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Johan Wilhelm Joseph (aka John William) POTTEBAUM was born in Laudiek, Glandorf, Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany [formerly part of the Kingdom of Hanover]. He was the son of Adolph Heinrich POTTEBAUM (1798-1867) b. Ostbevern and Maria Elisabeth ERPENBECK (1801-1863) b. Glandorf. His parents married in 1825. Their marriage was recorded at both Saint Ambrosius Church in Ostbevern and Saint Johannis Church in Glandorf.
[Sources referenced below.]

John W. Pottebaum emigrated to the USA. He departed Frederick MD area and arrived Dubuque County IA about 1858, settling near Luxemburg IA. He spoke English and served as a translator for some Dubuque-bound German travelers in his group. One account mentions peach trees were in bloom as they left Maryland, and a snow storm was blowin' as they arrived Dubuque.

Johan/John's accomplishments are described in a biographical sketch of his son Henry published in a History of Dubuque County IA.
[Details in memorial for son Henry, linked below.]

John was married twice: first to Anna, a widow with six children; and following her death, to Elisabeth.

1st SPOUSE-
Anna Adelheid/Adelaide DAEMBERG Luchtel/Pottebaum
- Birth 27 Aug 1818 Germany
- Death 26 Feb 1861 Dubuque County IA
--- Married 26 Jul 1859 Saint Boniface, New Vienna IA

To this union, one child
- Henry B. Pottebaum

2nd SPOUSE-
Elizabeth HAARMANN Pottebaum/Demmer
- Birth abt 1834 Prussia
- Death abt 1880 Dubuque County IA
--- Married 23 Sep 1862 Saint Boniface, New Vienna IA

To this union, six children
- Bernard Augustin Pottebaum
- Herman Raymond Pottebaum
- John Henry Pottebaum
- Joseph William Pottebaum
- Maria Anna (Sister Mary Eulalia) Pottebaum
- (Infant) Pottebaum (1874)

John W. Pottebaum farmed and raised his children in Liberty township, Dubuque County Iowa. He died in 1874 at age 45, survived by wife Elizabeth, six children, and six step-children. He is buried next to his son John Henry in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Luxemburg, Dubuque County IA.

***** SOURCES AND REFERENCES

--- (1) Source for POTTEBAUM info: Records of Sankt Ambrosius-Katholisch, Ostbevern, Westfalen, Prussia. Church records recently transcribed and now online in user-friendly format. To view details for Adolph Heinrich POTTEBAUM family (back to 1656), here's the link:

http://www.online-ofb.de/famreport.php?ofb=ostbevern&ID=16700&nachname=POTTEBAUM&modus=⟨=en

--- (2) Source for ERPENBECK info: ERPENBECK Family Tree with info from Sankt Johannis-Katholisch, Glandorf et al. To view details for Maria Elisabeth ERPENBECK family (back to 1580), here's the link:

http://www.aroundnorthernkentucky.com/familytree/people/p00007m2.htm#I24612

--- (3) AUGUST 2017 UPDATE: In collaboration with Pottebaum cousins, DNA matches are confirming/expanding these trees. Please join our efforts! Perhaps we can identify the family of Elizabeth Haarmann? The Manager of this memorial has posted DNA results on
- Ancestry.com
- FTdna.com, and
- GEDmatch.com
--- GEDmatch Kit #A973083
--- GEDmatch Kits for 2 siblings = #A854134 #A294014

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