Faulk-Potter County, SD Biographies.....Mertens, Christopher 1843 - 1905
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 10, 2005, 6:27 pm

Author: C. H. Ellis



    CHRISTOPHER MERTENS was born in South Germany, February 13th, 1843. He came

to the United States of American in 1867 and located at Dunkirk, in the state of

New York, where he engaged in the manufacturing of boots and shoes for one year,

he then removed to Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where he carried on the same business.

Two years later he removed to Algona, Kossuth county, Iowa, and engaged in

farming and remained six years. He then came to Minnesota and located in Blue

Earth county and engaged in the insurance business.



    He was united in marriage with Miss Genevieve Geiger, July 29th, 1868, and

to this union was born five children., viz: John, born July 16th, 1869; he

graduated from Hamline University, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1903, married Miss

Alberta Galispia, came to South Dakota and commenced the practice of medicine at

Lebanon, Potter county, the same year, where he now resides and enjoys a

successful practice; Elizabeth, born December 22nd, 1870, died August 24th,

1871; Clara, born July 18th, 1872, she married Samuel Brown of Faulk county,

November 6th, 1889, and died January 7th, 1903, leaving three children; Emma,

born March 26th, 1874, she married John Gallagher, June 4th, 1902, they now

reside at San Antonio, Texas; Louisa, born February 22nd, 1877, she was united

in marriage in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 26th, 1906, to William Simon, who

was born February 16th, 1869, at St. Charles, Minnesota, and came to Faulk

county in 1889 and located at Faulkton, where he has been employed in the meat

market up to the present time.



    Mr. Mertens continued in office and representing some of the most reliable

insurance companies and collecting agencies in the United States, until his

removal to Faulkton in 1888. After Mr. Mertens came to this county he continued

to work at his trade as a boot and shoe maker for two years, at which time he

was elected to the office he filled in Minnesota, that of justice of the peace,

and to which he continued to be re-elected until the time of his death, at his

home in Faulkton, South Dakota, on Sunday morning, October 20th, 1905, aged

sixty-two years, eight months and sixteen days. Mr. Mertens was educated in

Germany, graduating from a military school and serving for a time in the German

army. After completing his service in the army he was educated for the ministry

of the Catholic church, but on account of doctrinal difficulties he never

entered the church. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,

holding his membership at Gettysburg, in Potter county, and has represented his

lodge at the grand lodge meetings of the state. He was a lover of art, music,

and philosophy and had read and thought much upon these subjects. He was a kind

and loving husband and father, a good neighbor and an honest man, and the entire

community sympathized with the family in their loss. The funeral service was

conducted from the Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. McBeth preaching the sermon

and the Odd Fellows having charge of the burial service. The burial was in the

Faulkton cemetery.







Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9

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