SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

John Henry Stehn, Page 608

JOHN HENRY STEHN, deceased, was born near Rendsburg, Holstein, Germany, February 10, 1847.  When a lad, he worked on a farm, but on reaching his sixteenth year commenced to learn the trade of machinist, his father having charge of the shop, as overseer, where the son learned the trade.  In 1859 Mr. Stehn sailed for the United States, and after spending a few weeks in Sheboygan, went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade about two years.  In 1870 he returned to the Chair City, and was engaged in a foundry for some time.

    September 2, 1873, Mr. Stehn married in Chicago Miss Magdalene Peters, who was born March 1, 1855, also in Rendsburg.  Her parents, Matthias and Magdalene (Lorenzen) Peters, with six children, sailed for the United States, a son having preceded them four years.  The family located in Chicago, where it still remains.  The father, not being acquainted with business and securities in this country, was induced to loan his money to irresponsible parties, and as a result lost it.  In a small way he began the manufacture of wire mattresses.  The business not proving very profitable, he sold to another, for whom he worked for wages, but never received any pay.  His faithful wife joined hands with him to help make a new start, she keeping boarders, while he worked for a salary.  As soon as they had accumulated a little, Mr. Peters began to manufacture cord and tassels.  His business becoming quite extensive, he admitted to partnership his son and son-in-law, the firm becoming the well-known business house, the Peters Trimming Company.

    Since 1887 Mr. Peters has been blind.  The wife of his youth and old age still abides to comfort him in his affliction.  Of their family six are living.  William has an orange grove in Florida; Mrs. Stehn is the next younger; Matthias lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; Christian has been for eight years Grain Inspector at Chicago; Theodore is manager for the Peters Trimming Company; and Mary is the wife of Henry Walliser, who is also a member of the above company.

    Mr. and Mrs. Stehn began their domestic life in Sheboygan.  After working for Kohler & Silberzahn for some time, he and H. Hayssen bought the latter's interest, the company becoming Kohler, Hayssen & Stehn.  Our subject remained an active member of the firm until his death, which occurred November 20, 1886.  he left a wife and six children, as follows:  Frederick J., book-keeper for the Peters Trimming Company; Otto P., employed in the bank of Sheboygan; Magdalene M., Carl M., Arthur T. and Marie A.  When Mr. Stehn died the children ranged in age from two to twelve years.  Not a little credit is due Mrs. Stehn for the creditable manner in which she has reared her family.

    Mr. Stehn was a hard-working, energetic man, his accumulations being entirely the result of his own efforts.  Socially, he was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  He was a kind husband and father and a good citizen.