Carl Martens

*No plaque located*

*The List of Liberty Row Names indicates the possible original location of the plaque*

Birth: 3/16/1893, Cleveland, OH

Address: 1369 W. 70th St., Cleveland, OH

Demographics: age 24 at draft registration; single; Caucasian; native-born Clevelander; recorded on draft registration that his employer requested an exemption; also noted that the first finger on his right hand was "crippled;"occupation Auto Trimmer at White Auto Co. at E. 79th St., Cleveland, OH (An auto trimmer is a skilled tradesperson who specializes in fitting out the interior of a vehicle. White Motor Car Company was an American car, truck, bus and tractor maker from 1900-1980.) In 1910 at age 17, his occupation was Milliner.

Appearance: Height medium, Build medium, Eyes grey, hair dark brown 

Draft Date/Enlistment Date/Rank: 6/5/1917; 4/29/1918; Private

Service Number: 2474779

Deployment: 6/12/1918 from Hoboken, New Jersey aboard SS Anchises

Action: 12 Co 3 Tng Bn 158 Dep Brig to May 4/18; Co F 329 Inf to July 30/18; Co A 101 Inf to death. Pvt. St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Defensive Sector. AEF June 12/18 to death. 

Death: October 24, 1918 at age 25; cause of death Died of Wounds

Burial: 10/26/1918 buried at American Cemetery, Meuse, France; 4/25/1921 remains disinterred and prepared for shipment to U.S. with arrival Antwerp, Belgium 5/1/1921; 6/19/1921 remains shipped from Antwerp to Hoboken, NJ aboard U.S.A.T. Wheaton arriving Hoboken 7/2/1921; 7/21/1921 remains shipped from Hoboken to Cleveland, OH arriving 7/22/1921; final burial 7/26/1921 at Calvary Cemetery, 10000 Miles Rd., Cleveland, OH, Lot 573 Sec 38 Grave 8, alongside his parents and several siblings   

Next of Kin: Mrs. Frances Martens, mother, 1933 W. 79th St., Cleveland, OH

Additional Information: Private Carl Martens was the last-born child of six children. The family surname may have been changed from Marczinkowski, although we could not verify the spelling. The family's church, St. Stephen's Church, 1930 W. 54th St., Cleveland, OH, installed a bell in its bell tower in 1920 with names inscribed of those parishioners who served and died in WWI, including the name of Private Carl Martens. St. Stephen's was established in 1869 and became the largest German-speaking Catholic parish in Cleveland. Father: Michael "Mike" Martens (1852-1929), born Germany, emigrated 1884 or 1885, occupation Tailor in his own shop located near Public Square, buried Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, OH; Mother: Frances Lakoski Martens (1854-1933), born Germany, emigrated between 1883-1885, buried Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, OH; Siblings: Clara F. Martens Garmon (1884-1962); Emil C. Martens (1885-1946); William B. Martens (1886-1946); Freda Martens Rawlings (1889-1964); Rudolph Bernard Martens (1890-1959)