Jackson County IA Archives Biographies.....Skoff, Martin July 4, 1845 - 
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Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com January 4, 2011, 7:28 pm

Source: History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910
Author: J. W. Ellis

MARTIN SKOFF. 

Germany has furnished to the state of Iowa many worthy, enterprising men, who 
have left the fatherland to find employment in this country, where more 
progressive methods and larger opportunities afford chances of more rapid 
advancement. Among this number is Martin Skoff, who possesses many of the 
strong, rugged and persevering characteristics developed by his earlier 
environment, and in the quarter of a century and more that he has been 
identified with the agricultural interests of Fairfield township he has 
acquired a competence and the good will of his associates, for he is recognized 
as a maiv of sterling integrity and honesty of purpose. He was born July 4, 
1845, and his father, who likewise bore the name of Martin, was also a native 
of the fatherland. He never came to the United States, but lived and died in 
the land of his birth. 
Martin Skoff, Jr., did not decide to emigrate to America on a mere youthful 
impulse, for he was a man grown and had had some experience with the world's 
work in the old country when in 1881 he started upon his ocean voyage. After 
landing upon our shores he came also immediately to Jackson county, Iowa, where 
he bought five acres of land. Small as this place was it was his own, and with 
true German energy he made it a profitable investment, for in 1883, as the 
result of his labors and the careful economy he practiced, he was able to 
purchase the eighty acre farm on which he now lives. It is situated in 
Fairfield township, as neat and attractive a tract as may be seen in its 
vicinity. Its soil is rich and arable and from it, through careful, systematic 
cultivation Mr. Martin derives excellent results. He has utilized modern, 
progressive and scientific methods in his work as the quality as well as the 
quantity of the crops he harvests testifies. 
While still residing in Germany, Mr. Skoff was united in marriage to Miss 
Catherine Herbert, and they have become the parents of the following children: 
Anton, who is living in Joliet, Illinois; Barbara, who became the wife of M. 
Frankovitch, of Joliet; and Joseph, who wedded Mary Rose and is living on the 
home farm. 
The parents are consistent members of the Catholic church, in which faith the 
children were reared, and both are highly respected as persons of genuine worth 
and Christian characters. Although he has reached the age when many men 
relinquish the heavier duties of their occupation, Mr. Skoff continues to 
participate actively in farm work. He has realized the hope that led him to 
leave his native land, for he has turned to profitable account all the 
opportunities that were before him and with the energy, perseverance and 
reliability which have characterized the German nation for so long, he has 
gained a success which places him among the substantial and respected men of 
his community. 
J. W. Ellis, History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910 




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