~ Biographical Sketch ~

     Johann A. Anderegg was born on Thursday, June 12, 1823 in Koppigen, Canton Berne, Switzerland.¹

At age 22, Johann married Anna Magdelena Minger on Tuesday, August 26, 1845 in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Anna was 19 years old. She was the daughter of Johann Ulrich Minger and Anna Maria Hofer.²

Nine children were born to Johann and Anna.³

Shortly after Johann's first wife's death, he married again to Louise Ann Schutte on September 14, 1884, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Clayton Center, Clayton County, Iowa. She was a 39 year old widow and mother of six.. One daughter, Martha (Mattie), was born to this union.³

On April 25, 1892, his son, Herman, married Teresa Heckel.

The 1880 Clayton County History has recorded the following --

John Anderegg resides on section 32, Jefferson Township, on a finely cultivated farm of 210 acres. He was born in Switzerland in 1823, and came to the United States when twenty-two years of age, locating in Cincinnati, O. (New Philadelphia, O.), where he resided many years. In 1853 he removed to Guttenberg, IA., remained there two years, then settled on his present farm, which he purchased of John B. Sargent. His wife, formerly Magdaline Meyer (Minger) was born in Switzerland. Eight children have blessed their union, five sons and three daughters. (It should be noted that there are several errors in the above account).

The Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa records --

John Anderegg, a retired farmer who now makes his home in Guttenberg has been for over forty years identified with the development and progress of Clayton County; when he first set eyes upon it, it was a wild uncultivated piece of prairie, sparsely settled and having but little promise of the great future before it. By his assistance and that of the many worthy pioneers who located here in the early 50s, thereafter devoting their energies to its improvement and cultivation, it has come to be known as one of the best and most fertile counties in the sisterhood of the state.

Samuel Anderegg, father of our subject, was born in Switzerland, where he lived until after his marriage, and then started for America, becoming a resident of Indiana, in which state his death occurred in 1873. His wife, who before her marriage was Barbara Hoobler (Huebler), was also a native of Switzerland and departed this life in Ohio. Their son, John, was born June 12, 1824, in the land of the Alps, and until reaching his majority, resided in that picturesque and far-famed country.

It was his privilege to receive a good general school education, and by his studies as well as from friends he learned of the advantages afforded to the native and adopted sons of America, and early made up his mind he would journey to the western part of the United States. On May 16, 1845, after a tedious journey on the ocean he landed in New York City, and from there went to Ohio, where he continued to reside for eight years. In 1853, as we have previously related, he became one of the pioneers of Clayton County, settling on a farm in Jefferson Township, near where the village of Guttenberg now stands.

August 3, 1862, Mr. Anderegg volunteered his services in the defense of his adopted country, donning the blue and enlisting as a member of Company D, 27th Iowa Infantry. For meritorious and valiant service he was promoted from the ranks to be Second, and subsequently First Lieutenant. With his regiment he participated in many important engagements and battles, among them, Little Rock and Memphis, Tenn., receiving an honorable discharge.

Returning to Clayton County he continued for some twenty years longer to operate his valuable farm, which he carried on until 1884, when he retired from its arduous duties. He has just sold his farm of two hundred and ten acres of good farm land, all of which is under fine cultivation, and well improved with substantial farm buildings, fences, etc., to his son, Charles G.

In 1846, the year after his arrival in America, Mr. Anderegg married Miss Magdalena Minger, who was a native of Germany. To them were born five sons and three daughters, John, Lizzie, William, Charles G., Julius, Lydia, Emma and Herman F. The devoted wife and mother, who for nearly forty years had been the trusted and faithful companion and helpmate of Mr. Anderegg, was called from this life in 1884, leaving many friends to mourn her loss. The present wife of our subject was formerly Louise Frieze, and their marriage was celebrated in 1884. Of this union has been born one child, Mattie by name.

In public and local affairs, Mr. Anderegg has always been interested, taking his share, and doing all in his power to advance the best interests of the community. The boys in blue have ever occupied a warm place in his heart, and he is a charter member and one of the founders of Hasen Deufel Post 146, GAR. Politically, he votes with the Republican party.^4,5,6

Johann died on Sunday, May 22, 1910 at his home at 510 N 1st St., in Guttenberg, Clayton County, Iowa. He was 86 years old.³ He was laid to rest on Wednesday, May 25, 1910 in the Guttenberg City Cemetery in Guttenberg, Clayton County, Iowa.³ His obituary in the Guttenberg Press, Guttenberg, Iowa, Wednesday Evening, May 26, 1910 reads --

John Anderegg, Sr., Passed Away
Pioneer and Commander of G. A. R.
Passed Away Sunday Morning.

Friends and relatives of John Anderegg were surprised Sunday morning to learn of his death. Although he had been confined to his bed for a week he was thought to be recovering nicely from an operation for hernia performed on him a week before, but it seems the shock was too much for him, and he passed away to the great beyond Sunday morning.

John Anderegg was a pioneer settler in Clayton County. He was born at Berne, Switzerland, June 12, 1823 and came to America in 1845. He was twice married, his first marriage being to Magdalena Minger in 1845. To this union eight children were born five boys and three girls, namely, John A. of Boise, Idaho; William and Herman of West Bend; Charles of this city; Julius of Galveston, Tex; Mrs. Lizzie Broell of Dubuque; Mrs. Emma Niehaus of Ireton and Mrs. Lydia Miller of this city. His second marriage was to Mrs. Louise Freese at Clayton Center, Sept 14, 1884, who survives him. One child was born to this union, Mrs. Mattie Abbott of this city. He died at his home in Guttenberg, May 22, 1910 at the advanced age of 86 years, 11 months and 10 days. He was a contractor and builder by trade and also the leading auctioneer in this part of the county for many years; but for the past few years he had retired from active labor. For a man of his years he was considered hale and hearty, of a jovial disposition and as spry and lively as many men twenty years younger then he, and withal a venerable old man, loved by all who knew him.

John Anderegg enlisted in the US Army, Aug 16, 1862 in Co. D., 27th Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was honorably discharged after two years service on account of disability, having attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He had always been a leading spirit in the G. A. R. and was commander of Hassendiefel post for some years. He was also a member of Guttenberg Lodge No. 126. IOOF under whose auspices the funeral conducted from his late residence on north First street at 2 pm Wednesday, May 25. Interment was made in the city cemetery.³

An interesting entry regarding his military service is recorded in The First One Hundred Years, A History of Guttenberg, Iowa --

A company of men was organized here calling themselves the "Steuben Guards", in August of 1862. They were identified as Company "D" of the Iowa 27th Infantry and left Dubuque by boat on October 3, 1862. This company was under the command of Daniel E. Meyer, with Sials Garber as First Lieutenant and John Anderegg as Second Lieutenant. This particular company served with the unit which has the most varied experience of any Iowa regiment. They were sent first to northern Minnesota to quell an Indian outbreak, but saw no service because the Indians were subdued before arrival. The regiment was then transferred to Cairo, Illinois and then taken to Memphis, Tenn., where it became part of General Sherman's Army. It served with this great general as part of the outer guard protecting General Grant at Vicksburg. It was engaged in many skirmishes and did valuable duty in guarding lines of communication and preventing rebel attacks. During this period its headquarters were at Jackson and Moscow, Mississippi. It is related that this regiment was saved from destruction by two women. Guerrillas had destroyed a railroad bridge across which the regiment was to be transported. The flames had been extinguished and the skeleton of the bridge left standing so the train might be wrecked. These women saw the danger and alone and unprotected walked ten miles along the track and with waving lanterns signaled the engineer and the train stopped in time. In August of 1863, the regiment took part in the expedition against Little Rock and then went into quarters at Memphis. In 1864 it was transported to Vicksburg and was with Sherman in the raid on Meridian. It was next with General Banks in Mississippi and Missouri. Following this it was encamped in Tennessee where under General Smith it was part of the army operating against Hood. It achieved distinction at the battle of Nashville and then joined in the pursuit of Hood and after that went into camp at Eastport. On February 9, 1865 it was transported down the river to New Orleans, went into camp at Chalmette and was then shipped to Dauphin Island, Alabama where it took part in the capture of Mobile. The regiment was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa in August 1865, having fought many times and traveled over 12,000 miles making them perhaps the most widely traveled outfit taking part in the war. (Reprinted in the Guttenberg Press, February 27, 1874.).⁷