My Genealogy Hound

JOHN TEEMER, the renowned oarsman of America, was born in McKeesport, Pa., July 8, 1864, and received his education at the public and Catholic schools of McKeesport. He is a son of John Teemer, Sr., and Maggie (Cheneaux) Teemer, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Allegheny county. John Teemer, Sr., came to McKeesport at the age of seventeen, and engaged in coal-boating, carrying coal to New Orleans and points on the river, until retiring from active life; he and his wife now reside in McKeesport. They are the parents of six sons and three daughters, of whom six sons and one daughter are yet living: Fred, John (our subject), Jacob, Andrew, Willie, Lena and Sylvester. The subject of this sketch worked on his father’s farm until fifteen years of age, when he entered the employ of the National Tube-works, where he remained until the spring of 1882, at which time the great strike occurred. Soon after this, in the same year, John began to train for boat-racing. Mr. Teemer always loved the water, and when a small boy became an expert at rowing. In his races with other boys he found he could out row them easily. After numerous victories in racing with the boys at home, he was anxious to participate in a regular stake contest, and he won his first professional race. Mr. Teemer has great power of endurance, is well muscled and of immense lung-power. Rowing as he has from boyhood, he is not over developed. His first shell was given him by his friend Barney Norris, of McKeesport, who has always proven a warm personal friend. Our subject was united in marriage, April 22, 1884, at McKeesport, with Miss Isabella, a daughter of John and Mary Rodgers, and they have one son.