SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Henry Marten, Page 341

HENRY MARTEN is one of the pioneers of Herman Township, where he located in 1847.  He was born in Langenholzhausen, Lippe-Detmold, Germany, January 15, 1835.  His parents, Adolph and Johanna (Helming) Marten, were natives of the same place.  With their four children they emigrated to the United States in 1847, and settled in the town of Herman.  Their family was one of the thirteen that came from Lippe-Detmold as a colony, and has been an important factor in making Herman Township one of the best in the county.  Adolph Marten was a farmer in his native country, and his experience in that line of industry was valuable to him in a new and uncultivated region, where agriculture was the main dependence.  He was born September 8, 1797, and died June 10, 1883.  His wife, who was born May 2, 1809, still survives, being one of two who remain of those that came as heads of families with the Lippe colony.  Mr. and Mrs. Marten endured all the hardships, inconveniences and privations incident to life on the frontier.  Their lives were spent at hard work, trying to make a home for their children, who doubtless appreciate the sacrifices made for them.

    Henry Marten, whose name heads this record, well remembers the hard times through which the early settlers had to pass.  Being but twelve years of age when the family emigrated to this country, the impressions made upon his mind were so firmly fixed that they have never been forgotten.  His parents being poor, he assisted them by working for wages among the neighboring farmers.  One of the gentlemen for whom he worked lacked not only wholesome food, but also plates on which to eat it.  Cooked crab-apples formed the chief article of diet; and as a substitute for a dish in which to work butter, he used a flat stone, which lay in the creek bed.  It is needless to say that Mr. Marten never greatly admired the cuisine of that household.  After working for some time in this county, our subject went to Manitowoc County and worked for about two years.  The succeeding seven years were spent in Chicago, which was at that time a mere village in comparison with its present magnificent proportions.

    Returning to Sheboygan County, Mr. Marten was married on the 4th of April, 1859, to Miss Henrietta Doemeyer, a native of Lippe-Detmold, Germany.  Mrs. Marten came to the United States about two years later than her husband.  Of this union two children were born:  Caroline, the wife of Rev. Ernst Brunohler, a minister in the German Reformed Church of Freeport, Ill.; and Sophia, wife of Carl Boedecker, a farmer of the town of Herman.  Mrs. Marten was called to her final rest in 1861, and two years later Mr. marten wedded Henrietta Sielmeyer, who was also born in Lippe-Detmold, and in 1851 emigrated to America.  By this marriage Mr. Marten has three children, namely:  Albert, Emilie and Otto.  All the family belong to the German Reformed Church.

    Mr. marten is a man of intelligence; having received a fair education in school, he has, by reading and travel, become well-informed.  He is, therefore, an earnest advocate of good schools and of anything that tends to disseminate knowledge.  In his political views, he is a stanch Democrat, though he takes no prominent part in political affairs.  His farm consists of eighty acres of well-improved land, which stands as a monument to the untiring industry of himself and family, as what he possesses has been made by their united efforts.  He has a fine pond of California trout and carp, of which he is justly proud.  This pond lies right in front of his comfortable residence, bordering on the road.