View source for Martens, Abram P. (1875-1968)

[[File:MartensAbramP.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Abram P. Martens.

photo. '']]    Abram P. Martens, chairman of the orphan fund, was born on 2 June 1875 on Steinfeld, Krivoy Rog Settlement, South [[Russia|Russia]]. He was the first of seven children, of which four died as infants, born to Peter W. Martens (1847-1909) and Maria Dyck (1843-1918). Abram was baptized in the [[Kirchliche Mennoniten|Mennonite Church]] on 16 May 1895 and later that year married Margareta J. Olfert (1876-1912). Together they had three sons and five daughters. In 1910 Abram was elected as chairman of the orphan fund. After seven years of acting as assistant, he was put in charge of the orphan's fund, a position he held until he left Russia. Abram's wife Margareta died in 1912 and the following year he married Katarina A. Friesen (1881-1957). Together they had two sons and one daughter. Abram and Katarina immigrated with their family to Canada in 1926. They attempted to farm but lack of money and a scarcity of good farm land made it difficult. After several attempts, Abram finally settled on a small acreage near Grunthal, Manitoba. Abram P. Martens died on 23 February 1968. He was a man of faith and courage who in spite of much suffering and hardship had cared for his family and served his community faithfully.
= Bibliography =
Peters, John H. "The Abram P. Martens (1875-1968) story." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Preservings </em>No. 8 Part II (June 1996):27-29.
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