Martha S. Lindsey (maiden name: Cowser) was born around 1828 in South Carolina. Her family moved to Smith County, Texas, sometime before 1850. She married Harvey Lindsey, and they had at least three children: Hannah, born around 1854; Edward, born around 1857; and James, born around 1858. They lived in Flora, Texas, and her husband worked as a physician. By 1860, they owned $2,000 of real estate and $3,000 of personal property. She died sometime after March 1862.