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Folmer Charles Marthenze Jr.

 

Born: 2 Mar 1894, Sheboygan, WI

 

Parents: Folmer Marthenze Sr.and Catharina Schleth

 

Siblings: John (1885/6-1974), George (1886-1962), Margaret (1889-1939), Teana (1891-1977) , half sister Anna (1878-?)   

Marriage: to Estella Tupper,  7/7/1919 Detroit, Michigan

 

Marriage announcement:

July 11, 1919: Miss Estella M. Tupper, daughter of Mrs. Pearl Tupper, 814 Leland Ave., and  F. Marthenze, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Marthenze of Black River, were quietly united in marriage at 7 p.m. Monday at the parsonage of the Methodist church in Detroit, Mich. The Rev. Butler performed the ceremony. The bride wore a chic suit of navy blue and a hat to correspond. There were no attendants. Tuesday morning Mr. and Mrs. Marthenze left Detroit for this city where they are now guests at the home of the bride’s mother. Next week they will spend at Black River, and after Aug. 1st will be at home to their many friends at 814 Leland Ave. The bride and groom are both popular young people of this city. Mrs. Marthenze is a graduate of the Sheboygan High School with the class of 1913 and of Milwaukee Normal School with the class of 1915. She taught for 4 years in the Cedar Grove public school and since Sept. last, held a responsible position in the office of the cost department of the General Aluminum and Brass Manufacturing company, Detroit. The groom returned last week Saturday from seventenn months service overseas, receiving his honorable discharge at Camp Custer, and going from there directly to Detroit. He left this city with the second contingent of selectmen on November 19th, 1917 for Camp Custer and later was tranferred to Camp Hanck, Georgia. After a brief period of training, there he left for an easten camp, and in January embarked for France where he was an air service mechanic. He is a mechanic with the Jenkins Machine Company here and will assume his duties after a short vacation. Mr. and Mrs. Marthenze have the good wishes of a host of friends.

 

Children: Gerald and Joyce 

 

Death: 30 Jun 1948, Veterans Hospital, Milwaukee, Wi. Buried Wildwood Cemetary, section 7, Sheboygan, Wi.

 

Biography:

Folmer was the 5th and last child of Folmer Marthenze and Catharina Schleth. Folmer’s father and mother had a common law marriage, as Folmer Sr’s first wife had been committed to an insane asylum and never divorced. Folmer’s mother seemed to have a good sense of humor, as family lore has that one day the census taker came around and in trying to figure out the family situation asked “well if his wife is in the insane asylum, where did you get all these kids?”, to which she replied, “I found them down by the lake (Michigan)”. Folmer’s father, who was from Denmark, was said to have a strong sense of individuality, so it must have been an interesting house to grow up in. Folmer had a good singing voice, as it was mentioned a few times in the Sheboygan Press that he sang for various functions. He was working in Detroit for Packard Motor Company in 1916 when he was engaged to Estella Tupper. Folmer was drafted into World War I and began his service on 11/18/1917 at age 23. He was a machinist at the time and his draft registration card describes him as tall, medium build, blue eyes and light brown hair.  He was entrained to Camp Custer in Michigan as a Private in Company B, Regiment 340th Infantry.  He sailed on “President Lincoln” and arrived at St. Nazaire, France on 2/28/19.  He mustered out of the service on 7/1/1919 as a Private 1st class.  One week after he mustered out, he married Estella Tupper in Detroit. The couple came back to Sheboygan right after their marriage. After the war, Folmer was involved in real estate and insurance sales, living in a nice home on Oakland St. in the city of Sheboygan just 2 blocks from the lake. After the stock market crash and depression of the late 20’s and early 30’s, Folmer and Estella had to sell their house and moved to the lake property Folmer inherited from his father. The area was referred to as “Black River”, just a few miles south of the city of Sheboygan, but then considered out in the country. He built a house which still stands today, and started a sandwich/snack/vegetable stand.  Folmer and his son Jerry got a small trailer which they brought into Sheboygan each day  and  sold vegetables during the depression. He also built about 5 small “tourist cabins”. He later built a larger building then called Marthenze grocery (photos below). The building has gone through many transformations over the years, but is still recognizable from the original photo. His lake property was deeded over to his son and daughter after his death, and finally sold sometime in the 50’s. I interviewed Stella’s nephew, Lester Tupper Jr., in Oct. 2000, and had many good memories with aunt Stella and Uncle Folmer “out by the lake”. He said Folmer knew every tree on the heavily wooded, large property which he dearly loved. He allowed Lester Jr. to cut down some birch trees to make a birch bark canoe. They often swam in the lake and played cribbage. He described Folmer as “a GOOD man!” Daughter-in-law Gertie described him as a jolly man who loved to tell jokes. Folmer had several health problems which developed as he was in his 40’s, including hypertension and kidney disease as a result. He was nearly crippled by terrible arthritis in his back, unusual for a man only in his 40’s and 50’s. His daughter-in-law Gertie recalls him having surgery to fuse his spine, which she stated left him in a more or less permanent “sitting position”. Nephew Lester recalled an injury to one of his legs during the war, stating that ever since then he had a “bad leg”. Folmer died at age 54 from complications of his hypertension and kidney disease.

 

War enlistment photo, 1917

President Lincoln War ship  

                                                                             

 

Obituary: 

Funeral services for Folmer Marthenze of Black River (name of area just south of Sheboygan where lake property was), who passed away at Veterans hospital at Wood, Wis., Wednesday evening, were held from the Ramm Funeral home Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Ralph Edward of the Wealy Methodist church officiated, with burial in the family lot at Wildwood cemetery. Pallbearers were Andrew Poppe, Richard Schleth, Carl Poppe, James Poppe, George Marthenze Jr., and Lester Tupper Sr.  Mrs. Kryn Idsinga and Arthur Jerving sang “Come Ye Disconsolata”, “Near the Cross” and “Rock of Ages”. Out of town persons attending the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Warren Tupper of Fond du Lac, Mrs. Sam Krainbrink of Detroit, William Krainbrink of Detroit, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tupper of Milwaukee. Fourteen floral tributes were mentioned in the article from local businesses/church groups. Military services were conducted at the funeral home and the grave by members of Wolf-olson Post No. 1230, Veterans of Foreign Wars, commanded by Henry Wirtz, Fred Kesweder, Oscar Friedrichs and Joe Kelly. Color bearers, color guards and bugler were also listed. Sixth District V.F.W. Commander Henry Wirtz presented the flag to Mrs. Marthenze, the widow.

 

Census:

1930 Cenus, Sheboygan Co, City of Sheboygan:
Folmer Marthenze (read as MARTHENGE), head of house, owns home, value of real  estate $6000, owns radio, age 36 married at age 25, able to read and write, born WI, father born Denmark, mother born germany, works as saleman in real estate and insurance. Veteran of WW1
Estella, wife, age 35, age 24 at marriage, parents both born WI, no occupation. Gerald, son, age illegible, Joyce, daughter, age 4 3/12

 

1920 Census:  Sheboygan Co, City of Sheboygan, District 137 (living with Pearl Reinert, head of household):
Estella Marthenze (daughter) age 25
Folmer Marthenze, son-in-law, age 25, occupation not legible

 

1910 US Census, Sheboygan Co, Town of Wilson:
Folmer, age 59 married 11 years, born Denmark, emigrated 1871, farmer
Catherine, wife, age 52, born Germany, emigrated 1880 or 1882 (cannot decipher) number of children born 6
John, son age 25, farm labourer
George age 23 farm labourer
Teana age 18
Folmar son age 16

 

1900 US Census, Sheboygan Co, Town of Wilson:
Folmar “Martherye” (sic), born Jan 1849, age 51, born Denmark, married married 24 years, crossed out, changed to 16, born Denmark, emigrated 1870
Catherine, wife age 46, born Germany, married 16 year, 5 children born, 5 alive, emigrated (crossed out and changed - illegible, looks like 1880, lived in US 20 years)
Anna, age 21, born Oct. 1878 (this is daughter by 1st wife)
John, born Jan 1885 age 15 all children born WI
George born Dec 1886 age 13
Maggie born Oct. 1888 age 11
Teana born Oct 1890 age 9
Folmar born Mar 1894 age 6

 

The roadside stand on Lake Michigan property: Folmer standing behind “counter”, daughter Joyce to the left (taller girl); One of the two boys is likely son Gerald.

 

Circa 1935

The stand evolved into this convenience/grocery store. It still stands today (2006), although it has gone through many renovations and changes of business over the years. Folmer and Estella lived in a nearby house.

 

1940’s

         

Marthenze Family circa 1900

In center row, eldest daughter Anna from marriage to Maria Boos is sitting next to Folmer Sr., Catharina Schleth is sitting next to Folmer. Boys standing in back row are George and John; Folmer Jr. is youngest boy sitting next to half-sister Anna. The other two little girls sitting in front are Teana and Margaret.

 

                                                            

                                                                                                            Marthenze family circa 1915

Back row: Catharina, John Marthemze and wife Carrie Loop; Front row: George Marthenze, Folmer Sr and Folmer Jr.

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