Jacob Marti
Jacob and Sarah (Iverson) Marti
The list of Allamakee county’s pioneers contains the
names of many upright, enterprising and courageous men whose
labors have been potent forces in upbuilding and development.
None, however, has displayed more energy in business relations,
more integrity and honor in personal life, than Jacob Marti, who
has resided here since 1855. He was born in Canton Glarus,
Switzerland, June 12,1842, and is a son of Henry and Catherine
(Blumer) Marti, the former born in 1800 and the latter in 1803.
They emigrated to America with their five children in 1855 and
established a home in Allamakee county on a farm belonging to a
cousin. Henry Marti suffered a stroke of paralysis and was an
invalid for seventeen years prior to his death, which occurred at
the home of his son Jacob when he was seventy years of age. His
wife survived him some years, dying at the age of eighty-three.
They became the parents of five children: Henry, who died upon
the ocean; Jacob, of this review; Mrs. Fred Riser, deceased; Mrs.
Peter Riser, who resides in Lansing township; and Mrs. Blumer,
who has passed away.
Jacob Marti was thirteen years of age when he was brought to
America by his parents. He remembers well the journey across the
ocean which was made in a sailing vessel, the John Hancock, and
which was the last trip of this vessel as a passenger carrier.
Thirty-tree days were spent on the journey from Liverpool to New
York city and from there the family pushed westward to Dubuque,
whence after a short stop they came to Allamakee county. Jacob,
however, remained for sometime with an uncle in Dubuque. He had
acquired a common-school education in Switzerland and after
coming to America spent three months in a German school in
Dubuque and three months in the public schools of Allamakee
county. He remained with his parents until he was twenty years of
age and then began his independent career as manager of a farm
belonging to the widow of his cousin, Frederick Marti. He
subsequently married the widow, who was in her maidenhood Miss
Catherine Wilhelm and who had two children by her former
marriage: John, who lives on a farm in Makee township; and
Casper, living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By her marriage to
Jacob Marti she had five children: Henry, who resides upon a farm
in Lansing township; George, engaged in agricultural pursuits in
the same locality; Catherine the wife of W. R. Gaine, of Chicago,
Illinois; William, a resident of Kasson, Minnesota; and Emma, who
died at the age of eighteen. Mr. Marti’s first wife passed
away at the age of forty years and he afterward married Miss
Sarah Iverson, a native of Norway. They have three children:
Jacob J., who is employed in the post office at Mason City, Iowa;
Anna, the wife of Charles Alfred Petrehn of Austin, Minnesota;
and Philip, a farmer in Allamakee county.
Since the farm came into Mr. Marti’s possession he has
continued to conduct a successfully, owning at the present time
four hundred and fifty-four acres of good land upon which is one
of the finest sets of buildings in the county. At the original
residence was burned down about ten years ago and in its place he
has erected at a cost of over four thousand dollars, a large
modern home. It is finished on the inside in oak and is complete
in furnishings and accessories, one of the finest private
residences in this section of the state. Mr. Marti engages in
general farming and is interested in the conduct of his dairy,
which is well equipped and sanitary in every particular. For a
number of years he made a great deal of cheese which he sold in
the Dubuque markets, where it commanded a high price and a ready
sale. A man of broad views and modern ideas, well informed on the
questions and issues of the day, Mr.. Marti is probably one of
the most popular of Allamakee county’s pioneer citizens and
his place in the respect and esteem of his fellowmen has been won
by reason of an honorable, upright and worthy life, the
activities of which have contributed in an important way to the
development of the section. It is said that he never knowingly
wronged any man, and his name is to say a synonym for kindness,
geniality and courtesy.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index