Essie was living in Turtle Creek, Allegheny Co., PA, with her brother Gay and her son John P. in 1930.

Notes from Richard Smith:
Essie's marriage to John was not successful. I believe she lived for a number of years in Turtle Creek, Pa, near her brother Gay. She later moved to Baltimore, MD and operated a rooming house through the 1930's, 1940's, and early 1950's. She was very successful with the business and was able to create a sizable retirement fund. She moved to Wheeling in the late 1950's when her grandson John Martin, Jr. came to live with her. I believe his parents divorced and John needed to finish high school. Essie later moved to Florida with her sister Hattie.

She came to Wheeling in early 1970 and lived in her sister's trailer court. She fell over some rugs in her house and broke her hip. She was hospitalized and later transferred to Peterson Hospital where she died. Norman, her brother-in-law was also in the hospital (stroke) and died one month before her. She told her niece Margaret Ann Smith, "You don't have to tell me. I know Norman is dead."

Obituary (from Richard Smith):
“Mrs. Essie R. Martin, 77, of 600 Bow Street., Wheeling, formerly of West Hollywood, Fla. died Wednesday at Peterson Hospital. She was a member of the First Christian Church, West Hollywood. Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Hattie Jackson of West Hollywood, Fla.; two brothers, Thomas Rawson of New Martinsville and Everett Rawson of Pasadena, Calif. Friends received at the Altmeyer Funeral Home, 1400 Eoff St., Wheeling 7-9 P.M. Wednesday and 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Thursday, where services will be held Friday at 2 P.M. Interment in Parkview Memorial Gardens.”1836