Susanne and Thomas were born from Sonja's first marrage and have taken the Hawkins name.

Martin farmed most of his life. He had a homemade cart in which he hauled wood that he sold. He also worked in a cotton gin. When his brothers and sisters came to visit they would have a barbecue. The 1900 census stated 8 children had been born and 7 were still living. It also stated Martha's father was born in Tenn. and her mother was born in Alabama

Martin Hesler left Germany when he was eighteen years old to escape the forced enlistment into the German Army. Martin crossed the German border under a load of hay in a Frenchman's wagon. He lived in France and Belgium for awhile and then set sail to America, landing in Mobile, Alabama in 1836 on his twenty-first birthday. He settled around Maplesville, Ala. and became engaged to Athena (Thena) Pearson. Since Thena was not of legal age, her father Christopher Pearson sent a note to the Justice of the Peace requesting the license for the couple. In this note and in the 1850 census, Hesler is spelled Heisler. In the 1850 census his occupation is listed as operating a tanning yard and a gandiho, a machine used to left bales of hides and cotton onto ships. Martin's father was named Phillip and he came to New York City and communicated with Martin until Martin's death in 1857. Martin died young around 42