biography      

      Marion Wakefield Trotter, Jr. was born on December 27, 1839 in Hendricks County, Indiana to Marion

Wakefield Trotter, Sr. and Elizabeth Wilson Trotter. He was the fourth of six children. He was raised

in Eel River, Hendricks County, Indiana until the age of fourteen when, according to his obituary,

his family moved to Wisconsin. However, there is no documentation affirming they lived in Wisconsin.

They are not shown in any of the 1850 censuses.

      According to the history of Palo Alto, Jasper County, Iowa, Marion Wakefield Trotter was one of

the first pioneers of that township in 1854. In the 1856 Jasper County State census, the entire family

was listed including Marion Wakefield Jr. ’s. father Wakefield, his mother Elizabeth, brothers

James M., John A., Pleasant, and sisters Clarrisa and Emily Angeline. In the 1860 census, Marion’s father

Wakefield and new wife, Selina Sims, were listed with daughter Emily Angline. However, Marion

Wakefield Jr. was not. His mother Elizabeth had passed away on February 23, 1859.

      Marion enlisted in the Union Army on April 1, 1861, during the Civil War and had listed his residence

as Newton, Jasper County, Iowa. He served with Company I, 10th Iowa Infantry as a Private and fought

in battles at Charleston, Iuka and Cornith, Mississippi. On October 10, 1862 he was honorably

discharged in St. Louis for medical reasons after contracting measles and typhoid and suffering

a back injury. The medical problems were to remain with him for the rest of his life.

       After his discharge he returned to Jasper County County , Iowa and on April 1, 1864 married to

Martha Ann Broomhall O’ Blennis, daughter of James and Sarah Broomhall. Martha Ann was the

widow of a Civil War Veteran and had one daughter named Ora Jane who was born in Jasper County.

Marion took over guardianship of Ora Jane in August of 1875. The Broomhall's were of the Quaker

Faith and it was found that the Trotters were of Methodist religion.

      The next place that Marion was found was in Polk, De Kalb County, Missouri in 1870. As was his

father, Wakefield with new wife, Hulda Cartwright and his three young children, his daughter

Emily Angeline and her new husband. Marion was with his family, his wife Martha, and children,

Thomas A. (born Indiana), Cora A. (Missouri), James M. (Iowa), Orlando (Bud) Morton (Iowa), Ernest D.

(Iowa), Lillian (Lillie) Myrtle (Iowa), Emma L. (Iowa) Berdie (Iowa), and my Grandfather Frank Elam

Trotter (Iowa). (Marion was misinterpreted in the 1870 censes as being Marcoir. All of the family

information was correct.

      After Marion’s father, Wakefield , Sr., passed away, possibly in Lincoln, Atchison Co., Missouri,

for that is where he is buried about 1875, Marion Jr. ’s. family and his brother John A.’s family

migrated to Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa. Their first deed transaction were May, 1875 and

December, 1876, respectively. Marion Wakefield, Jr. lived in Shelby County, Iowa, until the mid 1890s.

At that time, they moved to Cedar, Nance County, Belgrade, Nebraska and then to Caldwell,

Canyon County, Idaho.

      Marion was a farmer and teamster by occupation and deeds indicate that the owned farming and

commercial property at each location. In Belgrade, Nebraska he leased his farm and in turn leased

the purchaser’s house in Belgrade. Probably because of his health problems. Most of his sons were

farming in the same areas as they grew old enough. Thomas and two of the married daughters

remained in Nance county when the rest of the family moved on to Idaho. In Caldwell, Idaho they

purchased a home and also farmed. The home has been torn down, and there is a vacant lot where it

stood. It is located near the Canyon County Court House. There appeared to be a lot of travel

between the location of their youngest son Frank and his family in Homedale, Idaho. Also, Orlando

and his family were in the Caldwell area. On October 12, 1908, Marion Wakefield Trotter, Jr. died of a

paralytic stroke at home at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife Martha Ann and his nine

children. Marion had been a member of the Hugh Williams Post G. A. R. in Caldwell and was a member

of the Canyon County Fair Association. The services were at the Baptist Church in Caldwell. He is

buried at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, Idaho. Martha Ann joined him on April 16, 1925 at age 83.

                                                                  Biography No.2

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