MARTENS, William

MARTENS, HAFERBIER, RENFELT, CRUSE

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 22:22:40

SOURCE: "Biographical history of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa" Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1893

WILLIAM MARTENS, of Hayes township, post office, Aspinwall, came to Hayes
township, Crawford county in 1879, and purchased eight acres of prairie land, which he
improved until he had one of the finest farms in the county, on which he has built a nice
frame farm house, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees. Our subject was born in
Holstein, Germany, 1848, being the son of Charles and Margaret (Haferbier) Martens,
natives of Holstein, Germany, where they always lived and the mother died. The father is
still living.

William left Germany when he was nineteen, and came direct to Clinton county,
Iowa, where he engaged in teaching in the public and private schools of that county. He
engaged in teaching for four years in Hayes township, Crawford county.

Mr. Martens was married in Clinton county, Iowa, 1874, to Margaret Renfelt, native
of the same place as her husband, daughter of Claus and Catherine (Cruse) Renfelt,
natives of Germany, who came to Clinton county, Iowa, and then came to Carroll county,
same State, where they now reside.

Mr. and Mrs. Martens are the parents of eight children, namely: Richard, Henry,
Gus, Amelia, Willie, Emil, Kate and Henry.

Our subject takes some interest in politics, siding with the Democrats in party
measures. He served as Assessor for six years, was Secretary of the School Board, is now
Justice of the Peace and has been for many years. He is one of the early settlers of Hayes
township, and has seen the country open up since his arrival here. He has always taken a
deep interest in everything calculated to improve the condition of the county.