Notes:
Data source is the 1971 self published book by Richard Glenn Huffman [deceased], "George Muma Genealogy".
Martin is listed in Frank Gideon's biography -----
Frank Eugene GIDEON, for whom the town of Gideon, Missouri was named, was born in Columbus, Ohio on April 6, 1851. He was the son of Henry and Lydia (Bedleheimer) Gideon. Early records list his name as Francis Eugene Gideon.
He was raised in Adams Co., IN and given a common school education. He attended high school at Van Wert, Ohio.
His youth was spent upon the farm, and, in 1873, with his brothers, Henry and John, he purchased 160 acres of land and established a mill. The lumber manufacturing partnership operated under the firm name of Gideon Bros. The firm also ran a mill in Section 29 of Benton Township. Mr. Gideon was also engaged in farming and operating a successful farm of eighty acres in Adams County. On May 17, 1874, Frank was married to Sarah Catherine Mumma, the daughter of David and Anna (Burrell) Mumma.
Two children were born to the couple, Glenn G. and Rolland.
In 1899, Frank Gideon's brother-in-law, Martin V. Mumma, visited the swamp lands of Southeast Missouri on a hunting trip. Mumma saw the possibilities of the area, and returned to report this fact to others, who became interested. In 1900, Frank Gideon, along with William P. Anderson, Marion S. Anderson, and Martin V. Mumma formed a company. The group had only about $8,000 to start the business with, but their good reputation in their home community and consistent honesty in their business dealings gave them credit. When they laid their plans before their home banker, telling him of the wonderful possibilities in timber in Southeast Missouri, he said "Go on, we will back you!"
The group initially planned to establish a saw mill in the town of Clarkton or Malden on the high ridge west of the East Swamp. However, the citizens of those communities did not look favorably toward the idea of rough logging men coming into their towns. Soon, it was decided to establish the saw mill on some high ground in the swamp three miles east of Clarkton. In October of 1901, the saw mill began full operation. Almost immediately, a town sprung up around the mill. The name of "Gideon" was given to the town in honor of Frank E. Gideon.
Mr. Gideon retained his residence in Ohio until about the year 1905, when he and Mrs. Gideon moved to Gideon. The couple resided in Gideon until 1908, when he sold his interest in the company to other stock holders. Mr. Gideon, with his family, returned to their splendid home at McGill, Ohio.
The town which was his namesake grew to a population of over 2,000 by 1950. The Gideon-Anderson Lumber Company became a multi-million dollar corporation and was, at one time, the largest manufacturer of beverage cases in the nation.
Frank Gideon died at his home in McGill, Ohio on October 23, 1919. His wife continued to reside at the family home until her death on December 31, 1926. Frank was survived by his two sons, Glenn, who owned a large farm near Payne, Ohio, and Rolland, who became a successful business man in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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OBITUARY OF MARTIN VAN BUREN MUMMA (Gideon News, October 1940)
The city of Gideon and Southeast Missouri is mourning the death of one of its most prominent leaders in the demise Monday of Martin Van Buren Mumma, 83, who for nearly 40 years was treasurer of the Gideon-Anderson Lumber company, a former member of the State
Legislature of New Madrid County, and treasurer of the Board of Education for 39 years until his retirement a few months ago.
The funeral of Mr. Mumma, affectionately known as "Uncle Mart", was held on Wednesday afternnon at the high school auditorium. Rev. T.C. McGee, pastor of the Methodist church, of which the deceased had been a charter member and trustee, was in charge and paid a glowing tribute to the deceased in the sermon. Interment took place in Malden cemetery. Gideon-Anderson service.
The pall bearers were all associates of Mr. Mumma at the time he was manager of the mercantile department of the Gideon-Anderson company. They were Richard Jones, E. McNeil, W.O. Hunter, Mart Baker, Buddy Largent and Harold Jones.
A quartette consisting of Sam Wallace, Edd Smith, H. Brandhorst and Fred Waddle furnished music.
The floral tokens of sympathy, affection and tribute were of such proportions that four trucks were required to transport them and they covered the front of the auditorium. It was one of the most elaborate arrays of flowers ever observed in this community and was a geniune expression of the loving esteem and respect in which the deceased was held.
Practically all business suspended in Gideon on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Mumma had been in ill-health for the past five years and had not been active in the community's affairs. He was taken to the Southeast Missouri hospital in Cape Girardeau last Saturday suffering from a complication of diseases and death came at 6 o'clock Monday night.
Mr. Mumma was born on April 7, 1857, at Decatur, Ind., and was educated in the public schools of Adams county in that state. His early life was spent in Indiana and Ohio and for a number of years he conducted a mercantile establishment at Wren, Ohio.
He was first married in Ohio, his wife passing away many years ago. On Oct. 30, 1908, he was married to Elizabeth Atteberry of Gideon, who survives him.
In 1900 he moved from Ohio to Gideon where he had since been connected with the Gideon-Anderson Lumber Co. Aside from serving as its treasurer, he was manager of the mercantile department until five years ago at which time he was succeeded by his assistant, Robert B. Meentemeyer.
When the school district was established in 1901 Mr. Mumma became a member of the original Board of Education and had been a member until a few months ago when he retired after 39 years of service. He had always been a staunch supporter of the local school system.
During the World War he was active in the Liberty Loan campaigns and in recent years was identified with the Red Cross work and other humanitarian projects. He was a civic leader in any movement for the betterment of the community.
For several years he was a member of the State Legislature from New Madrid County and served on the building and loan, life and accident insurance, fraternal associations and ways and means committees. He had always been active in Democratic political circles.
He was the local registar of the Missouri State Department of Health for many years.
He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Mumma; three sons, William Mumma, Alton, Ill., and Burrell and Richard Mumma, Gideon; three daughters, Mrs. Louis Largent, Sikeston, Mrs. Leonard Sheehan, New Haven, Ind. and Mrs. George DeLaney of Holcomb.
A grandaughter, Mrs. R.T. Stokes, lives in Gideon.
He was a brother-in-law of W.P. Anderson, president of the Gideon-Anderson Lumber Co.
Another son, Van Mumma, passed away seven years ago.
Among those attending the obsequies from away were: Mrs. Ethel Smith, sister of Mrs. Mumma, and her husband W.C. of St. Louis. Charles T. McDaniel, Poplar Bluff. Dr. J.H. Cochran, Cape Girardeau. Ray Hall, Blytheville. Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Anderson, St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Anderson, who had been in Memphis. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Largent, Sikeston. Mr. and Mrs. William Mumma and son, Alton, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Byron Masterson, Hayti, the state high school inspector. Mr. Masteron's mother and Mrs. Mumma were sisters. Bill Turner, Truman, Ark. Bert Duff, Poplar Bluff. Mrs. J.C. Anderson, St. Louis. Joe Cash, Clarkton. Mr. and Mrs. Claude King, Sikeston. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Anderson, Clarksville, Tenn. Clyde Rasberry, Holcomb. Ruby Reeves, Clarkton. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Marr, Portageville. L.H. Sheehan, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Sheehan, Joe Tilford, all of New Haven, Ind. Chester Furgeson, county treasurer, New Madrid. Grover Meatte, New Madrid. Rev. C.N. Gaines, Portageville.
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1920: Anderson, New Madrid, Missouri
Martin V Mumma 62, merchant, general store
Lizzie Mumma 32
Agatha Mumma 9
Van Mumma 7
Billy D Mumma 4
Joseph B Mumma 1
1930: Anderson, New Madrid, Missouri
Martin V Mumma 72, general manager, lumber and mercatile
Elizabeth M Mumma 43
Agatha M Mumma 19
Martin V Mumma 17
Billie D Mumma 14
Joseph B Mumma 11
Elizabeth J Mumma 9
Richard B Mumma 2
Jessie B Cassidy, lodger, 25
Margaret M Gross, lodger, 22
Pauline Matheny, lodger, 25
1940: Gideon, New Madrid, Missouri, April 8, 1940
Residence in 1935: Same House
Martin Mumm, head, 84, b: IN,
Elizabeth Mumm, wife, 53, b: IL
Burl Mumm, son, 21, single, b: MO, attendant gas filling station
Richard Mumm, son,12, single., b: MO