My Genealogy Hound

STENGER, JOHN, far., Sec. 15; P. O. Fort Madison; son of Henry Stenger, who was born in Bavaria in 1792; his father (John’s grandfather), a miller of Moembris, Germany, gave to each of his sons a mill; in consequence of which his father became a miller. Married Mary E. Reising, who was born in the same county, Germany; had twelve children, six grew to man and womanhood; John, the eldest, was born in Moembris, Germany, in 1820, and at the age of 18, emigrated to America; stopped at Zanesville, Ohio, where he worked on the improvements on Muskingum River until March, 1839; thence to Kenton Co., Ky., where he worked as a farm laborer and in a tan-yard; in 1840, the other members of the family settled in Dearborn Co., Ind., where his father purchased a farm on which he remained until his death, in 1868, his wife having died in 1865. In 1842, John S. married Miss Mary M. Smith, who was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., in 1820; in 1848, they came to Lee Co.; first settled in Green Bay Tp., near Fort Madison; then, in 1849, in company with V. Lawrence, he erected a saw-mill; in 1856, added a flour department; in 1861, they converted it into a distillery, consuming 150 bushels of corn per day; paid the first year a tax of $30,000 on manufactured high wines, this he continued until 1864, then returned to section where he now resides and owns 140 acres of land, valued at $45 per acre; they have seven children — Joseph, born 1843, who served in the late war, 1863 to 1865, with 1st I. V. C., now of Kansas; Mary E., born December, 1845, the wife of Garhardt Ostdick, of Ottumwa, an extensive manufacturer of brick; Caroline, born in 1848, wife of Daniel J. Sherwood, of Fort Madison; Henry, born —; John J., born in 1854; Barbara, born in 1858; Isabella, born in 1860; the last four were born in Lee Co.; the others in Indiana; all have an education fitting them for business; are men and women, and all of good habits and standing in society. Republican; Mr. S. and the children are members of the Catholic Church; Mrs. S. of the M. E. Church.