Martin Yagen (1838-1914)

YAGEN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/3/2022 at 22:38:56

Martin Yagen
(May 5, 1838 – May 7, 1914)

Although Switzerland covers but a comparatively small area, it has always produced men of virile strength, of indomitable purpose, of unflagging courage and unquestioned loyalty. Mr. Yagen is a representative of the land of the Alps, his birth having occurred in Switzerland on the 5th of May, 1838, and the characteristics of the people of that mountainous country are manifested in his career. His father, Christopher Yagen, married Lizzie Raber and both spent their entire lives in Switzerland, the father following agricultural pursuits as a means of support for his family. Unto the parents of our subject were born five children. John married Margaret Yost and resides in Switzerland. Anna is the deceased wife of John Hitz, who came to America in 1859. She had pledged her hand to him in marriage before he sailed for the new world, and in i860 she joined him in this land, their wedding taking place in Wisconsin. Martin is the third of the family. Mary is the wife of Nicholas Yost and resides in Switzerland. Jake married Katherine Leate and is also living in Switzerland. The public schools of his native country furnished Martin Yagen the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He attended school until seventeen years of age, and then engaged in farming. Later he came to America, establishing his home in Chicago, where he was engaged in the lumber business on the canal for three months. He next removed to Des Moines. Iowa, where be was engaged in railroad work, in mining coal and in the slaughtering business. He was willing to accept any honorable employment that would give him a living. There was only one railroad in Des Moines at the time of his arrival there. He remained in Polk County for about five years, and then removed to Fort Dodge, Webster County, where he secured work in the John Cole Brewery. For two years after his marriage he continued to reside in Webster County upon a farm near Fort Dodge, and then came to Calhoun County, locating in Greenfield Township, where he rented land, continuing its cultivation for five years. He then removed to Cedar township, where he purchased one hundred and seventy-seven and a half acres of raw prairie land, for which he paid six dollars per acre. Upon the farm he built a small house, sixteen by eighteen feet, also a barn, and with characteristic energy began the cultivation of his land, which year after year returned to hint good crops as a result of careful plowing, planting and harvesting. For eighteen years he resided upon that farm and many changes occurred in its appearance, owing to the excellent buildings which he erected and the improvements which he introduced. He built a handsome home and large commodious barns, cattle sheds and other outbuildings. When eighteen years had passed, however, he sold this farm and in 1898 moved to Manson, where he purchased two and a half acres, upon which he erected a good modern residence. Here he is now living retired and his rest is well earned and richly merited. While in Fort Dodge Mr. Yagen was
married on the 11th of October, 1873, to Miss Fredericka Brand, who was born in Germany December 15, 1853, and is the daughter of August Brand. They have no children of their own, but have one adopted
son, William, who was born in Greene County, Iowa, September 18, 1876, and is now living on Mr. Yagen's farm in Cedar Township. Mr. Yagen has been elected to office, but absolutely refused to qualify, never desiring or seeking political preferment. As a private citizen, however, he faithfully performs all public duties conserving the general good, and when he votes he supports men and measures rather than party. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and is known as one whose influence is only on the side of right and progress. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.445]