John G. Martlens, of the firm, Dawson & Martlens, well known real estate dealers of Holton, Kans., is a native of Denmark, born February 26, 1863. He is a son of J. Gottlieb and Helena M. Martlens. The father was a physician in his native land, where he died in 1870, and three years later John G. Martlens came to America with an uncle, and settled in New York, and the mother and three sisters remaining in Denmark, and the mother still resides on the home place in her native land.

John G. Martlens attended the public schools at Courtland and Tulley, N. Y., and later attended college at Courtland, N. Y. He then took a course at the Wells Commercial College at Syracuse, N. Y. He then entered the employ of the Solvi Process Company, Syracuse, N. Y., in the capacity of an overseer. He remained with that company about eighteen months, when on account of failing health, he took a trip south.

Later he returned to Syracuse, and was employed in an iron works, where he remained about a year, but continued poor health necessitated another southern trip, and after recovering this time, he located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained one year.

In 1883, he came to Circleville, Kans., and was employed by the railroad company there, and he went to Finney county, Kansas, with a view of homesteading, but was not favorably impressed with that section of the country and returned to Circleville, where he followed railroad work about four years.

He then bought a farm of eighty acres in Grant township, Jackson county, and engaged in farming and stock raising, and soon increased his holdings until he had 180 acres. He remained on his farm until February, 1911, when he removed to Holton and formed a partnership with Mr. Dawson which has since continued. They have been very successful in their operations, and are among the leading real estate dealers of Jackson county.

Mr. Martlens owns a number of fine farms in Jackson county, as well as in other parts of the State. He was united in marriage February 24, 1891, to Miss Mattie E. Hamm, a daughter of R. P. Hamm, a personal sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mrs. Martlens was born in Jackson county and educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Martlens are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and his fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.