Back row, left to right: Elmer E. McMartin, Elsie L. (McMartin) Kobriger, Ivan B. and Edith M. McMartin. Front row, left to right: Martha T “Doshie” McMartin Dresser, Frank C. and Jessie F. McMartin. The McManus families came to IA between 1852 and 1855 and settled in Winneshiek Co. near Festina, IA. Here another daughter Catherine was born in 1855 and a son Thomas in 1858 to Philip and Lucy McManus. In 1857 Philip bought land in Auburn Twp., Fayette Co. where they lived until he purchased 130 acres in Winneshiek Co., FrankvilleTwp in 1875. He paid $4,300.00 for the land located northeast of Ossian, IA (presently owned by Dean Hageman). In Mar 1877 Philip’s wife Lucy died and 9 days later Philip died. They were both buried from St. Francis De Sales Church and in the cemetery at Ossian. Philip and Lucy McManus' son James was my grandfather. When Philip and Lucy died James had married Mary Ann Scott whose family lived in Bloomfield Twp. Her parents were Edward and Mary Scott. James and Mary Ann were living on a farm southeast of Ossian in Military Twp. (the Gunn farm), now owned by the Arnold Hageman family. They had a son Edward born in 1876 and in 1878 another son Henry was born. In Jul 1879 James's, Mary Ann and family with 2 of James’s brothers, Philip and Thomas, left IA and joined a brother-in-law James Fogard and family at LeRoy, MN for the long trip to seek a homestead for their families. James and his brothers had 2 covered wagons and an extra team of horses. Many weeks later they reached Stearns Co., MN only to find that the area formerly researched by James Fogard a year earlier had been destroyed by a cyclone. Logs were scattered everywhere. James Fogard’s wife refused to stay there so the group continued on many miles northwest to Ottertail Co., MN. They settled in Maine Twp. near a little town of Erhard, MN. The closest large town was Fergus Falls, 30 miles away. Here they built log houses and prepared for the winter to come. The snow cleared late in the spring of 1880 and was back early in Oct. The winter of 1880-1881 was one continuous blizzard. Not only was the weather a hardship but my grandmother told of her fear when Indians would approach the house and peer in the windows. Here James and Mary applied for and were granted a homestead signed by Grover Cleveland, the President in 1886. Ten more children were born here: Thomas who died at birth, Mary, Rose, Elizebeth, Thomas, George, Frederick, James, Margaret, Lucy and Myrtle. My mother was Margaret McManus. Margaret attended State Teachers College at Moorehead, MN. She then went to Isabel, SD where her two older sisters were and taught rural schools in the area while she homesteaded land. She later taught in the Isabel town school. They rode to their schools on horse-back or used horse and buggy while they boarded at a home as close to school as they could find. She met and married Anthony Kipp who had moved to Isabel from New Hampton, IA. Anthony's brother Rev. Henry Kipp was the Catholic priest at Isabel at that time and his mother was his housekeeper. Margaret and Anthony Kipp were parents of 2 children: Kenneth, born in Fergus Falls and Colette born in Isabel. McMartin, Daniel and Julia S. (Brush)(Marlys Hager) Daniel A. McMartin, son of Duncan and Martha (Liscum) McMartin , was born 11 Oct 1832 in St. Andrews East, Argenteuil Co., Province of Quebec, Canada. His parents came from Scotland (near Perth and Iverness). In 1852 he came to Bloomfield Twp. with others in his family. On 11 Sep 1861 he enlisted in Co. I, Ninth Iowa Infantry and fought in the Civil War until his discharge in 1864. On 18 Feb 1864 he married Julia Brush who came to Bloomfield Twp. with her parents, Samuel F. and Theodosia (Grandy) Brush. Her mother died when Julia was a young girl and her father, Samuel, enlisted in the Civil War leaving the care of the family to the older children. Julia’s father, Samuel F. Brush, died after a long time of imprisonment in Libby Prison. Daniel A. and Julia were the parents of 9 children: Willis, Frank, Effie, Ivan Burt, Martha, Elsie, Jessie, Edith and Elmer. Willis McMartin was born 10 Jan 1868 in Bloomfield Twp. At his country’s call, he enlisted in the 45th U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish American War. On 7 Sep 1899 he was ordered to Fort Snelling, MN, assigned to Co. G and promoted to Corporal. He was ordered to Manilla in the Phillipine Islands where he was stricken with malaria fever and died 10 Feb 1900. Elmer McMartin, born 21 May 1887, served in the U.S.Army during World War I in France. Frank C. moved to Bridgewater, SD. Martha, born 13 Sep 1874, married Wilbur Dresser. She died in 1963. Elsie, born 7 Oct 1875, married George Kobriger. She died 1 Jun 1959. Jessie was born 5 Jun 1879 and died 27 Mar 1957. She never married. Edith was born 6 Jul 1881 and died in 1940. She also did not marry. Edith and Jessie (unmarried sisters) and Elmer and Burt (unmarried brothers) lived on the home farm. Elmer continued to live there after all his family was dead. He continued to show much interest in the community and the Bloomfield Co. Historical Society and was instrumental in collecting much of the historical information that we have today. Elmer died at the Postville Hospital where he chose to make his home the last years of his life. He died 10 Jun M-10 See the associated scan to compare with the published information.
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