Biography - Henry Martz
HENRY MARTZ, one of our worthy German-American citizens who does credit
alike to the land of his birth and the land of his adoption, resides on
section 28, Ridge Township, Shelby County, where he carries on a first-class
farm. He was born in the old country April 3, 1834, and up to the time when
he was thirteen years old he worked upon the farm. He then served an
apprenticeship for three years to the trade of a miller and was sixteen
years old when he came to America.
The youth landed in New York City and made his way to Lancaster, Ohio, where
he was engaged at farm labor for eight years, after which he was married
March 14, 1858 to Miss Margaret Singer, a native of Bavaria, Germany, where
she was born August 29, 1838. He remained in Fairfield County for two years
after his marriage and in 1860 removed to Shelby County, Ill., renting land
in Pickaway Township for about thirteen years. In 1873 he decided to
purchase a farm and bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, where
he settled and where he has since been a resident.
This fine farm has now been increased to two hundred and sixty acres. Upon
it have been erected good buildings and excellent improvements of other
kinds. Nine children have made this happy home resound with the gleeful
pursuits of childhood, their names being Henry, John, Anna M., William T.,
Caroline C., George E., Rosanna M., Charles G., and Lewis J. Anna M., is the
wife of Samuel Campbell; Henry married Louisa Raab; John died when fourteen
years old.
The father of these young people has been Highway Commissioner for some
three years and his political views lead him to affiliate with the
Democratic party. Both he and his excellent wife are members in good and
regular standing of the Lutheran Church. Their good home, pleasantly
located, forms an agreeable center of social life and the farm shows every
mark of the hand of a prudent and conscientious farmer.
Extracted 12 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 415-416.
