Cornelius Martensen
named I.C. in Katherine's will
born May 7, 1872, Esbjerg, Jerne parish, Denmark
baptized June 23, 1872, Jerne Kirke, Esbjerg, Denmark
died Sept. 28, 1949, at home of son Glenn, Sappington, Missouri (outside St. Louis), of arteriosclorosis
buried Aspen Grove
came to the U.S. in 1883
member, Woodmen of the World
married Catherine Abalona Schmidt May 7, 1897, Burlington
Katherine Abalona Schmidt Martensen
named Abalona C. in her will
also spelled Catherine; Cathrine; Chatrina; Kathrine; Abolna
born Feb. 24, 1875, Burlington
Abolna Kathrine confirmed at St. Luke's Evangelical on Palm Sunday, April 14, 1889, Pastor F. Daries
died Sept. 2, 1943, Burlington, of a stroke
buried Aspen Grove
children:
Harvey
Ralph
Glenn
Frances
Even though Anna and Markus are not mentioned as church members, Cornelius appears in the list of members pledging money after the July, 1892 annual meeting at St. Paul's Evangelical, West Burlington. Then age 20, he pledged the smallest amount, two dollars, while most members pledged six or eight. By 1898, he was able to pledge a more respectable five dollars for a new bell. But next to an undated membership entry, while the family was living at 222 Ballard, someone wrote in "Have been paying members - try to get them to join again."
Harvey was baptized in 1899, and Ralph in 1900, at St. Paul's, although Glenn was baptized in 1906 at Peace Lutheran, Prairie Grove. In 1915, Ralph was confirmed at St. Paul's, then Glenn in 1920. Cornelius, Catherine, Harvey and Ralph joined First UCC Dec. 30, 1923.
Glenn perceived his father as thinking of himself as a shrewd property dealer, but Glenn said his father was not a successful farmer. He was probably right, since the family moved often, and Cornelius spent much of his work life as a painter. I think, though, that Cornelius' land transactions show that he was trying his hand at land speculation, which was very hot in Burlington a generation before he arrived.
- My mother said her father often pointed out 413 Mt. Pleasant in West Burlington as the house in which he was born.
- They lived near Prairie Grove on a farm when Glenn was born. Glenn said this was near Sperry (unless they rented a place, the property they owned was just southeast of Prairie Grove, but nowhere near Sperry).
- In moving back towards West Burlington, the family might have lived at some point on Markus' Plank Road property. Glenn remembers "the little yellow place" just off new Highway 61 North, near Plank Road. Glenn went to the one-room Hawkeye School, still standing on the northeast corner of 61 & Flint Road. My grandfather used to point out to me a place on Plank Road very near that property where he said he used to spy on camping Gypsies. His friend Carl Setterberg lived on a nearby hill; he introduced Ralph to Genevieve.
- Glenn remembered then moving to the "Brushtown" settlement just outside of West Burlington, just north of the railroad tracks. He went to the West Burlington School, where he graduated from 8th grade at 15 in 1921. At this point, Cornelius worked at the CB&Q shops, painting boxcars, then coach and caboose interiors.
- Glenn remembered moving into Markus's house, 222 Ballard, West Burlington, after his death in 1917.
- Sometime between 1922 and 1927, while Glenn attended Elmhurst (Illinois) Academy, the railroad went on strike. Glenn asked the school if his father could come live with him and renovate the administrative offices. Cornelius stayed almost a year in Elmhurst. Sometime after his return to West Burlington, he became a house painter and contractor.
Aug. 26, 1896
H.B. & Leonora C. Scott
to
Cornelius Martensen
for $400
Lot 6 in Block 1 of Fourth Addition to West Burlington
Jan. 7, 1901
Cornelius & Chatrina Martensen
to
Axel Lindstrom
$1500
Lot 6 in Block 1 of Fourth Addition to West Burlington
Jan. 9, 1901
Henry & Friedrika Behne
to Cornelius Martensen
$2000
13/15s of the NE quarter of the NE quarter of section 16 in Township 70 north of Range 3 W (SE of Prairie Grove, NW corner of Prairie Grove & Flint Bottom roads)
Jan. 6, 1903
Cornelius & Abalona Martensen
to
Christ J. Mumme
$2300
13/15s of the NE quarter of the NE quarter of section 16 in Township 70 north of Range 3 W
March 1, 1913
Magdalena Schwarz (widow, Linn Co., Iowa), et.al.
(Herman P., Adda, Ida M. (unmarried, Linn Co., Iowa), and
Frank C. & Anna (married, Warren Co., Illinois))
to
Cornelius Martensen
$1400
part of the SE quarter of Section 26, Township 70, Range 3
commencing at a point 18 chains and 75 links south of the center of the section, running then south 5 rods, then east 32 rods, then 5 rods, then west 32 rods, to the place of beginning, containing one acre (Brushtown)
March 25, 1920
Cornelius & Katherine Martensen
to
Charles F. & Caroline Mohler
$2500
part of the SE quarter of Section 26, Township 70, Range 23 ... (rest of description above)
Dec. 7, 1921
Niels Thygesen, et.al. (Ane Margrethe Thygesen (Niels' wife), Thyge Frandsen Thygesen, Andrea Thygesen (Thyge's wife)
to
Cornelius Martensen
Bent Falkenstjerne, attorney, Cook County, Illinois
John Thygersen, et.al., vs. Cornelius Martensen, Chancery #8874, Combined Docket 31, page 214, District Court of Des Moines County, Iowa
quit claim deed, for $100
Lot 7, Block 2, Second Addition to West Burlington
Jan. 2, 1924
Cornelius & Catherine Martensen
to
George & Ernestine Wilz (buried near Cornelius in Aspen Grove)
Lot 7, Block 2, Second Addition to West Burlington
information taken from history of property
Jan. 9, 1924 (instrument; filed Jan. 11, 1924)
Axel Robert Anderson
to
C. Martensen & wife
warranty deed
Lot 15 N1/2 & Lot 16, Barret's Subdivision (on west side of Eighth, near south end of block, between Angular and Spruce)
information taken from history of property
March 31, 1925
Frank A. Trevitt & Hb'd Henry Trevitt (?)
to
Cornelius & Cathrine Martensen (first deed to say they are living in Burlington at this point)
$1
Lot 7, May's Subdivision of part of Section 5, Township 69 N, Range 2 (?) W, Burlington (on May between Angular and Spray/Vine
April 10, 1946 (instrument; filed April 11, 1946)
Cornelius Martensen
to
Leo & Violet Brissey
warranty deed
Lot 7, May's Subdivision of part of Section 5, Township 69 N,
Range 2 (?) W, Burlington
information taken from history of property
July 26, 1946 (instrument; filed Aug. 21, 1946)
C. Martensen
to
Ed & Vivian King
warranty deed
Lot 15 N1/2 & Lot 16 of Barret's Subdivision of Burlington
information taken from history of property
In 1905, Cornelius lived for one year in Chicago with his father’s relatives:
Nels Martensen
born October, 1861, in Denmark (1900 census); parents both from Denmark
came to the U.S. in 1875
see city directory listings below for residences 1889 to 1906
worked as a carpenter
1910 census, living near Armitage and Kedvale, listed as single, carpenter and woodworker
his widowed sister Mary Knudsen (born c. 1865) and her son John (born c. 1895) live with him
married Flora around 1885, probably in Chicago
Flora Martensen
born May, 1868, in Germany; parents both from Germany
came to the U.S. in 1880
married Nels around 1885, probably in Illinois
had four children in 1900, all living
she is gone by the 1910 census
children:
Harold Nelson, born January 18, 1888, in Illinois
WWI draft registration June 5, 1917 (never called up), living at 221 W. Custer in Park Ridge, working as a carpenter for Harry Stebbings in Park Ridge
he had a wife (Emma, born 1893, Chicago) and daughter (Lillian, born 1916)
his physical description was medium height and build, light hair, blue eyes
1930 census, living in Park Ridge with his brother-in-lawn and family; Harold is a widow living with two daughters, Jean L. (this must be Lillian, born c. 1916) and Francis V. (born c. 1921), working at Lehman Tile Co.
WWII draft registration 1942, living at 1831 N. Austin, Chicago, working at Veos Steel Tile of Chicago, 4809 W. Harrison
Walter, born October 1889, in Illinois
Nelson, born October, 1890, in Illiinois
Robert Harry, born August 31, 1893, in Chicago
WWI draft registration June 5, 1917, living at 4140 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, working as a sales clerk at Carson, Pirie Scott at Adams & Franklin
married, no children
his physical description was tall, medium weight, light hair, blue eyes
entries from Chicago City Directory
1889 - (first entry)
Nils Martensen, carpenter
resides 949 Gross Ave. (now Talman Ave., by Lane Tech HS)
1890 - Nels Martensen, carpenter
480 W. Fullerton (now 910 W. Fullerton Ave., on the DuPaul campus)
1895 - Nels Martensen, carpenter
works 15 Wabash Ave. (no old #15 listed - now between 212 and 216 S. Wabash?)
resides 480 W. Fullerton
1898 - Nels Martinson, carpenter
resides 480 W. Fullerton
1899 - same as above
1902 - same as above
1903 - same as above
1904 - Nels, same as above
(listed separately, different spelling of surname)
Harold Martensen, clerk
works 35 Randolph (unconverted address)
resides 480 W. Fullerton
1905 - Cornelius Martensen, painter (my mother said he operated
a grocery store)
resides 460 W. Fullerton Ave. (no new street number listed)
Harold Martensen, clerk
resides 480 W. Fullerton
Nels Martensen, carpenter
resides 480 W. Fullerton
1906 - none of them listed
Ralph not listed in city directories for 1916, 1917, or 1923
not listed in city telephone directories for November,
1921 through June, 1925
Cornelius & Katherine's children:
Harvey Raymond
born Oct. 24, 1898, West Burlington
baptized Feb. 26, 1899, St. Paul's Evangelical, West Burlington, Markus Thyggesen, godfather
died Feb. 28, 1993, Rock Island, of old age
pipefitter
married Maybelle Marie Turner Jan. 1, 1924, Burlington
Maybelle Marie Turner Martensen
born June 21, 1900, Burlington
died May 15, 1979, Rock Island
July 17, 1937
Harvey B. & Maybelle Martensen, Rock Island, Illinois
to
Anna K. Leicht (widow)
$1
north 20 feet of Lot 3 and all of Lot 4 in Block 19 of Barret's Addition to Burlington (absolute middle of block, east side of Twelfth Street, between Acres and Dodge)
Harvey & Mabelle's children:
Jeanette Evelyn Martensen Lemon
Robert Glen
Marjorie Catherine Martensen Murphy
Melvin Dale
Ralph Cornelius
born Oct. 7, 1900, West Burlington
baptized Dec. 23, 1900, St. Paul's Evangelical, West Burlington, Peter Schmidt, godfather
confirmed March 21, 1915, St. Paul's
died July 15, 1980, Burlington
buried Aspen Grove
died of a heart attack (after working in extreme heat, refusing medical attention)
after finishing eighth grade, worked as a farm hand on neighbor's farms
managed a grocery store on Central Avenue
worked more than 30 years at Benner Tea Co., Eagle Food Stores
active member of a union while at Benner's
married Genevieve Eleanor Nelson June 25, 1924, at her parent's home on Cleveland Avenue
they courted for seven years before marrying
member of First UCC until 1974; as a 50th wedding anniversary gift to my grandmother, they joined her childhood church, West Hill Methodist
Genevieve Eleanor Nelson Martensen
born July 21, 1898, Burlington
after finishing eighth grade at Corse School, worked as a house maid until marriage
joined First UCC Dec. 21, 1924
died Jan. 17, 1989, Burlington
buried Aspen Grove
children:
Dorothy Louise Martensen Goede
Darwin Ralph
Glenn Oliver
born April 6, 1906, Prairie Grove, Iowa
baptized 1906, Peace Lutheran Church, Prairie Grove, Iowa
confirmed Easter Sunday, April 4, 1920, St. Paul's Evangelical, West Burlington, Romans 5:1
married Katherine Marie Kinsley Aug. 20, 1930, Rock Island
Katherine Marie Kinsley Martensen
born April 29, 1908, Rock Island
died Feb. 23, 1941, Burlington (First UCC records say 1940)
killed in auto accident between Weaver and Ft. Madison, Iowa
buried Memorial Park Cemetery, Burlington (Lutheran Section, Lot #19)
children:
Daniel Glenn
Gay Arthur
Glenn married Aileen Elizabeth Plenge Aug. 20, 1944, Kahoka, Missouri
Aileen Elizabeth Plenge Martensen
born May 16, 1919, Kahoka
died May 30, 1994, Fenton, Missouri (near St. Louis)
children
Dean Stephen
At age fifteen, after a stirring sermon on evangelism, Glenn told his parents he thought he wanted to be a minister. He said they considered it carefully, but were pleased with the idea. However, when one of Katherine's sisters heard this, she bet her sister and brother-in-law a chicken dinner that Glenn would never make it through seminary. Glenn said he never understood why she thought that.
Glenn's parents sent him to Elmhurst Academy near Chicago for high school and two years of college. They decided not to send him to Burlington High School, because they had heard rumors that some girls there were pregnant. He was at Elmhurst from 1922 to 1927.
After he left Elmhurst, Glenn went to Eden Seminary in St. Louis for a two-year certificate, which was all he needed to become a minister. He served his entire ministry in Kahoka, Missouri, not far from Keokuk, Iowa. He received his BDiv. in 1945 from Kirksville State Teachers College (now Northeast Missouri State University), after several years of parttime study. During that time, he stayed in Kirksville during the week and returned to Kahoka on the weekends for Sunday service. At Kirksville, he concentrated on church history.
Frances Adelia Martensen Grunwald
born March 13, 1913, Burlington (?)
Frances was the only one of Cornelius' children who had contact with the family of Henry, Cornelius' brother in New York. My mother said she visited one of Henry's children, Natalie, who was married to a doctor and still living in New York. My mother said she thought Frances had to do research to find Natalie, but, Henry did keep in contact with his mother, and Frances might have met and visited with him before he died.
died Feb. 14, 1981, Canton, Ohio
married Wilmer Carl Grunwald June 13, 1933, Burlington
Wilmer Carl Grunwald
born Aug. 26, 1907, Seymour, Wisconsin
died July 30, 1988, Winesburg, Ohio
UCC minister, married my parent
children:
Larry Carl
