John Wernimont was born 6 February 1834 in Hobsheid,
Luxemburg. He was one of six sons born to Nicholas Wernimont and Anna Maria
Sortgen. John immigrated with his family to America, settling near
Dubuque, Iowa. There he met Anna Catherine Peters, who had been born
15 August 1837 in Harling, Luxemburg. John and Anna Catherine were married in
October of 1856 in Dubuque, Iowa.
Three years later John was smitten with gold fever
during the great Pikes Peak Gold Rush. He joined a party of walkers from
Dubuque, and set out for the Cherry Creek gold fields in the present Denver
area. Most of his companions died on the way. John survived to return to Dubuque
without any gold.
In 1872 John moved his wife and family to a farm near
Breda, Iowa. Besides farming, he also did masonry work, and dug wells.
John often claimed to have arrived in the U.S. shortly
after one of Chicago's many fires. He said that he found a mason's apron
and trowel and was hired almost immediately. After he moved to Breda, he
built almost all the chimneys.
John died on 12 September 1899. Anna survived him for
six years, passing away on 13 October 1905. Together they had fourteen children
(six died young). peaker59@aol.com
FIRSTBORN SONS of the
GEHLING FAMILY
