man of genuine legal ability, a close student, and the reputation he has acquired has been gained through his own individual efforts. He has one of the most extensive law libraries in the State, and outside of his profession keeps thoroughly apace with the times. His marriage occurred on May 31, 1879, at which time Miss Mary Z. Daley, of Colo, Iowa, became his wife. She died on March 10, 1882, leaving besides her husband a son, Charles C., to mourn her loss. Miss Alice M. Slifer, of Grundy Centre, Iowa, became his wife on June 26, 1883. Politically Mr. Martin has been a life-long Democrat. In 1881 he became a member of the Masonic lodge, and shortly after a Royal Arch Mason. He has been Worshipful Master of the Blue Lodge nearly ever since he joined the organization, and during this time he has held high official positions on committees in the Grand Lodge of the State; and in 1887-88 was Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, and is now Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Iowa. He is now the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Florida, near the Grand East of Iowa. Shortly after the organization of the K. of P., at Nevada, he became a member thereof.
Martin L. Mauser is a well-known agriculturist residing in Washington Township, Story County, Iowa, but was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, August 1, 1850, being the sixth of seven children, two of whom are now living. The eldest in the family was Gottleib, who was a farmer, and died at the age of forty-five years. The three following children died in infancy, then came Wendell, who married Miss Jane Walker, and is residing in Story County, Iowa; the next was Martin L., the subject of this sketch, and the last child died in infancy. The parents of these children were native Germans, and the father was a farmer and mason by occupation, and died at the age of sixty-three years. His widow still survives him, at the age of seventy-three years, and makes her home with her son, Martin. The latter obtained his education in the common schools of Ohio and Iowa sufficient to fit him for the practical duties of life, and he has always been an upholder of the public-school system, and supports all principles which tend to elevate the rising generation. Upon attaining the age of fourteen years he commenced the battle of life for himself, and besides working as a farm laborer he was for some time engaged in mining in Virginia City, Nev. He spent thirteen years in the far West, in the Rocky Mountains, and to the Pacific coast, and while there he saw many ups and downs in life as a miner. Mr. Mauser has always identified himself with the Republican party, upholding its principles on all occasions, and his first presidential vote was cast for the " Soldier President," U. S. Grant. He has ever taken an active part in township and county municipal elections, and has upheld men who were men of principle and honor. He is a member of the miners' union, having been vice-president of that association, and he also belongs to the K. of P., joining the lodge in Virginia City, Nev. He has contributed liberally to all benevolencies which have been presented to him for his worthy consideration. He has been a resident of the United States since 1857, and first located with his parents in Ashtabula County, moving with them to Story County, Iowa, at the age of fourteen, the county at that time being in a very unsettled condition. He well remembers the time when they were laying the rails for the track at Ames, at which time there were only the depot and one dwelling-house in that now flourishing town. The portion of the county in which he resided was wet, low and marshy land, but he has seen it fully reclaimed as a rich and productive farming region. He has always been