Mart Roessler was born January 7, 1878, in Shelby County, Illinois, the
     eldest son of Andrew and Minnie Mittendorf Roessler. The Andrew Roesslers
     and five children came to Barber County in 1883, homesteading in Valley
     Township southeast of Isabel. Three more children were born in Barber 
     County.
       Mart attended Franklin School and herded cattle for his father.
       On October 5, 1900, Mart married Lillie Dunham, the daugher of Lester
     and Caroline Rogers Dunham. Lillie was born April 13, 1886, south of
     Nashville. Mart and Lillie built a home on Andrew's land, and farmed
     until 1914, when they and their two children, Melvin and Gladys, moved
     to Bend, Oregon. Melvin ws born October 19, 1901, and Gladys on August 
     2, 1903. They returned to Isabel in 1916, and Mart bought Harley McGuire's
     interest in the blacksmith shop. Mart later purchased Lou Crook's interest
     and blacksmithed by himself until his retirement in the late 1950's.
     Another son, Kent, had been born June 28, 1920.
       Mart served as Isabel town marshal for many years and could tell numerous
     amusing yarns, some not so amusing at the time they happened. One time
     when the Isabel bank was robbed, Mart, his son, Melvin, and other town
     officials chased the robbers to near Medicine Lodge, where the robbers were
     hidden in a pit silo. Mart crawled to the edge of the silo and peeked over.
     The robbers were armed, but evidently were more concerned with the snakes
     in the silo than being captured. Another time, Mart was chasing some boot-
     leggers. Just as the bootleggers were stopped, they poured the liquor on
     the floor of the car. Mart used his handkerchief to sop up enough for
     evidence.
       Mart and Lillie were active members of the Methodist Church. Lillie was
     a charter member of the local WCTU chapter. Whenever anyone needed help
     they could always go to Mart and Lillie.
       As the need for blacksmithing lessened over the years, Mart and Lillie
     sold their home at the west edge of Isabel and bought and operated the
     hotel for many years. As their health failed, they moved to a rest home
     in Medicine Lodge where they both passed away. Mart in May, 1966, and
     Lillie in January , 1972.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 389 
     Submitted by: Bea DeVore