~ Biographical Sketch ~

     Johann Niclaus Hachmann was born on Saturday, June 22, 1833 in Spieka, Neuefeld, Dornum, Hanover, Germany, son of John Frederick Hachmann and Magdalena Martens.¹ Johann Niclaus Hachmann was baptized by the pastor in the Lutheran Church in Spieka-Neufeld, Dorum, Hanover, Germany.² An alternate spelling of his name is John Nichelous (Nicholas) Hachmann.

Johann married Anna Katherina Madgalena Grefe, daughter of Johann Hinrich Grefe (Graese) and Anna Sophie Kirsch, on March 28, 1856 in Lutheran Church, Spieka-Neufeld, Dorum, Hanover. It is interesting to note that banns were announced in Spieka three times and in Ludingworth once prior to their marriage.² Johann Niclaus Hachmann and Anna lived in Spieka-Neufeld, Diryn, Hanover, Germany, where their their six children were born.²

Johann was a captain of fishing boat on the North Sea in in Germany.²

Johann immigrated in April, 1882 to St. Donatus, Jackson County, Iowa, as did all of their children. (Daughters Lena and Emma came earlier with relatives. Lena to Iowa and Emma stayed in New York. The sisters sponsored the rest of the family to immigrate.) They landed in New York in April 1882, where they stayed for a week with relatives and arrived in Iowa April 30, 1882.³

Johann attended in St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Donatus, Jackson County, Iowa.²

Johann rented a farm several times and later bought a farm in Richland Township in Jackson County. This was later owned by his son Henry who had married Doris Strohmann, a widow with five children. He met her in Germany when he returned there to bring Johann's newly widowed sister, Anna Lubs, to America. Johann also owned a grist mill in St. Donatus at Tete des Morts, Jackson County, Iowa, which he operated with his son Eibe. In his spare time he made wooden shoes.⁴

On November 12, 1887, his daughter, Emma, married John Knoesel.⁵

On November 15, 1899, his son, Eibe, married Wilhelmina Adickes.^6,7,4

Johann Niclaus Hachmann appeared in the St. Donatus at Tete des Morts census of June, 1900 as head of household 116/117. He was 67 years old having born in Germany in June of 1833. Both of his parents were also born in Germany. John immigrated in 1883 and had been in the U.S. for 17 years. For his occupation, he was listed as a Capitalist. He could not read, write or speak English. He owned his own home free of Mortgage. The household also included his wife Anna. She was 70 years old having been born in Germany in November of 1829. She and John had been married for 43 years. She was the mother of 8 children, 6 of whom were still alive at the time of this census. She could not read, write or speak English. Both of her parents were born in Germany.⁸

Johann Niclaus Hachmann witnessed the baptism of Clarence Johann Friedrich Hachmann on October 14, 1900 in St. John's Lutheran Church in St. John's Lutheran Church of St. Donatus.⁶

Johann Niclaus Hachmann witnessed the baptism of Johann Nicolaus Herman Hachmann on December 26, 1900 in St. John's Lutheran Church in St. John's Lutheran Church of St. Donatus.⁹

The Hachmann's celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. As they were ready for the photographs it was noted that they were not wearing flowers. They saw potato blossoms nearby which were hastily pinned on.²

Johann died five weeks after his wife's death on March 11, 1908 in Iowa at age 74. The cause of death was of lung, heart and kidney desease complicated with stomach trouble.^2,10 He was laid to rest on Friday, March 13, 1908 in the St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery in St. Donatus, Jackson County, Iowa.^11,10

Johann's daughter, Emma (Mrs. John Knoesel), was living in New York City. She came back to St. Donatus when her father died and stayed for a time.¹²

The following announcement from an unidentified newspaper reads:

Death of Mr. J. N. Hachmann.
One of the Old Residents of This County
Passes Away at St. Donatus
on Wednesday March 11th.
Mr. John Nicholas Hachmann, a resident of St. Donatus, Iowa, died at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 18 days, on Wednesday, March 11, at 9:55 p.m., after a complicated illness of dropsy for some moths, and the last seven weeks being confined to his bed with lung, heart and kidney troubles, suffering much pain from time to time, to say nothing of an old stomach trouble that he had for many years. During the time of his sickness his wife was also taken ill and after two weeks she died on Feb. 6, just five weeks before he followed her in death. Residing alone he was nursed by his children and the kind neighbors, and everything that could be done for him by medical aid and pursing was done, but it was all in vain to withhold the approaching death, which he did not fear, having expressed the wish to die in his last home.

Mr. Hachmann was born on June 22, 1833, at Spieka Neufeld, Balliwick dorum, Hanover, Germany. As his parents did not belong to the class of rich people he had to leave the home and work as a hired hand over eight years. On the 28th day of March 1856, he was married to Annie Catherine Magdalene Grefe, and it was granted to him to live with her in the holy bonds of matrimony over half a century, 51 years and over 10 months, when she was taken from him. He had eight children two dying in infancy, the other six, two sons and four daughters survive him, all of them being married. They are Mr. John Henry Hachmann, Mrs. Lena Geber, Prairie Springs twp; Mr. Eibe Hachmann, Dubuque; Mrs. Lizzie Lenhart, Zwingle; Mrs. Tillie Schenk, Tete des Morts twp, and Mrs. Emma Knonesele, New York City, besides 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He emigrated from the old country in 1882 and arrived with his family in the month of May, and has been here and in the neighborhood, changing his dwelling place several times since the time of his arrival. At first he resided for two years at Gordons Ferry; three years as a renter on the Bausch farm near Smiths Ferry, and six years on the Simpson farm near Gordons Ferry. Then he bought a farm near lamotte, Iowa, owned it four years, sold it again and moved to St. Donatus where he has been living the rest of his life. There he bought the old Tete des Morts mill, together with the house and a number of acres of land belonging to it, and owned it until the last two or three years, when he sold the property to Mr. John Thoma, his neighbor, and bought his last home that was owned by Mrs. Fisch.

For a few years (before selling the mill) when one of his sons was running the mill alone, he had bought, resided at and sold again the old Thoma home, and was returning to the mill home then. His many movings did not prove a loss to him but a gain. He was laid to rest in the Lutheran St. John's cemetery, near St. Donatus, Friday, March 13th, and many assembled showing their love and esteem, and to five to him the "last honors." Rev. D. Deitz, officiated at the home, church and cemetery. The pall-bearers were Messrs. Frantzen, Sr., J. Thoma, Fred. Wicke, Wm. Sanders, H. H. Felderman, and J. C. Felderman. Undertaker Mr. Olinger of St. Donatus, Iowa. May both [Mr.] and Mrs. Hachmann rest in peace.¹³

A second announcement from an unidentified newspaper reads:

Obituary
Nicholas Hachmann of whose death brief mention was made last week was born in Hanover, Germany and was 74 years of age. He came to America in 1882 and settled in Tete des Morts township and engaged in farming and excepting for about four years which he spent in Richland township has always resided near Gordon's Ferry. His wife died five weeks ago. Mr. Hackman is survived by two sons and four daughter, namely: Henry of Gordon's Ferry, Ibie of Dubuque, Mrs. Emma Knaser of New York City, Mrs. Emil Gaber of St. Donatus, Mrs. Rush Lehnard of Zwingle and Mrs. Wm. Schenk of St. Donatus.

The funeral was held Friday from the Lutheran church at St. Donatus Rev. Daniel Dietz officiating. The pall bearers were H. H. Felderman, Peter Frantzen, John Thoma, Wm. Sanders, J. C. Felderman and J. F. Wickie.¹³