John Henry Krell

KRELL, WISSLER, KROELL, DIETZ

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 9/21/2004 at 20:45:16

John Henry Krell was born in Rodheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, October 15, 1839 to Johann Henrich Kroell and Catharina Elizabetha Dietz. The Krell family immigrated to America in 1847 and settled on a farm in Ross County, Ohio where John Henry was raised. In growing up, John learned the trade of stone mason, which he practiced until coming to Madison County. He liked to sing better than most men and taught singing school both in Ohio and Iowa.

On October 12, 1861, John enlisted in the Union Army at Chilicothe, Ohio. His regiment was the 73rd Ohio Volunteers. He became a sergeant in Company A, 73rd Ohio. The 73rd Ohio fought in many major battles in both the eastern and western campaigns. John Henry first fell in the battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863 from heat prostration and exposure. On July 3rd, 1863 at Gettysburg, he took a bullet in the back of the head during Pickett’s charge. In this battle alone, the 73rd Ohio lost 141 men, either killed or wounded and another four were missing. John’s injury caused deafness in his right ear and the attending physician and neighbors testified in his pension application that he had partial loss of speech and could only do a half day's work and sometimes couldn't work for a week or two at a time. John was discharged from military service on 30 Dec 1864. By the time the 73rd Ohio was mustered out, they had marched over 4000 miles.

On November 14, 1865, John married Mary S. Wissler, daughter of Rev. Henry W. Wissler, Jr. and Mary Powell Wissler. To them were born seven children, Dayton W. John Wesley, Samuel W., Franklin W., Lewis Henry, Chauncy W., and Christina May. In 1875, John and his family along with a number of relatives, moved to Webster Township, Madison County, joining his brother, Adam, who had settled there in the mid-1850s. There, John farmed until the late 1890s when they retired to Winterset.

Mary passed away on February 14, 1900. On December 17, 1902, John married Elizabeth Ann Wissler, Mary’s unwed sister, at Des Moines. They resided in Winterset until their deaths, his on June 3, 1914, and hers on July 4, 1917.

He converted and joined the Methodist church when eighteen years old and remained a devout Christian until his death. Most of his active life he was an official of the church, worked and contributed for and to all enterprises of the church. For years he was the chaplain of the G.A.R. He was also an honored member of the Odd Fellows. In 1909, John Henry was listed in a military pension application as a mason and plasterer . He was 5'11" tall, with a florid complexion, blue eyes and auburn hair.

Source: Obituary, military pension application, 73rd Ohio records, county and state records.

Krell Family Photo
 

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