Martin Ficks was probably born in Russia-Poland. His older brother Johann consistently stated Germany as his own place of birth. Johann was twenty years older than Martin. Due to the spread in their ages, it is possible that their father was married a second time. He at least moved to Volhynia where he had additional children including Martin. Martin and his brother Michael always stated that they were born in Russia-Poland, or Russia, or Poland. However, their older brother Johann never acknowledged residing in Russia-Poland on any passenger, immigration, or census records.

Martin's parents were Jacob Fiks/ Ficks and Salomea Muller (discovered on his brother Konrad's death record in Brandenburg, Germany). Martin's daughter knew that her family was related to the Wildemann family. There was a Friedrich Wildemann (Jan 1 1848 Brzozow, Tomaschow- ? Jeziorko, Tomachowa) who married Rosalie Fiks (Aug 17 1865 Przeclaw- after 1899? Zakowia) and they had three children.* It is possible that Rosalie was Martin's sister. He had at least 4 brothers:

1-Johann/John Fix/Ficks (1853-1920) married Elisabeth Marks/Marx; second wife Johanna 'Annie' Ursel
2-Michael Fix/Ficks married Juliane Weismann
3-Conrad Ficks (March 1871-Dec 1941 Wittstock, Germany) married Bertha Eisbrenner (June 5, 1881-Marie's sister) and stayed in Germany or Poland (Breslau?)
4-unknown Fiks (wife Maria and children Berto & Alma were met at Philadelphia wharf on Dec 25 1899 by Martin)

There may have been another brother, Joseph Fix in New Jersey. That Josef Fix immigrated on September 15 1894. His daughter Julia Ann told family descendants that she had an 'Uncle Martin Fix' who only had one child- a daughter. That may have been Martin's only surviving child Bertha. Additionally, one of Julia's great-granddaughters recalls the maiden name of Joseph's wife being Aymen. Aymen was the name of close family friends of Martin's daughter Bertha. Julia eloped with Winfield Franke and they were married on July 8 1908 in Newark, New Jersey. She was a servant in the home of Winfield's father, the evangelist Elmer Ellsworth Franke. He threatened to have the marriage annulled.

On August 16 1906 'Schmuel Fiks' (age 34) departed Liverpool for Philadelphia. In 1899 Elisabeth, wife of Johann Fix, arrived in Philadelphia and the arrival manifest had erroneously written that her husband was 'Sham' Fiks.

Probable relatives- Auguste Leimert married Georg Fix/Fiks and their son Adolph (July 13 1884) was born in the same town Martin and Marie Ficks were from- Marianowka/ Marjanowka, Volhynia, Russia-Poland. Two of her children who immigrated to Manitoba, Canada with her after Georg died were Ida and Konrad.

Martin married Marianna 'Marie' Becker Eisbrenner about 1895 in Volhynia, Rowno, Russia-Poland (probably Tarnopol). He immigrated to Philadelphia in August 1899 on the ship Rhynland. His wife and daughters were supposed to come to Philaldelphia with other family members on Christmas day 1899. But his baby daughter Annie became sick and they instead spent the holiday season in the Brownlow Workhouse in Liverpool. Annie died on December 30 and was buried in Walton Park. His wife Marie and daughter Bertha immigrated to Philadelphia on January 18 1900. Martin and Marie never had anymore children after arriving in the United States. When he was first living in Philadelphia he worked at a shop making brass bedframes. He moved to Milwaukee about 1904 with his family and worked in a brewery with his brother Michael. Martin paid for Michael's ticket to Philadelphia and picked him up at the docks when he arrived in 1904. Michael lived with Martin and his family in Milwaukee while waiting for his wife and sons to arrive. Martin sent his daughter Bertha to the German School in Milwaukee.

Martin brought his family back to Philadelphia before 1910. He worked in a lumber yard. In 1915 he passed away due to chronic kidney disease. Marie re-married another Volhynian immigrant, Julius Hackbart.

Note~There is mention of a 'Marcien Fiaks' born in Poznan, a region in Poland (possibly 1874). This needs to be researched. Interestingly, Martin's family has relatives who seem to be Jewish (which may ultimately provide a clue as to ancestry)~

~His brother Johan's stepson Benjamin (Ursel?) Ficks
~his sister-in-law Maria Fiks who was picked up at the Philadelphia docks in December 1899 by Martin and cannot be traced after that
~the wife of his friend and boarder Gustave Ostrowske- Emile Zielke was listed as a Hebrew immigrant
~the first wife of the man Martin's widow Marie married after his death Huldena Ferus.

Martin's wife Marie came from a long established Lutheran family, but she spoke Yiddish.

*Children of Rosalie Fiks and Friederich Wildemann (information is from Resettlement records)~

~Marie Wildemann (March 25 1893) married Johann P. Pfau (July 17 1888 Birkenfeld, Tomaszow)
~Julius Wildemann (Jan 11 1897) married Maria Hauser (Oct 28 1898 Sulzfeld, Litzmannstadt), daughter of Konrad Hauser (Feb 21 1868 Sulzfeld, Litzmannstadt) and Marie Weidmaier (Nov 13 1870 Sulzfeld, Litzmannstadt)
~Olga Wildemann (Feb 2 1899) married Herman Schultz (March 3 1896 Winna Gora, Skierniewice)

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Burial note~Martin is buried in a plot with his son-in-law Robert White. There is a tall arborvitae with a marker for Robert (the marker is almost inside of the bush which is holding it up). Martin was the first to be buried in this plot beside the service road. His memorial marker was confiscated for metal during a World War II scrap metal drive. His wife Marie was buried with her mother Bertha several plots to the left of the service road. Someday perhaps a descendant will purchase a replacement marker for Martin mentioning that his baby daughter Anna (Feb 1899-Dec 30 1899) is buried in Walton Park in Liverpool, England. Bertha White Delarso's family are probably the people with legal ownership rights of the Robert/Martin plot as well as the Bertha/Marie plot.