Martens, Dathlef H.

MARTENS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 13:33:49

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.660

DATHLEF H. MARTENS
Dathlef H. Martens, owning and operating two hundred acres of valuable land on section 3, Jefferson Township, was born on the old homestead farm in Jefferson township, Warren County, May 4, 1874, a son of Fred Martens. The latter was a native of Holstein, Germany, and a farmer by occupation. When a young man he came to the new world, settling in Will County, Illinois, where he followed farming and developed and improved a good tract of land. He had served in the Revolutionary War in Germany in 1848, and as this movement was unsuccessful he determined to seek a home in the new world where he might enjoy the fruits of liberty and independence. Ac­cordingly he crossed the Atlantic and took up his abode in Will County, Illinois, where he married Miss Margaret Huss, a native of Germany. In 1861 they came to Warren County, Iowa, where the father broke the sod and opened up a farm. He became one of the most prominent and prosperous agriculturists of Jefferson Township, where he accumulated sixteen hundred acres of land. This he developed until his last years and in July 1905, he was called to his final rest at the age of seventy-eight years. He had for several years survived his wife, who died in 1893, at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of six children, four of whom reached adult age, namely: John F., who is mentioned on another page of this volume; William; Mrs. Katherine Huglin, of Madison County, and Dathlef H. Two sons died in infancy.
The last named was reared in the county of his nativity and acquired his education in St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kansas, while for one term he was a student at Simpson College. In 1892 he enlisted in the United States regular army at Omaha as a member of Company A, Second Infantry, serving for three years and three months and then being honorably dis­charged on the 17th of December, 1895. On the 18th of April, 1896, he re-enlisted at Fort Logan, Colorado, but was sent back to Company A at Omaha, there remaining until June 29, 1896, when he was sent to Fort Keogh, Montana. There he continued until July, 1898, and served on the Indian detachment, issuing rations to the Indians. On the 30th of July, 1897, he received an ax wound in the knee, which caused his discharge February 20, 1898. Going for treatment to the Army and Navy Government Hospital at Hot Springs, Arkansas, he there remained until January 6, 1898, and in February was honorably discharged, after five years of faithful service in the regular army. He is the youngest government pensioner in Warren County and one of the youngest in the state of Iowa.
On taking up the pursuits of civil life, Mr. Martens rented the farm on which he now lives and subsequently purchased one hundred and twenty acres. His property now comprises two hundred acres, eighty acres having come to him as his share of his father's estate. He has two sets of im­provements, has erected a modern and substantial home, barns and outbuild­ings, has set out an orchard and has enclosed his fields with hog-tight fencing. In addition to the work of general farming he raises and feeds from one to two carloads of Duroc Jersey hogs annually, and likewise has some shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. He also conducts a dairy and in his various undertakings is meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of pros­perity, owing to his untiring perseverance and excellent business ability.
On the 2d of January, 1901, Mr. Martens was united in marriage to Miss Laura B. Scrivner, a native of Madison County and a daughter of William F. Scrivner. She is a first cousin of Senator Crossley, now attorney general of Alaska. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martens have been born four children, namely: Judson B., who has passed away; Marjorie M.; Mildred I.; and Velma I.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Martens gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party but casts an independent local ballot. He was elected and served as constable for two years, and for one year has been secretary of the school board. His fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Woodmen of America at Indianola; he was secretary of the Camp at Churchville for five years. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Spring Hill, of which he was secretary for one year, and the Masonic lodge at Spring Hill. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church of Prole, and are well and favorably known throughout the county as people of genuine personal worth and up­right lives.