My Genealogy Hound

JOHN ETZELMILLER, an extensive farmer of Kearney county, and one of her most enterprising citizens, was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, in January, 1831, in which country he was reared to farming and received a fair education. At the age of twenty-four years, in 1855, he landed in New York City, and thence went to Illinois, in which state he worked as a farm hand until September, 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-fourth Illinois sharpshooters, and served throughout the war. He took part in many battles, and among them were those at Island No. 10, Iuka, Corinth, Snake’s gap, Dallas, and many others. He was also with Gen. Sherman in his famous “March to the Sea,” and was at Bentonville, N. C. He was never wounded or captured, nevertheless he was several times shot through his clothing, and once had a ball go through his canteen, and on another occasion had his hat penetrated with bullets. His comrades fell all about him, but he escaped unharmed; nevertheless, he suffers from the effects of rheumatism, with which he was affected while in the service, and his eyes are also badly affected through exposure while in the army. His corps commanders were Gens. Buck, Dodger, Rosecrans, Ransom and Mower, and under all he served faithfully and gallantly. Mr. Etzelmiller was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in 1865, and received his discharge papers and pay at Chicago. After serving his adopted country thus faithfully, he returned to the state in which he had lived prior to the war, and followed farming until 1877, when he came to Nebraska. Here he located a soldier’s claim in the northwest quarter of section 28, township 7, range 14, in Liberty township, Kearney county, and to his first entry has since added acres upon acres, until he now owns about seven hundred and twenty, with about two hundred and seventy-five under cultivation, the balance being in pasture and hay. He raises mixed crops, and also gives much attention to live stock. His horses, cattle and other stock are all well graded. His farm is improved with fine groves, orchards and buildings, and commands a fine view of Minden, which is almost four and one-half miles distant. When Mr. Etzelmiller first came to Nebraska he brought to the new country all farming implements, horses, etc., necessary for his purpose, and was in good condition to commence the improvement of the then unbroken country, and has contributed largely to its development. Since his settlement he has always succeeded in raising good crops, with the exception, perhaps, of the season of 1889. when his small grain was badly injured by hail.

Henry Etzelmiller, the father of John, was a farmer and died in his native country of Prussia, in 1885. His wife, Elizabeth Walenfiner, bore him seven children, of whom our subject is the eldest. Two sisters followed John to America a few years after his arrival here, and both are married and residing in Boston, Mass. Mr. John Etzelmiller was married in 1867, to Miss Katrina Haley, a native of Germany, who found her way to America unattended. This union has been blessed by the birth of seven children, named — John, William, Henry, Theodore, Katie, Lizzie and Mary. In politics, Mr. Etzelmiller is a democrat. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, of which the adult members of his family are also members. As a soldier his standing is unexceptionally good and he stands high in the esteem of the G. A. R., of which order he is also a member. Prior to his coming to this country he had served in the army of his native country three years, and after his arrival was one of the first to respond to the call to arms in defense of the Union. He is now nearly three-score years of age, and the battle of life with him has been a victorious one.

He stands beyond reproach as a citizen and neighbor.