Surnames: Martens, Wedl, Bradley, Bucholtz, Krueger, Stelloh, Hake, Motzkus, Henschen, Lloyd, Naedler, Frantz, Wagner

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 28 Jan. 1932

Martens, William Carl (2 May 1860 - 21 Jan. 1932)

William Martens, a prominent farmer in the town of Pine Valley passed away at his home Thursday evening, Jan. 21 in his seventy-second year. He had been in poor health for several months.

William Carl Martens was born in Pommern, Germany, May 2, 1860, the son of John and Johanna von Wedl Martens. He attended a private school from that time until he was fifteen years of age then attending a trade school until he was eighteen, learning the blacksmith trade. From eighteen to twenty-one he took military training in the government training camp, in the cavalry. He left his native land alone, at the age of twenty-one, coming to Chicago where he followed his trade. During that time he was employed three years by the David Bradley Mfg. Co., and four years by the Deering Manufacturing Co. For several years he engaged in the milk business. He attended night school to perfect his knowledge of the English language, and became naturalized March 16, 1891.

Mr. Martens was married to Miss Louise Bucholtz in 1884 in Chicago. In 1895 they moved to Clark County and secured a farm in the town of Pine Valley. Although he spent some time working in the Wolff & Korman shop, and also lived for a time on another farm which he owned, he returned to the first farm where he has lived for a number of years past.

In 1897 his first wife died, and on March 3, 1899 he was married to Augusta Krueger of New Ulm, Texas, who survives him. The surviving children of the first marriage are John Martens of Neillsville; Louise, Mrs. Conrad Stelloh of Neillsville; Augusta, Mrs. Rush Hake of the town of Grant; Anna, Mrs. Fred Stelloh, died in 1918, and a son died in infancy. The children of the second marriage are: Miss Helanda Martens, secretary in the District Attorney’s office; Elwin and Julius at home. He leaves also ten grandchildren.

Mr. Martens was a man of fine intelligence, upright and honest in all every way. He served seven years on the town board in Pine Valley and for 23 years on the school board. In 1901 he assisted in organizing the Reformed church here and was one of its charter members.

In 1905 he returned to Germany to visit his mother, arriving there the day after her funeral.

Funeral services were held at Schiller’s Funeral Home Sunday afternoon, Rev. Motzkus of Globe officiating, burial taking place in Neillsville Cemetery. The pallbearers were Bruno Henschen, Ed. Lloyd, Wm. Naedler, Conrad Frantz and August Wagner.