JohnAdrian.htm

FUNERAL BELL TOLLS FOR ONE MORE VETERAN

December 13, 1925

JOHN A. MARTENS, CIVIL WAR SOLDIER, DIES

A Resident of De Pere and Vicinity During the Past Seventy-Five Years.

John Adrian Martens...over 89 years of age, one of the longest time residents of De Pere and vicinity, died in the home of his daughter, Mrs. fred Marrcott, 501 N. Huron Street at 4 o'clock Sunday morning. He passed awy in the house he had occupied during the past 53 years, it having been built by him for himself and wife in 1872. The cause of the death was old age, superinduced by an accident on July 4 when he fell from the porch of his residence and suffered a broken right arm. This injury caused him considerable inconvenience, but he had recovered from it apparently, and was able afterward to visit down town as usual. On Thanksgiving he enjoyed the usual feast on that day with his family and seemed to be in his usual health. Two weeks ago he suffered an attach of stomach trouble, but after a few days in bed he appeared to be holding his own. Later he began to grow weaker and he gradually lost strength until his final summons.

The funeral was held on Wednesday morning from St. Mary's church of which he had been a member since its organization. Interment was in Mt. Oliyet cemetery. The Rev. Father Van Roosmalen officiated. The pallbearers were the following Sons of Verterans: L. L. Tesier, Elmer Harrison, A. G. Burt, Ed Haskins, Fred Harrison, M. E. Lee.

Out of town people who attended the funeral of John Martens included Henry Martens, Lyda Martens, Robert Martens, Lawrence Martens, and Dorothy Martens of Sauk Rapids, Minn; Math. Martens, Clement Maatens, Bessie Martens, Mrs. Ed Daly of Coleman; Mrs. Chas. Van Oss of Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Art Boucher, Kimberly; Mrs. arn. Peerenboom, Miss Belle Peerenboom, Mr. and Mrs. Chas Green, Mrs. Earl Douglass, Mrs. Thos. Long, Appleton; Mr. and Mrs. Felix Lemmens, Mrs. Frank Van Oss, Mrs. Gus Lemmens and Mr. and Mrs. John Alberts of Green Bay.

Mr. Martens is survived by two sons and two daughters, namely Effie (Mrs. F. W. Marcott), N. Huron Street; Henry and Lydia of Sauk Rapids. Minn. and Lawrence, of De Pere.

The descendent was born in Beugen, Holland, August 31, 1836. He came here with his parents in the year 1850. The later came direct to Brown county and settled on some new farm land in the town of Allouez. They made the entire trip from Holland to De Pere by water, it taking three months. They crossed the Atlantic in a sailing ship, and from New York the family went through the Erie canal to Buffalo and from there they again took a sailing vessel to Green Bay. After arriving here the family rented the Camp Smith site which had been abandoned a few years previously as a camp, or fort, site. They paid a yearly rental of $30 for the place. They remained there and farmed for five years. In 1859 Mr. Martens, the late deceased, went to Atchison, Kansas, to follow his trade as a painter, and while he was there the Civil War broke out. He immediately volunterred and was assigned to the Eighth Kansas regiment, U.S. Infantry. He served three years in the Union cause, his regiment being with the Army of the Cumberland. He was in the battles of Chicamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and other places. His regiment is claimed to have been one of the first to drive the confederate troops across Missionary Ridge. Mr. Martens was up to the time of his death one of the two or three survivors of the regiment.

At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and he came back to De Pere and followed his trade as a painter, which he successfully carried on unti about 20 years ago, when he retired. With the exception of the few years he lived in Kansas and his service in the Civil war, he has always resided in De Pere or Allouez.

In November, 1869, he took as his wife Johanna Peerenboom of Appleton, the ceremony being performed at Appleton by the Rev. Father Verberk. Mrs. Martens preceded her husband in death over ten years ago, having passed away October 8, 1915.

Mr. Martens was a membher of a family remarkable for the advanced age each had attained before summoned by death. Twenty years ago there were six brothers and one sister living and they haeld a reunion in De Pere. At that time their combined ages was over 600 years. They were all living up to 10 years ago. Mr. Martens was the last of the family of children to pass away. The others and their ages at the time of their deaths were: Mrs. Matt. Reynen, 78: Math. Martens 90, at Creston, Ia.: John, 90 at Milbank, SD; Gerard, 84 at Allouez: Albert, 82, De Pere, and Arnold, 74, Chili, Wis. His father died at the age of 84 years. Besides his immediate family, the decendent leaves to mourn, many nephews and nieces.

Mr. Martens not only did his loyal duty in the Civil war, but always took a great interest in national, state and city affairs. He never failed to go to the polls and vote for his favorite candidates. He was well posed on all the questions of the day.