Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 529
MARTIN APPEL, foreman of the sawing department in the Hershey Lumber Company, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1833, and was the youngest in a family of ten children, who were as follows : Adam, Sebastian, Mary, Margaret,Catherine, Susanna, George, Michael, John and Martin.

In company with his brother John, who is now deceased, our subject at the age of eighteen years left his native land and emigrated to America. The voyage completed, they landed at New York Aug. 4, 1852. Martin at once began seeking for employment, and in a short time engaged to work on a plank-road. Not long afterward he secured work in a saw-mill in Scranton, Pa., where he passed the succeeding three years. While a resident of that community he formed the acquaintance of Miss Louisa Smith, a native of Scranton, who in the spring of 1856 became his wife. The lady is a daughter of Henry A. and Eliza ( Echenburg ) Smith, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Pennsylvania. She was the eldest of six children born unto them, and of that number five are yet living, Namely : Louisa, wife of our subject, who was born Aug 8, 1837 in Pennsylvania ; Washington Henry, who is a resident of the Keystone State ; Charles H. and Joseph, who reside in Pennsylvania ; and Emma, who is living in Scranton, Pa.

Shortly after his marriage Mr. Appel removed with his young bride to Muscatine, and entered the employ of H. W. Moore, but after a short time engaged in the Hershey Lumber Company, with which he has since continued. Not long after entering its service he was appointed foreman of the sawing department, and the long period in which he has filled that position is a high testimonial of the satisfactory manner in which he has discharged his duties, and the respect and confidence in which he is held by his employers. He is a man of sterling worth and unspotted character, and is held in high esteem by all. He belongs to several civic societies ; in 1854 became a member of the I. O. O. F., in Pennsylvania ; in 1864 joined the Masonic order, and in 1876 became a member of the A.O.U.W. In 1854 he received his naturalization papers, making him a citizen of the United States, since which time he has voted with the Republican party.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Appel twelve children have been born : George, the eldest, who was born Jan. 26, 1857, and is a resident of California, married Helen McCurdy, a native of that State, and works in car-shops ; William, a resident of Muscatine, born Mar.30, 1859, wedded Mary H. Hahn,a daughter of John Hahn, and to them have been born three children--Frederick, William and Ida ; Ida E., born Oct 8.1860, is a graduate of the Muscatine High School, and is now engaged in teaching ; Mary E., born Dec. 27, 1861, died Nov. 26, 1868 ; Louisa A., born Dec.27. 1861, died Feb.5, 1862 ; Emma F., born Dec.27, 1863, is a graduate of the High School of this city, and is engaged in teaching in South Muscatine ; Della, born July 8, 1866, is also a graduate of the High School and resides at home ; Cora H., born Oct. 19, 1867, died Jan. 23, 1869 ; Christie L., born Feb. 22, 1870, is a graduate of the Muscatine High School, and also follows the profession of teaching ; Charlie L., born Aug. 20, 1872, and Gracie E., born Jan.24, 1875, are at home ; Aura E., born March 28, 1878, is now attending school.

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