My Genealogy Hound

JOHN M. ZAHN, of the hardware firm of Case & Zahn, is of German parentage and a man who, though very modest concerning himself, has, by his own energy and industry, gained the reputation of being a successful business man. His father, Joseph Zahn, was born in Germany in 1827, but his parents emigrated from the Vaterland to America before he had attained his first birthday anniversary and settled in Collins, Erie county, New York, where Joseph was educated in the public schools. He went to Buffalo when he was sixteen years of age and learned the blacksmith’s trade with Chamberlain Brothers. He served a three years’ apprenticeship with them as a carriage blacksmith and a journeyman until 1862, in which year he came to Fredonia and went to work for Taylor and Day, carriage manufacturers, with whom he remained two years. He then engaged with Obed Bissell, who was in the same business, and continued in his employ until his death, which occurred in 1870. The succeeding firm was Mullet, Green & Bissell and Mr. Zahn was employed by them for six years, when they sold out. He then moved to Silver Creek and entered the employ of August Heine, who owned a third interest in the Excelsior Machine works, which manufacture the excelsior disintegrating middlings purifier. Their machines are sold all over the United States, England, Ireland and Scotland, Canada and the South American States. He is still in their employ and enjoys the reputation of being one of the best blacksmiths in America. He is a member of the German Catholic church in Silver Creek. He was married to Mary Schefley, a most estimable lady, in 1850, and there have been born to them four sons and four daughters, of whom John M. is the first-born. Following were Samuel S., a butcher in Fredonia; Louisa, married to Albert Scheller, a baker in Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York; Stephen, in a hotel in Dunkirk, this county, who married Carrie Long; Amelia, married to Herman Morganstein, a machinist at Westfield; Albert, a mechanic, married to Lida Quigley; and Carrie, who married Michael Zahn, a brewer in Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York.

John M. Zahn, son of Joseph and Mary (Schefley) Zahn, was born in Buffalo, Erie county, New York, April 23, 1853, and was educated at the district school in Fredonia, which he attended until he was fifteen years old, when he went to learn the trade of a tinsmith with Allenbrand & Groff, at Dunkirk, this county, with whom he served a three years’ apprenticeship. He then went to Silver Creek and worked one year in the Excelsior Machine works, and in 1872 came to Fredonia and entered the employ of W. W. Scott & Co., remaining with them two years, after which, he was employed by D. L. Shephard, in the store where he is now partner, with whom he remained seven years, at the expiration of which time, he engaged in the hardware business, associating with F. W. Case, under the firm name of Case & Zahn.

He started in the battle of life with nothing but untiring energy and indomitable pluck and has acquired considerable property, and no citizen is more highly and generally respected than he. For three years he was chief of the Fredonia Fire department. He married Florence Knight, a daughter of Henry Knight, a blacksmith of Silver Creek, April 6, 1873, and has one child, a bright and promising son, Sylvester J., born March 28, 1874, and who is now in school. The mother died a day or two after the birth of the son, and November 25, 1877 Mr. Zahn married Mary Zinck, of Fredonia, who is still living.