John Koehn

Male 1842 - 1908  (65 years)


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  • Name John Koehn 
    Born 29 Sep 1842  Steinhausen, Waldesee, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Census 1880  Sheboygan, Sheboygan Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1885  Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1900  Buffalo, Dawson Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died 09 Mar 1908  Eddyville, Dawson Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I489288  Little Chute Genealogy
    Last Modified 14 Jul 2016 

    Father Bernhardt Kohn,   b. 18 Apr 1814, Geisslingen, Klettgau, Waldshut, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1860, Geisslingen, Klettgau, Waldshut, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 45 years) 
    Mother Margaret Scheid,   b. cir 1816, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F56185  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Barbara Schneider,   b. 01 Feb 1847, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Jun 1920, Eddyville, Dawson Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 17 May 1864  Houghton County, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Theresa Koehn,   b. 1871, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1938, Lexington, Dawson Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     2. John Michael Koehn,   b. 06 Jul 1874, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 06 Oct 1936, Omaha, Douglas Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years)
     3. Nicholas Joseph Koehn,   b. 15 Feb 1878, Fond du Lac, Fond du lac Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Sep 1942, Fond du Lac, Fond du lac Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)
     4. Joseph P Koehn,   b. 22 Nov 1881, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Co, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 04 Apr 1958, Weiser, Washington Co, Idaho Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
     5. Henry Koehn,   b. 01 Nov 1883,   d. 16 Sep 1935  (Age 51 years)
     6. Clara Sibylla Koehn,   b. 23 Jan 1886, Buffalo, Dawson Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Dec 1962, Fremont, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
     7. William John Koehn,   b. 19 Dec 1888, Buffalo, Dawson Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Jun 1959, Lexington, Dawson Co, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
    Last Modified 21 Jul 2022 
    Family ID F182063  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • John and Barbara Schneider Köhn
      Buffalo, Dawson, HE
      In the early 1800s military training was compulsory in Germany. Because of this, many Germany families came to the US. John Köhn, born in Prussia in 1842, came to us with his parents and family 7 Jun 1861 [NY passenger list reports arrival 8 Jun 1861].
      Barbara Schneider, born in Bavaria [Bayern] in 1847, came to US at age 6 months. [NY passenger list reports arrival 22 Jun 1847].
      Both grew up in Michigan and Wisconsin and were married at Haughton [Houghton Lake, Roscommon, MI] in 1864.
      In 1885 they moved to Nebraska, coming to Plum Creek with their 9 living children; 3 having died in WI. After coming to Dawson Co, they bought 160 acres from the United Pacific Railroad paying $480. Later they bought more land. In 1879 they built a 2-story, frame house and had all the experiences of the pioneers of that time; prairie fires, Indians, drought, grass hoppers, blizzards, etc.
      While living in Germany, John studied medicine and all his life he continued his study, staying up until after midnight every night reading new medical books. He was a very good country doctor and had everything except the final exams to become a practicing physician. Living 25 miles from town with a family the size of his, he just never got around to taking the exams. For those early pioneers it was often impossible to get a doctor, as the few practicing physicians were often miles away on another call when you needed them. So John often helped neighbors as a male nurse and saved many lives while farming 25 miles northwest of Lexington. Many neighbors to this day will testify that he saved many lives, although some of the local doctors didn’t like the idea.
      Barbara also spent much time caring for sick neighbors. Among the many occupations practiced on the farm was a cheese factory, where they made American cheese that was aged, wrapped and delivered to grocery stores in Lexington and Cozad every week.
      The most cherished memories of some of the grandchildren are the days spent going out to the farm. A 5 or 6 hour drive in a spring wagon, up and down hill, and then arriving at the farm with all the home-made food. Most of the food was raised on the farm and canned or prepared to keep until needed. Especially delicious was the home-made sausage stored in lard in huge crocks. All meat and vegetables were home-grown and stored in the cellar. Even the sorghum press across the creek was interesting as were the hours spent with some of the younger members of the family, herding cattle in the hills each day. Herding was required since there were no pasture fences.
      Entertainment, for the most part, included dances, although later there were literary societies and school programs. The older children of the family have often told of walking miles across the hills to the country dances and walking back arriving home about daylight.
      Weddings and the like were celebrated by all the neighbors with their families sitting around all night, visiting, smoking dancing and playing music or cards.
      The family of 12 children never got too lonely, as every member could play several musical instruments. Among these could be found the piano, organ, guitar, mandolin, violin, clarinet, viola, cornet, flute and many other instruments, some home-made. And most every member could play every instrument.
      John passed away in 1908 and Barbara in 1920. They are buried in the Catholic Cemetery near Eddyville, Dawson, NE.