 1896 a M. Pembleton was on the ballot for Democratic presidential electors.  Other articles said he was "an old soldier in Ness City."

Lizzie M. Pembleton, 22, married Homer E. Miller, 22, in York Nebraska August 31, 1899.

In 1900 York, Nebraska  Martin Pembleton born Sep 1846, Mattie Oct 1867, both in Pennsylvania have Marjorie THAT MUST BE MARTIN JUNIOR born Sep 1889 in Colorado, and Emma January 1890 Nebraska.  So the older Martin is the homesteader.  Mattie has had four children, two living.

1902

York, NE — Martin Luther Pembleton Sr. was born in 1846 in Luzerne County, Penn. He came from a military background. So when as a young man he opted to join the Pennsylvania Volunteers. But, according to Nancy Beach of the York County Historical Association, due to his size and age he was not allowed to serve at the front. Beach reports, soon after entering the service, Pembleton took the place of a man who had been drafted and did not want to go. Hence he became a member of Co. A of the 104th Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry, later serving as a drummer in the regiment.
Research into the Pembleton family found Martin Luther Sr. and his family living in Wahoo in the year 1876. In 1889 the family moved to York . During his life the senior Pembleton married twice, fathering a total of nine children.
Highlights of Pembleton’s life include his service as drum major for the 1st Regiment of the National Guard in Nebraska , a position to which he was elected six years running. For three years the musician served as drum major for the National Association of Civil War Musicians and once presided over the largest assemblage of musicians ever led by a single man, 635 total.
In 1895 the elder Pembleton suffered a stroke, from then on his participation in the family band was limited. Son, Martin Luther Pembleton Jr., his wife Martha and several of his daughters carried on, performing in regimental dress at conventions and gatherings.

Mattie Pembleton - thank you, Barbara.


June 17, 1915 Wray "Word has been recieved in Wray that Major Pemberton, a former residont of Lansing precinct, had died recently in York, Nebraska. He will be remembered by many of the old settlers in that section of the county."

Martin Luther Pembleton Sr. died in York in and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery

Hayes, Emma Jane Jan 17 1892 May 31 1983 Pembleton, Kauffman  - Metz Mortuary, York, Nebraska

Lenora Eugenia Pembleton Look, widowed, born 1877 in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, married  John Herman Roelfs August 1, 1905 in Red Oak, Montgomery County Iowa.  Her father was Martin Luther Pembleton, mother Mary Lutz.

The Martin L. Pembleton who cash-claimed the land in Yuma County might be the elder, or the Martin Luther Pembleton born in Pennsylvania in 1869, per one tree.

In 1915 Mattie (wid Martin) is living at 502 W 5th in York.  Martin L Pembleton, Jr is at the same address, a machinist.

Mattie is widowed in 1920 York, Nebraska, 62, working as a practical nurse.

Martin Luther Pembleton Jr., was born September 18, 1889 in Logan.  His WWI registration said he was born in Prairie, Colorado.  He was single, a mechanic in York.  In 1920 he was a railroad fireman in Alliance, Nebraska (a railroad town in far northwest Nebraska)

In 1930 York he's a car salesman.

In 1940 York Martin L. is still single, a houseman.

Martin died October 24, 1971 in Modesto California.  Metz Mortuary of York have a Martin L born September 18, 1889 dying October 24, 1971 - so he must be the one buried in Greenwood Cemetery, York.