Barton County KS Archives Biographies.....Merten, Robert 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 9, 2007, 3:05 pm

Author: Great Bend Tribune

ROBERT MERTEN

ONE of the men who came here in 1875 and has had a great deal to do with the
farming and commercial life of Barton County, is Robert Merten. He was born in
Elberfeldt, Germany, December 13, 1839. He came to America with his parents when
he was eight years of age, the family first locating in Keokuk County, Iowa.
Robert remained there until 1863 when he took up the occupation of freighting
across the plains. He continued in this business until 1865, when he went to
Denver and spent one summer, after which he returned to St. Joe, Mo. Then he
went back to the old home place in Iowa and in 1875 came to Barton County and in
the following year brought his family to the new country. He was married May 1,
1861, to Miss Maria Becker and they are the parents of six children as follows:
Albert N., who is farming in this county in Clarence township; Annie, who is now
Mrs. A. B. Willcutt and resides in Clarence township; Mary, who is now Mrs. H.
J. Campbell, also resides in Clarence; Frank, resides on the old home place in
this county; Edwin M., who lives in town and is in the farming business, and
Susie, who is now Mrs. E. E. Bohl, and lives in Ottawa, Kansas When Mr. Merten
arrived in this county he bought railroad land and from time to time added to
his holdings and now owns in this county 320 acres of land and also owns 700
acres in Pawnee and Rush counties. Mr. Merten is vice president of the Citizens
National Bank of Great Bend and is a director of the Pawnee Rock and Hoisington
State banks. Since his retirement from active farming he has occupied a fine
residence at 2423 Forest avenue in Great Bend. Mr. Merten has held township
offices and served as county commissioner for one year. He has always taken a
leading part in the development of the county's resources and has been closely
identified with its business and agricultural interests. All of his land in this
county is being worked by renters and is in a high state of development.

[photo]  Robert Merten


Additional Comments:
From:

Biographical History Of Barton County


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