Martha Marks- Mike had left the ridge before Dora Brown and her children moved. He was working at the Round House for the Railroad firing boilers. He was staying with a family in Youngwood,Pa. and Dora and he met away from the farm where the explosion had occurred.

Bess Hunker said that her brother Curt met Mike while working on th R.R. and introduced them. ”Dad was a good father. He supported 5 step children until they finished high school or equivalent. He and Dora had two children , Martha and William.

Dad never went to church. Sunday was a busy day. He fixed what needed done at the house, cut hair for the boys and soled the shoes. He gave Bill and I money for Sunday School and church. He believed in God and was good to everyone. The preacher used to stop by to use the toilet and get a refreshing drink in the summer. The preacher from Acme moved to Youngwood and was usually at our home for Sunday supper. Bill and I were baptized in the living room by Rev. Brocker. Mother and the rest of the family all belonged to Youngwood United Methodist Church. John, Jake and Bess Brown attended the New Stanton Methodist Church.

John Michael Marks-Census Records
 
Based on information from the 1900 United States Federal Census
John M Marks, a 17-year-old white male, was born in October 1882 in Pennsylvania, USA. In 1900, he resided with his family in Four Mile Run, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, specifically at house number 5. Their dwelling was the 90th in order of visitation, and their family number was 95. John was the son of William Marks, a 54-year-old day laborer, and Eliza A Marks, a 48-year-old housewife. John had four younger siblings: Emma A (14), Ada I (11), Della L (9), and Grace V (5). The youngest sibling, Ivy E, was only 10 months old. John was literate and could read, write, and speak English. The details of their neighbors and household members are not provided.
 
Based on information from the 1910 United States Federal Census
John Marks, a 27-year-old white male, was born in Pennsylvania in 1883. In 1910, he was living in Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA, as a boarder in the household of Jerome B Warden, who was 67 years old. The head of the household was Dora Brown, a 38-year-old woman. John was single and working as a laborer in an iron works industry, earning wages. He was able to read and write in English. John did not report being out of work during the enumeration period, which was the year 1910. The household consisted of eight members, including John, Dora Brown, and her children: George C Brown (15), Eva F Brown (13), Jacob E Brown (11), Bessie E Brown (8), and John D Brown (2).
 
Based on information from the 1920 United States Federal Census
John M Marks, a 39-year-old white male, was born around 1881 in Pennsylvania. In 1920, he resided in Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, in a house that he owned. John was the head of the household and was married to Dora B Marks, who was 48 years old. John worked as a laborer in the steel industry, earning a wage or salary. He was able to read and write in English, indicating a level of education. Living with John and Dora were their children and stepchildren. Georg C Browns, age 25, and Era F Browns, age 22, were Dora's children from a previous relationship. Jacob E Browns, age 20, and Bessie E Browns, age 18, were also Dora's children. John B Browns, age 11, was the youngest stepchild. John and Dora had two children together. Martha C Marks, age 8, was their daughter, and William F Marks, age 6, was their son. The household consisted of a total of nine members, including John, Dora, their children, and Dora's children from a previous relationship. The exact dynamics and relationships within the household are not provided, leaving room for interpretation.
 
Based on information from the 1930 United States Federal Census
John M Marks, a white male born around 1883 in Pennsylvania, was the head of his household in 1930. He resided in Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA, in a home that he owned, valued at $5000. John had a radio set, indicating a level of affluence and access to entertainment. He was not a farmer but worked as a cutter in a foundry, employed as a wage or salary worker. John was married and had two children, a daughter named Martha C Marks, aged 19, and a son named William F Marks, aged 16. John's wife, Dora B Marks, was 58 years old. John was able to read, write, and speak English. He had not attended school and had gotten married at the age of 27. The details provided paint a picture of a middle-aged, working-class man who owned his home and provided for his family.
 
Based on information from the 1940 United States Federal Census
John M Marks, a 57-year-old white male, was born around 1883 in Pennsylvania. He is married and serves as the head of the household in Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania in 1940. John does not live on a farm and his inferred residence in 1935 was also in Hempfield. John's occupation is listed as an assembler, indicating that he likely works in a manufacturing or production setting. He is a wage or salary worker in private employment and worked 40 hours the week prior to the census. In 1939, he worked for 50 weeks, suggesting a stable employment history. The value of John's home is recorded as $2600, indicating that he owns his house. His educational background shows that he completed elementary school up to the 8th grade but did not attend any higher education institutions. John's income for the year is listed as $1500, providing insight into his financial situation. He resides with two other household members: his wife, Dora Marks, who is 69 years old, and his son, William F Marks, who is 26 years old. By examining these details, we gain a glimpse into John M Marks' life in 1940 as a middle-aged, married man working as an assembler in Pennsylvania.
 
Based on information from the 1950 United States Federal Census
In 1950, John M Marks, a 67-year-old widowed man, resided in Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA. He was the father of the head of the household, William F Marks, who was 36 years old at the time. John M Marks was born around 1883 in Pennsylvania, making him a white male. John M Marks lived in House Number 2, Apartment Number House, Dwelling Number 253. Although he did not own a farm or any acres of land, he worked as a machine operator in the electric manufacturing industry. He was a private worker, employed for 40 hours a week. The household consisted of three members, with John M Marks being the father of William F Marks. Unfortunately, no information is provided about John M Marks' occupation category or hours worked. However, his role as a father and his occupation as a machine operator in the electric manufacturing industry make him an intriguing character in this narrative.
 
 

Martha Marks- "Dora Welshonse Brown (Marks) had two sons, Roy and Clark, who were killed in a dynamite explosion at the time David H. Brown , her husband was killed, 8 March, 1908. Mother did not talk about the incident but always had a spell of sadness in first of March. Dad (Mike Marks) and Bill Kuntz were first on the scene at t the accident. Dad was a blacksmith and worked in Kuntz Blacksmith Shop. They rode bare back to the farm when the accident happened. According to Dad the bodies were damaged mostly about the face. Mr. Kuntz and Dad had to take mother away from her husband. She was trying to clean a piece of metal from his face although he was dead when the arrived. At the time of the accident they had the farm, country store and Post Office. John Beacom was a small baby just born 13 Feb 1908. Curt (George Curtis) was the oldest left and he was a big help to mother, worked in the store and helped in the post office. Mother had to serve as post master until she sold the farm and store.

Bess Hunker said George Curtis was sworn in as the Post Master and became the Youngest Post Master in the US. They moved to Foxtown. Settled there, railroading was growing leaps and bounds at Youngwood. Several people she knew well were working in Youngwood for the railroad. For the amount of money she received from sale of property it did not permit a very spacious place. I don't remember about the house. I know it was small. Much money was owed to her husband. I helped throw out a lot of papers the last year mother lived. We sat in the attic and went through a trunk filled with notes and leagers which showed expenses. It was your grandfather Brown's brother, John, who cheated her. She got 1/3 of the money that was left and other money was put in trust for each child. When they became 21 they received it, I think with interest, and all were given their inheritance.

In 1916 the Marks/Brown family moved to New Stanton, PA. It is the home of Bill and Marie Marks and Martha Marks: 416 S Center St.

Dora and her brother, David, were married on the same day in the same church.