Martens, F. William

MARTENS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 13:34:46

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.612

F. WILLIAM MARTENS
F. William Martens, commonly called by his numerous friends by the name of Will, is one of the most active and enterprising business men and farmers of Jefferson Township. He has a model farm, and attractive home, and fully sustains the high reputation which has always been borne by the Martens family in connection with the business development and substantial upbuilding of this part of the county. Moreover, he deserves mention in this volume from the fact that he has always lived in the county, his birth having occurred on the farm which is yet his home. His natal day was October 2, 1871, and his parents were Fred and Margaret (Huss) Martens, both of whom were natives of Ger­many but were married in this country. The father was a participant in the war of 1848 in his native country, after which he came to the United States, attracted by the spirit of liberty which here prevails. He did not relish living under monarchical rule, and because of this sailed for the United States, establishing his home in Will County, Illinois, where he married and resided until his removal to this county in 1861.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for F. William Martens in his boyhood and youth. He acquired his educa­tion through the medium of the public schools and worked in the fields when not busy with his text-books, early learning the value of industry and perse­verance. He was married September 2, 1891, to Miss Anna Russ, a native of Germany, and a daughter of John Russ, who in 1870 became a resident of this county. After his marriage Mr. Martens took charge of the home farm and he cared for his parents as long as they lived. He has three hundred and twenty acres of rich land which responds readily to the care and cultivation he bestows upon it. He has since erected a substantial two-story residence which is neat and attractive in appearance, and has also built three good barns, one of which is seventy-two by fifty-two feet, with twenty foot posts, and is the largest barn in the county. He also has other good outbuildings, with scales, wind pump, and other accessories of the model farm are here found. The entire farm is well tilled and he has four miles of woven wire fence. To his original holdings he has added until he now has six hundred and eighty acres. He makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle, keeping from two to three carloads per year, and two carloads of hogs. He raises Poland China hogs and Norman Percheron horses. He also keeps some cows and conducts a dairy business. In all of his farming pursuits he is active and energetic, making good use of his opportunities and the success which he now enjoys has come to him as the merited reward of his labor.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martens have been born six sons: John, Louis, Fred, William, Clarence and Grant, all of whom are yet at home. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church of Churchville, of which Mr. Martens has been a representative since its organization, while he has also served as an officer in the church. He belongs to the Bankers Life and Insurance Society and to the Modern Woodmen Camp at Wick. Political honors and offices have never attracted him, yet he keeps well informed on the questions of the day, and supports the Republican Party. The Martens family is well known in this part of the state, and the members, John and William, are representative agri­culturists who have deserved and met with gratifying success.