My Genealogy Hound

JOHN ERNE, one of the well-to-do farmers of this township, is a native of Germany, his birth occurring September 16, 1827, and is one in a family of four children born to Fritz and Katharina (Kuhn) Erne. He received a good-education in both German and French and at the age of eighteen years left the home of his boyhood, the land of his birth, and crossing the ocean came to the United States and for a time found employment in the city of Charleston, S. C. He then went to Evansville, Ind., and from there, eight months later, to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter’s trade three years. He then returned to Evansville and June 1, 1856, was married to Julia Ann Schwerdlfeger, who has borne him four children, these three yet living: Valentine, Lisette (Mrs. F. Willinburg) and Josephina (Mrs. John Zimmerman). The one deceased is Frederick. August 16, 1862, Mr. Erne enlisted in Company B, Ninety-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged July 22, 1865. He was ever found at his post of duty, ready and willing to serve his adopted country even with his life. He was in the siege of Atlanta and with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea. Exposure in the service has made Mr. Erne a sufferer of rheumatism, which renders him incapable of active out-door pursuits. He owns a farm of seventy-seven acres; is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is Junior Vise Commander of the G. A. R. at Lynnville.