Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 253
MARTIN BERGEN, a general farmer and stock-raiser, residing on sections 8 and 9, Bloomington Township, was born in Queens County, Ireland, in 1816, and is a son of Mark and Mary ( Connell ) Bergen, both of whom were also natives of the same county, where they resided until called from this earth by death. Martin was the eldest of a family of six children, but only one besides himself came to America---Margaret, who became the wife of Michael Henniray, a resident of New York. Our subject received his educationin his native land, and was there reared to manhood, remaining under the parental roof until 1845, when he bid good-by to his kindred and friends and set sail for America. After his arrival he remained for a short time in Connecticut, after which he became a resident of Ohio, where he was employed by Gov. William Allen, as manager of his farm, and remained in that position for six years. Desiring to cast his lot with the pioneers of the West, in 1855 he emigrated to Muscatine County, where he rented a farm in Moscow Township, continuing its cultivation until 1863. At that time he purchased eighty acres of land in Bloomington Township, and for a quarter of a century has made it his home. From the raw, wild condition in which he found it he transformed the land into one of the finest farms in the county, and by subsequent purchase has added to it until now 170 broad acres pay tribute to his care and cultivation.

On the 15th of November, 1847, Mr. Bergen was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Key, who was also a native of Queens County, Ireland, born Jan.1, 1820. Her parents were John and Rose (Daugherty) Key, the father a native of Queens County, and the mother of Carroll County, Ireland. The death of her father occurred in his native land, after which Mrs. Key came to this country making her home with Mrs. Bergen until her death, which occurred March 4, 1873. By the union of this worthy couple seven children have been born, six of whom are yet living : Mary A., who is now the wife of John Richards, a merchant of Muscatine; Rosa, who wedded John Walker, a resident farmer of Bloomington Township; Mark, at home; John who has charge of the home farm. Maggie and Elizabeth. One child died at the age of two years. The family are all members of the Catholic Church, and have taken an active part in the work of that denomination. Mr. Bergen in his political sentiments, affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a man who encourages and sustains every enterprise for the advancement and upbuilding of the community, and ranks among the highly respected citizens of Bloomington Townahip.

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