John Feldmann

FELDMANN, FUNK, SHILLING

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2011 at 19:34:21

JOHN FELDMANN, whose sketch we have the pleasure of presenting, is a German by birth, having been born in North Port, Germany, January 31, 1838. He is at present residing on section 15, Pleasant Valley Township, Grundy County, where he owns a highly improved estate of three hundred and twenty acres. He is a son of John and Lizzie (Funk) Feldmann, also natives of the Fatherland, where they were farmers.

Emigrating to this country in 1863, the father of our subject, with his family, located in Ogle County, Ill., where he purchased a forty-acre farm, on which he resided until his death. John of this sketch was the youngest in the parental family of five children, the others being Gertie, Minnie, Hannah and Rickie. He received a fine education in his native land, and at the time of his parents’ removal to America, accompanied them hither. Two years later, in the spring of 1865, young Feldmann enlisted his services in the Union army and became a member of Company H, Fifteenth Illinois Regiment. He participated in numerous engagements, and at the close of the war was mustered out at Springfield, in August, 1865.

The lady to whom our subject was married April 6, 1867, was also a native of Germany and bore the maiden name of Dina Shilling. She was reared in her native land, and at the time of coming to this county made the journey with her sister; she worked out by the week until her marriage with our subject. She is a most estimable lady and a devoted member of the German Baptist Church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Feldmann of this sketch have been born ten children, seven of whom are living, namely: Freddie, John, William, Herman, Edward, Louis and Charlie. At the time of taking up his residence in Pleasant Valley Township, in 1873, our subject purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which forms a part of his present fine estate. He possesses the necessary shrewdness, forethought and activity to be successful in life and is classed among the well-to-do agriculturists of the township. In addition to his farm Mr. Feldmann owns a general store located near his home; it is a neat and well managed establishment, and there his son Fred is conducting affairs in a profitable manner. He is affable and courteous in his dealings with his customers and thus has a large patronage from the surrounding country.

Grandfather John Feldmann was born, reared and educated in Austria and was a soldier in the French-Austrian War. During that period he was taken prisoner, and when with two others he escaped from his place of confinement, he was obliged to keep himself in hiding for many years, finally making his way into Germany, where he was married and there spent the rest of his life. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Feldmann, John Shilling, was also a soldier and participated in the Thirty Years’ War in Germany, in which he served as a General. The grandfather of Mrs. Feldmann, who was a physician, served as a soldier, and during his later life became a sailor. Her father, Fred Shilling, was a soldier under Napoleon I.

Mr. Feldmann always takes a deep interest in the welfare of his township, but in politics he always casts his vote for the best man, irrespective of party. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, and his everyday life is guided by its precepts.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894