John was born in Mitwitz, Germany,a village of 600 inhabitants, with more than 100 houses. It was located in the SE of a large valley (Steinach), about 12 miles east to west and 8 miles north to south, surrounded by low mountains. The valley belonged to 3 countries: the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Dukedoms Coburg and Meinngen. The parish of Mitwitz was a Bavarian strip of land between Dukedoms of Coburg and Meinngen. Besides the market town of Mitwitz it contained the villages of Neundorf, Schwarzdorf, Kaltenbrunn and Burgstall. He arrived in America on April 17, 1863, following brother Fred. He settled in Hillsboro, Wisconsin,he was unmarried at arrival to USA. Applied for citizenship June 9 1863 and renounced allegiance and fidelity forever to Emperor William of Germany. He likely lived with the Schallers at first, then near brother Frederick in Hillsboro. John's wife Sophia is said to be related to the Schallers, though not sure how. Thus he was likely introduced to her by the Schallers.
He followed brother Frederick from Hillsboro, Wisconsin to Atkinsonville, Indiana to Custer, Nebraska in 1878 and homesteaded adjoining Frederick's property. He built a dugout near the river on the south bank east of Frederick's dugout. He later built another dugout on the north side of river northeast of the site of the Schreyer historical marker. John did not have problems with the cattlemen like his brother, possibly because he was a cobbler and made boots for the cowboys. They even fenced his fields so their cattle would not run his crops. Frederick was also a trained bootmaker, this was an illustrious trade in Germany. Thus one would guess their father was also a shoe/boot maker in Germany. John and Sophia lived there until their deaths, at that time daughter Julia and son-in-law Chris Nelson lived with them. The homestead was still in the Nelson family as of 1982. Children: Julia, Frederica Rachel, Ernest, Walter Clarence, Pauline, Caroline.
He followed brother Frederick from Hillsboro, Wisconsin to Atkinsonville, Indiana to Custer, Nebraska in 1878 and homesteaded adjoining Frederick's property. He built a dugout near the river on the south bank east of Frederick's dugout. He later built another dugout on the north side of river northeast of the site of the Schreyer historical marker. John did not have problems with the cattlemen like his brother, possibly because he was a cobbler and made boots for the cowboys. They even fenced his fields so their cattle would not run his crops. Frederick was also a trained bootmaker, this was an illustrious trade in Germany. Thus one would guess their father was also a shoe/boot maker in Germany. John and Sophia lived there until their deaths, at that time daughter Julia and son-in-law Chris Nelson lived with them. The homestead was still in the Nelson family as of 1982. Children: Julia, Frederica Rachel, Ernest, Walter Clarence, Pauline, Caroline.
John was born in Mitwitz, Germany,a village of 600 inhabitants, with more than 100 houses. It was located in the SE of a large valley (Steinach), about 12 miles east to west and 8 miles north to south, surrounded by low mountains. The valley belonged to 3 countries: the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Dukedoms Coburg and Meinngen. The parish of Mitwitz was a Bavarian strip of land between Dukedoms of Coburg and Meinngen. Besides the market town of Mitwitz it contained the villages of Neundorf, Schwarzdorf, Kaltenbrunn and Burgstall. He arrived in America on April 17, 1863, following brother Fred. He settled in Hillsboro, Wisconsin,he was unmarried at arrival to USA. Applied for citizenship June 9 1863 and renounced allegiance and fidelity forever to Emperor William of Germany. He likely lived with the Schallers at first, then near brother Frederick in Hillsboro. John's wife Sophia is said to be related to the Schallers, though not sure how. Thus he was likely introduced to her by the Schallers.
He followed brother Frederick from Hillsboro, Wisconsin to Atkinsonville, Indiana to Custer, Nebraska in 1878 and homesteaded adjoining Frederick's property. He built a dugout near the river on the south bank east of Frederick's dugout. He later built another dugout on the north side of river northeast of the site of the Schreyer historical marker. John did not have problems with the cattlemen like his brother, possibly because he was a cobbler and made boots for the cowboys. They even fenced his fields so their cattle would not run his crops. Frederick was also a trained bootmaker, this was an illustrious trade in Germany. Thus one would guess their father was also a shoe/boot maker in Germany. John and Sophia lived there until their deaths, at that time daughter Julia and son-in-law Chris Nelson lived with them. The homestead was still in the Nelson family as of 1982. Children: Julia, Frederica Rachel, Ernest, Walter Clarence, Pauline, Caroline.
He followed brother Frederick from Hillsboro, Wisconsin to Atkinsonville, Indiana to Custer, Nebraska in 1878 and homesteaded adjoining Frederick's property. He built a dugout near the river on the south bank east of Frederick's dugout. He later built another dugout on the north side of river northeast of the site of the Schreyer historical marker. John did not have problems with the cattlemen like his brother, possibly because he was a cobbler and made boots for the cowboys. They even fenced his fields so their cattle would not run his crops. Frederick was also a trained bootmaker, this was an illustrious trade in Germany. Thus one would guess their father was also a shoe/boot maker in Germany. John and Sophia lived there until their deaths, at that time daughter Julia and son-in-law Chris Nelson lived with them. The homestead was still in the Nelson family as of 1982. Children: Julia, Frederica Rachel, Ernest, Walter Clarence, Pauline, Caroline.
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