SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

John Amann, Page 631

JOHN AMANN (deceased) was a worthy early settler of Sheboygan County.  He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1813, learned the mason's trade in the Old Country, and was there married to Antonia Schmidtbauer.  In 1853, they emigrated to America and settled in Sheboygan County, Wis., their home being in a log house, which he erected in the woods in the town of Sheboygan the first year or two, where they found it hard work to secure a living.  Mr. Amann cleared land and lived in a house of but one room.  Being a good hunter, and game plentiful, he supplied the family from that source with meat.  In the summer time he burned charcoal, which he sold to the blacksmiths, and with the proceeds bought necessaries.  He also discovered a limestone quarry, where Roth & Schwarz built a lime-kiln, and where Mr. Amann burned lime for market; that was the first lime-kiln in the county.  Later he moved to the school section where he made his home until 1857, when he removed to Sheboygan.  There he worked at mason work, and anything he could turn his hand to, to earn a dollar honestly to help support his family.  He was employed digging wells, turning and making spinning-wheels, and mending watches.  He was also a musician, playing the clarionet, and being one of the early musicians of the Chair City.

    There were eight children in Mr. and Mrs. Amann's family, all natives of the United States.  Margaret, the eldest, died at the age of three years; John W. married Mary Beisang, and is a carpenter contractor of Sheboygan, of whom find sketch elsewhere in this record; Annie died aged eight years; a pair of twins died in infancy; Elizabeth became the wife of George R. Jones, of Milwaukee; and Katherine died when thirteen years old.

    Mr. and Mrs. Amann were members of the Catholic Church.  he was a Democrat in politics, but took no active part in political affairs, rather spending his time in a more profitable way.  His  death occurred in January, 1864, at the age of fifty-one years.  His widow became the wife of Nicholas Kaufmann, and died in the fall of 1884.

    Mr. Amann was a man of superior intelligence and mechanical skill.  He was well adapted to make his way in a new country, overcoming obstacles and devising ways and means.  He died comparatively young, leaving his family in moderate circumstances.