Mathias Marty Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 1011

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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MATHIAS MARTY, an extensive agriculturist and one of the wealthier 
residents of Highland township, Brule county, South Dakota, whose farm 
is located on section 12, is one of the early settlers of that 
locality. He was born in the Alps mountains, of Switzerland, April 14, 
1835. He and his younger brother, Jacob, deceased, were the only 
children born to Mathias and Barbara (Marty) Marty. The father worked a 
small farm in Switzerland and in 1854 emigrated to this country and for 
many years resided near Madison, Wisconsin. At an early age our subject 
was employed at the capitol building in Madison, as messenger, 
afterward working on his father's farm. His first settlement in Dakota 
is dated 1882, since which time he has held continuous residence. He 
worked alone in Dakota for the first two years, his family residing on 
the Wisconsin farm. They joined him in 1X84 and he then sold the 
Wisconsin property, which consisted of a well-improved farm of about 
one hundred and ninety acres. Our subject had prospered in Wisconsin, 
but he saw the great future of Dakota and the wealth of her grazing 
grounds and decided to enter into her industries, which in a great 
measure were forwarded by her natural advantages. He has been adding to 
his farm from time to time, providing for the time which is not far 
distant when the unlimited range will become fenced pastures and he who 
does not have land cannot keep stock. He now has one section of land 
and contemplates the purchase of more soon. He has a substantial 
dwelling and large barns and sheds. A four-inch artesian well supplies 
water for the irrigation of one hundred and fifty acres of land, 
although he has not as yet put it to practical use. His farm is located 
seven miles south and a little east of Kimball. 

Our subject was married in 1863 to Miss Dorothy Lebetrau, a German by 
birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Marty have been born eight children as follows: 
Mathias, living in Chicago; Emma; Anna; Augusta; Bertha, a student of 
Ward's Academy, and also Mitchell State University, and at present 
teaching in the Brule county public schools; August; Hulda, and Otto, 
deceased. The family worship with the German Lutherans. Mr. Marty is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. In political views he is a Democrat, 
favors high license and is opposed to equal suffrage. He is an ax-
soldier, having enlisted in Company E, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, 
February 13, 1865. He was sent to Tennessee and his services consisted 
mostly of long and tiresome marches in patrol and guard duty, and he 
was mustered out in December, 1865. As a loyal citizen and earnest 
worker for the good of his locality, he has the respect of all.