Biography of Jerry C. Marr

JERRY C. MARR, a dealer in produce at Alta Vista, was born in Howard county, Iowa, September 12, 1877. His father, William Marr, was a native of Hamburg, Germany, but was brought to this country by his parents when but three years of age, the family home being first established in Buffalo, New York. Later a removal was made to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where the grandparents spent their later years. It was in that state that William Marr was reared to manhood and after attaining adult age he wedded Rosella Yeager, who was probably born in Wisconsin. A year after their marriage, or in the spring of 1864, they came to Iowa, traveling westward with an ox team and wagon. They took up their abode in Afton township Howard county, where Mr. Marr purchased eighty acres of government land. He had but little money and could make only a small cash payment. He built thereon a log cabin to provide shelter for his wife and baby and a log barn for his cattle. He then proceeded in earnest to make a home for his family, but in the early days they had to endure all of the hardships and privations which are incident to the settlement of the frontier. His marketing in those days was done at McGregor, making the journey of more than eighty miles each way by ox team. It required an entire week to complete the trip with favorable weather. Various difficulties were endured by the family in those pioneer times, but as the years passed on conditions changed and in his farming operations Mr. Marr prospered. As he was able to save something he added to his land and in time became one of the very prosperous residents of Howard county, owning twelve hundred acres of Iowa’s rich and productive soil. He died March 5, 1899, and for a decade was survived by his wife, who passed away in March, 1909.

The youthful days of Jerry C. Marr were unmarked by any event of special importance. He attended the district schools and in his youth, worked with his father upon the farm. Following his father’s death in 1899 he took charge of the home place and continued its cultivation for seven years. In 1906 he removed to Alta Vista and for two years represented a company in the purchase of flax. In 1908 he engaged in the produce business on his own account and has since been prominently identified with that work, winning substantial success as the years have gone on.

In 1903, while still residing upon the farm, Mr. Marr was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Doyle, a daughter of Matt Doyle, who was one of the earliest of the pioneer settlers of Deerfield township, Chickasaw county. Mr. and Mrs. Marr have become the parents of two sons, Glenn F. and Elvoy M.

Voting with the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Marr is regarded as one of its stalwart supporters but has never been an aspirant for public office. He and his family are members of the Catholic church and his position in commercial circles is that of one of Alta Vista’s most prominent and representative business men.

History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties,
By Robert Herd Fairbairn (Published 1919 - Volume II)
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois
Transcribed by Barbara Nagy