History and images have been compiled from various sources including, among others, the 1987 National Register of Historic Places, Stack & Beasley's 1902 Sketches of Monroe and Union County, Union County Public Library (Patricia Poland, Genealogy & Local History Librarian), the Heritage Room Photo Collection, North Carolina Map Collection, Rootsweb - An Ancestry.com Community and Ancestry.com family histories.

Martin Luther Flow

Ad in Monroe, NC (1922-23) City Directory
George Washington Flow
Portrait - Mary Caroline Crowell Flow
Mary Catherine May Flow Death Certif.
M.L. Flow Death Certificate
"Judge" Martin Luther Flow (20 Apr 1857 - 26 Jun 1942) was born in Goose Creek, Mecklenburg County, NC, son of George Washington Flow (1826-1914), Clerk of Superior Court Union County, and Mary Caroline Crowell (1833-1915). As Justice of the Peace Flow, Esq. M.L. Flow performed many marriages.

1860 census - Union County (post office Monroe): G.W. 34 farmer, Caroline 25, Martin L. 3, John E. 2 and Margaret M. 7mo.

1870 census: Monroe - G.W. 44 Clerk Superior Court Union County, Mary C. 34, Martin L. 14, John E. 12, Margaret M. 11, Eliza J. 9, David W. 7 Harriet E. 6, Michael E. 5, George E. 3, Mary Ellen 1, Jane Miller 25 servant and Thomas Crowell 22 deputy clerk.

-Martin Luther married Mary Catherine May - Saturday, August 2, 1879, MONROE ENQUIRER We learn of the marriage at Lumberton on last Thursday night of Mr. M.L. Flow of this place, to Miss Kate, daughter of Rev. D. May.  

-Mary Catherine May (1861-1951) was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the daughter of Rev. Daniel May and Susan Littlejohn. She died at 406 Jefferson Street.
-Children: Nellie Inez, George D., Dan, Evan V., Eunice Lee, Harold Ware and Paul R. Flow.

1880 census: Martin L. Flow 23 Deputy Clerk of Court, wife Mary C. 18.

-May 8, 1890 -Monroe Enquirer-Express: Judge Flow’s bar room, which was located on a high embankment on the side of the Wolfe Pond road, a mile and a half south of town, was turned over into the road the other night and the jugs and bottles smashed."
-1902 Sketches of Monroe and Union County: “M.L. Flow, dealer in fancy groceries, has long been connected with the public life of Monroe. For a long time he was deputy clerk of the Superior court and a most efficient one he was. He has served many years as a justice of the peace, notary public, commissioner of affidavits, etc., and always does his business with tact and skill. Mr. Flow conducts a fancy grocery and carries in stock a large assortment of candies, fruits, canned goods. 

-In 1905 Inez Flow was recorded at the North Carolina College for Women in Greensboro, NC.

1910 census: On Jefferson St. - Martin L. 52 grocery merchant, Mary C. 48, Inez 26, George D. 23, Evan (?) V. 18, Eunice L. 15, Harold W. 10, Paul R. 7 and mother-in-law Susan E. May 73.

1920 census: Luther 63 justice of the peace, and Mary Flow 58 with: Dan 33, Paul 17, Eunice 25 with husband Frank Lander and two young grandsons Frank Jr. and Harold.

-Monroe, NC (1922-23) City Directory: Flow, Martin L. (Mary C.) United States Commissioner for Western Dist NC, commr of deed for South Carolina in North Carolina, notary public and justice of the peace Union County, Office 404 Jefferson Ave. Phone 60. Home same.

1930 census: M. Luther Flow 73 lawyer, wife Catherine 68 and Inez Flow 46. Value of home $10,000.  Residence: M.Luther Flow on Jefferson Street, Paul Flow (fireman for railroad) on Crowell/Alfalfa, M.E. Flow (retired farmer) on West Crowell Street.

-Martin Luther Flow’s death certificate 26 Jun 1942 noted: (Squire) Martin Luther Flow as Justice of the Peace, Political Life. Daughter Miss Inez Flow was the informant.