My Genealogy Hound

JOHN J. STERNEBERG is a worthy example of a stranger in a strange land who has by perseverance, sound business methods and close application won an enviable position for himself. He is a son of John T. and Mary C. (Smith) Sterneberg, and was born in Prussia, Germany, March 3, 1841. William Sterneberg (grandfather) was also a native of the same locality, being born and living all his life in a house which had been owned and occupied by the Sterneberg family for three hundred and fifty years. By trade and occupation he was a cooper and farmer. He married Johanna Hollink, by whom he had six children, two sons and four daughters, two of whom came to America; also John T’s father, and John W., died with cholera in 1850 in Chicago; and sister Hannah, also died in Chicago in 1849 with cholera. The maternal grandparents and their ancestors were Hollanders, none of whom, with the single exception of an uncle and aunt, (now living in Holland, Michigan,) of John J., came to the United States. This uncle was James Smith, who located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the aunt Elizabeth (Smith) Bos, eighty-three years old; mother Mary C. (Smith) Sterneberg, born October 13, 1811, died December 28, 1883; John T. Sterneberg (father) was born at the old homestead house in Prussia, Germany, October 19, 1811, came to America in 1847, and after remaining six months in Chicago, located in Grandville, seven miles below Grand Rapids, Kent county, Michigan, where he bought a farm of twenty acres, with a good house and barn and out-buildings on it, and to this he added lots in the suburbs of Grandville, until he owned sixty acres, now crossed by two railroads. On this farm he lived seventeen years and in August, 1862, he came east to Buffalo, where he lived one year, moving thence to Mina, this county, where he died February 15, 1889. He had been a republican in politics from the time he stepped on American soil, and in religion was a member of the Dutch Reformed church during his early years, but later in life became a Baptist. In 1837, he married Mary C. Smith, by whom he had two children: John W., who was born March 24, 1839, married Christina Terhauer, by whom he has had nine children, two of whom are dead, and is an extensive farmer of Mina, this county; and John J.

John J. Sterneberg acquired a common school education, but considering the limited facilities he then had, sought to expand his learning more thoroughly and succeeded so well that few of our adopted citizens, are better or more widely read, and more conversant with current and past events. He writes and speaks Holland (the Dutch language), and speaks and reads German very readily. He learned the trade of a carriage-maker at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Came to Panama and continued to work at it until 1883, when he united with it the hardware business and conducted both until 1888, in which year he discontinued carriage-making and has since devoted his time and attention to hardware, cutlery, paints, picture-framing and undertaking, having a fine trade built up by his own exertions. He is an exceptionally good business man, buying and selling for cash, and is affable and agreeable in all his business and social relations. In politics he is a republican, has served as excise commissioner two terms in Panama, and in religion is a member of the Baptist church. He is also a charter member of Lodge, No. 52, Ancient Order of United Workmen.

John J. Sterneberg was married on February 21, 1864, to Joanna G. Terhauer, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Heller) Terhauer, of Mina. This union has been blest with four children, two sons and two daughters: Mary, wife of Merle D. Powers, a salesman and delivery clerk for a tea house in Jamestown; and H. Romain, Emma C., and Raymond T., who died of diphtheria. Mrs. Sterneberg is a member of the Baptist church and belongs to the Equitable Aid Union.