Age: 41 years
Birth place: Alstatte, a village in the municipality of Ahaus in Western Munsterland, in the district of Borken, Münster Region in the northwest of North Rhine-Westphalia
Johannes was seventh of eleven children born to Johann and Gertrudis (Orthaus) Besseler on Farm #23a in the village of Alstatte. His father was a Zeller a German term for a farmer of a large farm. He was baptized at Sankt Marien Katholische Kirche in Alstatte where his ancestors had attended for generations. It was almost completely destroyed in WWII, but was rebuilt. Only the church tower survived the bombings.
As a young man Johannes was likely conscripted into the German Army, a common practice in those days. (A photo of him taken in Cincinnati shows him in the uniform of a Line Infantryman.) In 1866 he left Germany "without permission" of the local authorities to join his brother, Gerhard who emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio the previous year. On 26 May he pulled into New York harbor on the Ship "Saxonia." From there he travelled to Cincinnati engaging in several occupations including carpenter, wagon maker and according to family legend, working in a leather shop.
By 1871 both Johannes and Gerhard had moved to the village of Millhousen in Decatur County, Indiana. It was reminiscent of their home in Germany and both brothers eventually bought property there. Johannes was first to purchase land when he bought a farm for $1000 in the northeast quarter section of Section 11 in Marion Township.
In September of the same year, Johannes' future wife, Gertrude Uhlenbrink, joined him in America. Leaving from Wessum, Germany a small hamlet not too far from Alstatte, she probably went directly to Millhousen to stay with her sister Adelhaid Bentler and her husband Conrad who owned a farm there. The following year on 13 Feb 1872 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Millhousen Johannes, age 31 and Gertrude, age 28 were joined in marriage.
In 1877 Johannes purchased two lots in Schneider's First Addition in the village of Millhousen. The next year he sold the farm and took Gertrude and their infant daughter, Mary born in July 1878, to live in the village. Although the couple lived in Millhousen, Johannes continued to travel between there and Cincinnati where he maintained a residence and still worked as a carpenter.
The year 1880 was one of sorrow and joy for the Bessler family. Gertrude was expecting their second child when on the 23rd of April she received word from Cincinnati that her husband of eight years had unexpectedly died from blood poisoning.He was only three days past his 40th birthday. Three short months later Johannes' son John was born.
After his death, the young widow leaned heavily on her sister and brother-in-law for help. Conrad Bentler assumed the role of executor and administrator of Johannes' estate. After selling off all assets, Gertrude and her children lived with the Bentlers until her remarriage several years later. Conrad Bentler also became guardian for the Bessler children.
Birth place: Alstatte, a village in the municipality of Ahaus in Western Munsterland, in the district of Borken, Münster Region in the northwest of North Rhine-Westphalia
Johannes was seventh of eleven children born to Johann and Gertrudis (Orthaus) Besseler on Farm #23a in the village of Alstatte. His father was a Zeller a German term for a farmer of a large farm. He was baptized at Sankt Marien Katholische Kirche in Alstatte where his ancestors had attended for generations. It was almost completely destroyed in WWII, but was rebuilt. Only the church tower survived the bombings.
As a young man Johannes was likely conscripted into the German Army, a common practice in those days. (A photo of him taken in Cincinnati shows him in the uniform of a Line Infantryman.) In 1866 he left Germany "without permission" of the local authorities to join his brother, Gerhard who emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio the previous year. On 26 May he pulled into New York harbor on the Ship "Saxonia." From there he travelled to Cincinnati engaging in several occupations including carpenter, wagon maker and according to family legend, working in a leather shop.
By 1871 both Johannes and Gerhard had moved to the village of Millhousen in Decatur County, Indiana. It was reminiscent of their home in Germany and both brothers eventually bought property there. Johannes was first to purchase land when he bought a farm for $1000 in the northeast quarter section of Section 11 in Marion Township.
In September of the same year, Johannes' future wife, Gertrude Uhlenbrink, joined him in America. Leaving from Wessum, Germany a small hamlet not too far from Alstatte, she probably went directly to Millhousen to stay with her sister Adelhaid Bentler and her husband Conrad who owned a farm there. The following year on 13 Feb 1872 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Millhousen Johannes, age 31 and Gertrude, age 28 were joined in marriage.
In 1877 Johannes purchased two lots in Schneider's First Addition in the village of Millhousen. The next year he sold the farm and took Gertrude and their infant daughter, Mary born in July 1878, to live in the village. Although the couple lived in Millhousen, Johannes continued to travel between there and Cincinnati where he maintained a residence and still worked as a carpenter.
The year 1880 was one of sorrow and joy for the Bessler family. Gertrude was expecting their second child when on the 23rd of April she received word from Cincinnati that her husband of eight years had unexpectedly died from blood poisoning.He was only three days past his 40th birthday. Three short months later Johannes' son John was born.
After his death, the young widow leaned heavily on her sister and brother-in-law for help. Conrad Bentler assumed the role of executor and administrator of Johannes' estate. After selling off all assets, Gertrude and her children lived with the Bentlers until her remarriage several years later. Conrad Bentler also became guardian for the Bessler children.
Age: 41 years
Birth place: Alstatte, a village in the municipality of Ahaus in Western Munsterland, in the district of Borken, Münster Region in the northwest of North Rhine-Westphalia
Johannes was seventh of eleven children born to Johann and Gertrudis (Orthaus) Besseler on Farm #23a in the village of Alstatte. His father was a Zeller a German term for a farmer of a large farm. He was baptized at Sankt Marien Katholische Kirche in Alstatte where his ancestors had attended for generations. It was almost completely destroyed in WWII, but was rebuilt. Only the church tower survived the bombings.
As a young man Johannes was likely conscripted into the German Army, a common practice in those days. (A photo of him taken in Cincinnati shows him in the uniform of a Line Infantryman.) In 1866 he left Germany "without permission" of the local authorities to join his brother, Gerhard who emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio the previous year. On 26 May he pulled into New York harbor on the Ship "Saxonia." From there he travelled to Cincinnati engaging in several occupations including carpenter, wagon maker and according to family legend, working in a leather shop.
By 1871 both Johannes and Gerhard had moved to the village of Millhousen in Decatur County, Indiana. It was reminiscent of their home in Germany and both brothers eventually bought property there. Johannes was first to purchase land when he bought a farm for $1000 in the northeast quarter section of Section 11 in Marion Township.
In September of the same year, Johannes' future wife, Gertrude Uhlenbrink, joined him in America. Leaving from Wessum, Germany a small hamlet not too far from Alstatte, she probably went directly to Millhousen to stay with her sister Adelhaid Bentler and her husband Conrad who owned a farm there. The following year on 13 Feb 1872 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Millhousen Johannes, age 31 and Gertrude, age 28 were joined in marriage.
In 1877 Johannes purchased two lots in Schneider's First Addition in the village of Millhousen. The next year he sold the farm and took Gertrude and their infant daughter, Mary born in July 1878, to live in the village. Although the couple lived in Millhousen, Johannes continued to travel between there and Cincinnati where he maintained a residence and still worked as a carpenter.
The year 1880 was one of sorrow and joy for the Bessler family. Gertrude was expecting their second child when on the 23rd of April she received word from Cincinnati that her husband of eight years had unexpectedly died from blood poisoning.He was only three days past his 40th birthday. Three short months later Johannes' son John was born.
After his death, the young widow leaned heavily on her sister and brother-in-law for help. Conrad Bentler assumed the role of executor and administrator of Johannes' estate. After selling off all assets, Gertrude and her children lived with the Bentlers until her remarriage several years later. Conrad Bentler also became guardian for the Bessler children.
Birth place: Alstatte, a village in the municipality of Ahaus in Western Munsterland, in the district of Borken, Münster Region in the northwest of North Rhine-Westphalia
Johannes was seventh of eleven children born to Johann and Gertrudis (Orthaus) Besseler on Farm #23a in the village of Alstatte. His father was a Zeller a German term for a farmer of a large farm. He was baptized at Sankt Marien Katholische Kirche in Alstatte where his ancestors had attended for generations. It was almost completely destroyed in WWII, but was rebuilt. Only the church tower survived the bombings.
As a young man Johannes was likely conscripted into the German Army, a common practice in those days. (A photo of him taken in Cincinnati shows him in the uniform of a Line Infantryman.) In 1866 he left Germany "without permission" of the local authorities to join his brother, Gerhard who emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio the previous year. On 26 May he pulled into New York harbor on the Ship "Saxonia." From there he travelled to Cincinnati engaging in several occupations including carpenter, wagon maker and according to family legend, working in a leather shop.
By 1871 both Johannes and Gerhard had moved to the village of Millhousen in Decatur County, Indiana. It was reminiscent of their home in Germany and both brothers eventually bought property there. Johannes was first to purchase land when he bought a farm for $1000 in the northeast quarter section of Section 11 in Marion Township.
In September of the same year, Johannes' future wife, Gertrude Uhlenbrink, joined him in America. Leaving from Wessum, Germany a small hamlet not too far from Alstatte, she probably went directly to Millhousen to stay with her sister Adelhaid Bentler and her husband Conrad who owned a farm there. The following year on 13 Feb 1872 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Millhousen Johannes, age 31 and Gertrude, age 28 were joined in marriage.
In 1877 Johannes purchased two lots in Schneider's First Addition in the village of Millhousen. The next year he sold the farm and took Gertrude and their infant daughter, Mary born in July 1878, to live in the village. Although the couple lived in Millhousen, Johannes continued to travel between there and Cincinnati where he maintained a residence and still worked as a carpenter.
The year 1880 was one of sorrow and joy for the Bessler family. Gertrude was expecting their second child when on the 23rd of April she received word from Cincinnati that her husband of eight years had unexpectedly died from blood poisoning.He was only three days past his 40th birthday. Three short months later Johannes' son John was born.
After his death, the young widow leaned heavily on her sister and brother-in-law for help. Conrad Bentler assumed the role of executor and administrator of Johannes' estate. After selling off all assets, Gertrude and her children lived with the Bentlers until her remarriage several years later. Conrad Bentler also became guardian for the Bessler children.
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