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Martin Bressler – Frailey Township Native Dies in Iowa, 1908
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 17, 2018
Martin Bressler was born 2 July 1847 in Frailey Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the son of Michael Bressler (1817-1895) and Lydia [Reed] Bressler (1822-1904). As shown on the Veterans’ File Card, above, from the Pennsylvania Archives, he enrolled on 29 February 1864 at Pottsville in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, which was heavily populated with his neighbors from the Lykens and adjacent valleys. On 1 March, also at Pottsville, he was mustered into service as a Private. He was about 18 years old, stood nearly 5 foot 8 inches tall, had brown hair, light complexion, and grey eyes. He indicated that he had been born in Schuylkill County and was working as a laborer. The records of the company verify that he was honorably discharged on 30 July 1865.
On 10 July 1891, Martin Bressler applied for an invalid pension, which he received and collected until his death, which occurred on 12 March 1908. The Pension Index Card above (from Fold3) notes that his widow waited at least five years before she applied for benefits, but that she also received them and collected them until her death.
According to the card from Ancestry.com, the widow was Kate Bressler. Ancestry.com records show that her maiden name may have been Watts and that she may have been first married to a William Johnson who died in 1888. The Ancestry.com card also notes that Martin Bressler’s application was made from Iowa, where he was living at the time. A clue as to the reason for the late application of the widow was found in the obituaries for Martin Bressler, cited below.
Census records show that in 1870 Martin was living in Iowa City, Iowa, in the household of Alonzo Dennis, a farmer, where he was working as a farm hand. In the 1885 state census, he gave his occupation as “restaurant and eating.” In post 1900 city directories, he was living in Iowa City and employed as a grocer.
Two newspapers reported on his death and funeral. There was a slight amount of puffery when describing his Civil War service.
From the Iowa City Press, 12 March 1908:
HE DROPS DEAD AT EARLY MORN
MARTIN BRESSLER DIES SUDDENLY TODAY
End Comes in Grinnell. Where He Was Engaged in Business — He Was Veteran of Civil War
Martin Bressler a pioneer Iowa City man dropped dead at his home at Grinnell this morning at 6:30 o’clock. He was about 68 years of age. His wife, who was formerly Mrs. Kate Watts Johnson of Iowa City, and one daughter, Mrs. J. A. Blacknar, of Iowa City, survive.
The funeral will take place at Grinnell, Saturday afternoon, at 2:30 o’clock. Mr. Bressler was a member of the Eureka Lodge, I.O.O.F., in Iowa City, retaining his membership to the end. The Odd Fellows of Grinnell will conduct the services.
Mr. Bressler was a veteran of the Civil War, with an unusual record, bearing a medal awarded by the government war department, showing that he was under fire, during his service throughout the Rebellion, a far greater number of days that most veterans were permitted to risk their lives.
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From the Evening Times of Marshalltown, Iowa,12 March 1908, news of Grinnell::
Martin Bressler dropped from his chair and expired at once, yesterday morning at his home, 913 West Street. His wife was with him at the time, but was powerless to save or relieve him. The funeral will take place at the residence at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. A. Hurley officiating, and the burial will be in Hazlewood Cemetery here. He was a staunch Odd Fellow and the local lodge will have charge of the ceremonies at the cemetery. He was a member of Gordon Granger Post, G.A.R, and his bearers are selected from his comrades there. He leaves a wife, whom he married after coming to this city two years ago. He came here from Muscatine, and had formerly lived for some years in Iowa City. He engaged here first in the grocery business, but afterward bought out the meat market. His war record is unique. He entered the army 29 February 1864, joining Company A, Fiftieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry, at the age of 18, and was discharged 30 July 1865. During that period he was under fire for 317 days in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, siege of Petersburg, and others in that region. In 1906 he had the honor of an invitation to take the position of “special aide” on the staff of “Grand Marshal General Samuel K. Schwenk” at the parade in New York City on Memorial Day.
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From the Iowa City Press, 13 March 1908:
MARTIN BRESSLER DIES
DROPPED DEAD SUDDENLY
His Daughter, Mrs. J. A. Blackmar is a Resident of This City
News came to this city yesterday morning of the death in Grinnell of Martin Bressler, a former grocer of this city. He was suddenly taken with heart failure and fell dead at his home in Grinnell. Since going to Grinnell he has been manager of a general store. He was a member of the local I.O.O.F. lodge and the news of his death is a shock to his brother members as well as his daughter, Mrs. J. A. Blackmar of 12 West Prentiss Street.
The deceased leaves a wife at Grinnell. The funeral will be held at that place Sunday afternoon at 2:30.
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And, from the Iowa City Press, 20 March 1908:
MARTIN BRESSLER FUNERAL
Held in Grinnell Last Sunday Afternoon
The funeral of Martin Bressler was held at Grinnell, Iowa, from his late residence on West Street on Sunday afternoon. Many friends were present at the services which were conducted by the Rev. J. Arthur Hurley of the Baptist Church. The services at the grave were in charge of the Grinnell Lodge of Odd Fellows and of Gordon Granger Post G.A.R., both of which attended in a body. The pall bearers were A. B. Gage; Will Barr; B. A. Stowe; N. C. WIliams; L. D. Forehand; and W. Bortell, all close friends of the deceased. The friends from out of the city who attended his funeral were the two sisters of the deceased, Mrs. Alice Hoover and Lizzie Hoover, of Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Watts and daughter Dora Watts, of Chariton, Iowa; Mrs. Mann and daughter Kate Mann, of Des Moines; and Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Johnson of Kansas City.
In sorting out the genealogical information gleaned from the obituaries, it was discovered that the Mrs. J. A. Blackmar was Maude Mae Bressler, born in 1882 in Iowa to Martin Bressler and his first wife Irene Edora “Dora” [Faust] Bressler. By 1905, he was divorced from Dora and in 1906, he married Mrs. Kate Johnson, who, as was previously stated was the widow of William Johnson who died in 1888. No reason has been found why Kate Bressler waited five years to apply for pension benefits. Perhaps there was a problem in verifying the divorce from the first wife.
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News clippings from Newspapers.com.
This is interesting. Do you just do stories on well know people my 3rd great grandfather was in the civil war 143rd. Company E