Martin Forstmeyer born March 21, 1830 in Batavia. He came to America 1852 and located in Decatur in 1854. He was elected Mayor of Decatur in 1873. He also served on the board of supervisors and was a member of the city council for several years. Martin was married twice. His first wife Amanda died on May 28, 1865. On July 12, 1865 he married Susan Knight. Martin had several children: Frederick "Fred", Emma Jane "Jennie", May, Magdalene, Mary, William, Joseph and at least two others who died before Martin. Martin is buried in Greenwood cemetery with his first wife and several of his children. He is buried in the same grave with his oldest son, Fred
Decatur Daily Republican Aug 18, 1881
Martin Forstmeyer Decaturs sixteen mayor was born in Wassertrudingen, near Nuremburg Bavaria, in March 1830 and resided with his parents in that town unitl he had reached the ago of about 20 years, when he went to the capitol of Bavaria where he served for a short time as a steward in a hotel, serving also the same Munchen position at a hotel at Frankfort on the Main. He sailed for American in 1853 and on his arrival here he found employment on a railroad in New York. He came to Decatur in the fall of 1853 and was among the few now living who assisted in building the Great Western railroad now know as the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific.
The deceased was married twice. His first wife, who was a sister of the deceased widow was chosen in 1855. She died a few years afterward when in 1865 Mr. Forstmeyer married again.
About the year 1860 the deceased engaged in the ice and wood business and in 1864 when he was first elected alderman of the third ward under Mr. J. J.Peddecord who was them mayor, he began to take a lively interest in the city affairs. He served his constituents faithfully as alderman and held the office for eight successfully years retiring at the close of the fiscal years 1871. In 1873 Mr. Forstmeyer was elected Mayor of Decatur serving in that position until he close of the years 1870 when in April 1871 he was chosen supervisor of this town serving one year. In 1875 he was again elected assistant supervisor and held the position until 1876 when he was formally nominated by the Republicans and elected sheriff of the county and was re-elected in 1878,serving until 1880 when the present incumbent,Sheriff Foster, succeeded him.
He was a charter member of Young American Hook & Ladder Co No, 1 which was formed about 1864 and was also an old and honored member of Decatur Lodge No 65, IOOF and also of Decatur Encampment 37,IOOf.
After his retirement from the office of sheriff Mr.Forstmeyer opened a notion,fruit and news stand on the coroner of S.Main street and the old square,which he conducted with the assistance of his children.
The deceased leaves a widow and six children, Jane, Mary and Laura and Frederic,William andJoseph uncle and brother reside in Nuemburg,Bavaria.
Decatur Daily Republican Aug 18, 1881
Martin Forstmeyer Decaturs sixteen mayor was born in Wassertrudingen, near Nuremburg Bavaria, in March 1830 and resided with his parents in that town unitl he had reached the ago of about 20 years, when he went to the capitol of Bavaria where he served for a short time as a steward in a hotel, serving also the same Munchen position at a hotel at Frankfort on the Main. He sailed for American in 1853 and on his arrival here he found employment on a railroad in New York. He came to Decatur in the fall of 1853 and was among the few now living who assisted in building the Great Western railroad now know as the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific.
The deceased was married twice. His first wife, who was a sister of the deceased widow was chosen in 1855. She died a few years afterward when in 1865 Mr. Forstmeyer married again.
About the year 1860 the deceased engaged in the ice and wood business and in 1864 when he was first elected alderman of the third ward under Mr. J. J.Peddecord who was them mayor, he began to take a lively interest in the city affairs. He served his constituents faithfully as alderman and held the office for eight successfully years retiring at the close of the fiscal years 1871. In 1873 Mr. Forstmeyer was elected Mayor of Decatur serving in that position until he close of the years 1870 when in April 1871 he was chosen supervisor of this town serving one year. In 1875 he was again elected assistant supervisor and held the position until 1876 when he was formally nominated by the Republicans and elected sheriff of the county and was re-elected in 1878,serving until 1880 when the present incumbent,Sheriff Foster, succeeded him.
He was a charter member of Young American Hook & Ladder Co No, 1 which was formed about 1864 and was also an old and honored member of Decatur Lodge No 65, IOOF and also of Decatur Encampment 37,IOOf.
After his retirement from the office of sheriff Mr.Forstmeyer opened a notion,fruit and news stand on the coroner of S.Main street and the old square,which he conducted with the assistance of his children.
The deceased leaves a widow and six children, Jane, Mary and Laura and Frederic,William andJoseph uncle and brother reside in Nuemburg,Bavaria.
Martin Forstmeyer born March 21, 1830 in Batavia. He came to America 1852 and located in Decatur in 1854. He was elected Mayor of Decatur in 1873. He also served on the board of supervisors and was a member of the city council for several years. Martin was married twice. His first wife Amanda died on May 28, 1865. On July 12, 1865 he married Susan Knight. Martin had several children: Frederick "Fred", Emma Jane "Jennie", May, Magdalene, Mary, William, Joseph and at least two others who died before Martin. Martin is buried in Greenwood cemetery with his first wife and several of his children. He is buried in the same grave with his oldest son, Fred
Decatur Daily Republican Aug 18, 1881
Martin Forstmeyer Decaturs sixteen mayor was born in Wassertrudingen, near Nuremburg Bavaria, in March 1830 and resided with his parents in that town unitl he had reached the ago of about 20 years, when he went to the capitol of Bavaria where he served for a short time as a steward in a hotel, serving also the same Munchen position at a hotel at Frankfort on the Main. He sailed for American in 1853 and on his arrival here he found employment on a railroad in New York. He came to Decatur in the fall of 1853 and was among the few now living who assisted in building the Great Western railroad now know as the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific.
The deceased was married twice. His first wife, who was a sister of the deceased widow was chosen in 1855. She died a few years afterward when in 1865 Mr. Forstmeyer married again.
About the year 1860 the deceased engaged in the ice and wood business and in 1864 when he was first elected alderman of the third ward under Mr. J. J.Peddecord who was them mayor, he began to take a lively interest in the city affairs. He served his constituents faithfully as alderman and held the office for eight successfully years retiring at the close of the fiscal years 1871. In 1873 Mr. Forstmeyer was elected Mayor of Decatur serving in that position until he close of the years 1870 when in April 1871 he was chosen supervisor of this town serving one year. In 1875 he was again elected assistant supervisor and held the position until 1876 when he was formally nominated by the Republicans and elected sheriff of the county and was re-elected in 1878,serving until 1880 when the present incumbent,Sheriff Foster, succeeded him.
He was a charter member of Young American Hook & Ladder Co No, 1 which was formed about 1864 and was also an old and honored member of Decatur Lodge No 65, IOOF and also of Decatur Encampment 37,IOOf.
After his retirement from the office of sheriff Mr.Forstmeyer opened a notion,fruit and news stand on the coroner of S.Main street and the old square,which he conducted with the assistance of his children.
The deceased leaves a widow and six children, Jane, Mary and Laura and Frederic,William andJoseph uncle and brother reside in Nuemburg,Bavaria.
Decatur Daily Republican Aug 18, 1881
Martin Forstmeyer Decaturs sixteen mayor was born in Wassertrudingen, near Nuremburg Bavaria, in March 1830 and resided with his parents in that town unitl he had reached the ago of about 20 years, when he went to the capitol of Bavaria where he served for a short time as a steward in a hotel, serving also the same Munchen position at a hotel at Frankfort on the Main. He sailed for American in 1853 and on his arrival here he found employment on a railroad in New York. He came to Decatur in the fall of 1853 and was among the few now living who assisted in building the Great Western railroad now know as the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific.
The deceased was married twice. His first wife, who was a sister of the deceased widow was chosen in 1855. She died a few years afterward when in 1865 Mr. Forstmeyer married again.
About the year 1860 the deceased engaged in the ice and wood business and in 1864 when he was first elected alderman of the third ward under Mr. J. J.Peddecord who was them mayor, he began to take a lively interest in the city affairs. He served his constituents faithfully as alderman and held the office for eight successfully years retiring at the close of the fiscal years 1871. In 1873 Mr. Forstmeyer was elected Mayor of Decatur serving in that position until he close of the years 1870 when in April 1871 he was chosen supervisor of this town serving one year. In 1875 he was again elected assistant supervisor and held the position until 1876 when he was formally nominated by the Republicans and elected sheriff of the county and was re-elected in 1878,serving until 1880 when the present incumbent,Sheriff Foster, succeeded him.
He was a charter member of Young American Hook & Ladder Co No, 1 which was formed about 1864 and was also an old and honored member of Decatur Lodge No 65, IOOF and also of Decatur Encampment 37,IOOf.
After his retirement from the office of sheriff Mr.Forstmeyer opened a notion,fruit and news stand on the coroner of S.Main street and the old square,which he conducted with the assistance of his children.
The deceased leaves a widow and six children, Jane, Mary and Laura and Frederic,William andJoseph uncle and brother reside in Nuemburg,Bavaria.
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