Martha Ann Borders was born Dec. 27, 1853 in
Jackson County Iowa, to Benjamin F. Borders and Jane McCoy. She was the eldest of 11 children, who included: Joel H., Asa, Eleanor, James Madison, Perry Alonzo, Vestal Howard, Josephine, Benjamin Franklin Jr., Emmett H., and Emery D. Borders.

Martha married Joshua McWhorter Corbin, May 10, 1868. Their lives together began in Iowa. Joshua was a school teacher and Martha tended to their home, and later, children. This union was blessed with 12 children. Byron, and Benjamin Homer Corbin,who were born in Iowa. Janet Cora, John Casswell, Clarence Howard, Walter DeVern, and Joshua Marion Corbin,all born in Sumner County Kansas. Wilbur Eugene, Ruby Rex, Cecil Pearl, Sidney Wallace, and Goldie May Corbin, born in Jerauld County South Dakota.

The family moved from Iowa to Oxford, Sumner County Kansas, where Joshua continued to teach in public schools, and became a land owner. Martha stayed busy taking care of the children and the home.

Having the pioneer spirit, when the government began announcing land and a better life further west, they sold out and headed for the Dakota's, where they settled in Marlaur Township, Jerauld County, South Dakota, between 1883, and 1884. Here their first home was a "dug out", where they spent their first winter in South Dakota.

Joshua began teaching on the Reservations there, and little by little, they were able to build a nice home, and outbuildings. During one of the "prairie fires" which began during a drought, and was started by a spark from the RR trains, Martha turned out to be the one who saved the family home. She was able to go outside and throw dirt on any sparks landing on the roof and sides of the house. They did lose the outbuildings and live stock, but thanks to God and Martha, they did not lose their home.

By 1900 they were living on the Pine Ridge Indian Agency, where Joshua taught, and Martha was the housekeeper of the school. Upon retirement, the movement was again stirring up excitement in the west, and they headed off to Pierce County Washington, with a few of the children still living at home.

When the children left home, Martha and Joshua moved into the Orting Soldiers Home, where in 1915, her beloved husband, and father of their children died and was laid to rest.

After her husband Joshua's death, she married Charles Freel. A few years later, Charles died and Martha moved to Rushville, Sheridan,Nebraska, and lived out her life with her daughter, Ruby Rex (Corbin) Higgs, and Ruby's husband, William Higgs.