Bio of Biever, John Sr. (b.1837) Wabasha Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge ========================================================================= This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920. Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some of the bios on her pages. Biever, Sr., John (page 391), one of the pioneer settlers of Pepin Township, was born in Luxemburg, April 29, 1837. He attended common school to the age of 14, served in the German army three years, and was industrially associated with his father, who was a granite worker. In 1858 he came to the United States and for some time was a common laborer in Dubuque, Ia. From there he went to Menominee, Wis., where he worked as a farm hand until he enlisted as a substitute for service in the Civil War, and was a soldier for 14 months. After his return from the army he came to Wabasha county and for a time worked here as a farm hand. At last he resolved to start in for himself and at the same time to take a life partner, and accordingly he was married at St. Felix church, Wabasha, by Bishop Trobec, to Mary Jacobs, like himself a native of Germany, and they began housekeeping on a purchased tract of 80 acres of wild land in section 22, Pepin Township. There was a small frame house of two rooms and some straw sheds for cattle, and the situation was elevated, overlooking Read's Landing. With such surroundings and no money Mr. and Mrs. Biever began the battle of life together, both grubbing and clearing the land, and she, a strong woman, doing her full part. More land was bought in time until they owned 400 acres and had a flourishing farm with good buildings. Often they drove in a lumber wagon, with a board seat, or went on foot, to Read's Landing or Wabasha, to church or for trade. In the early days they had to look out for rattlesnakes, and the Indians were quite as numerous, though not hostile. To Mr. and Mrs. Biever five children were born: Mary, October 15, 1867, who now resides with her mother; John C., residing in Pepin Township; Anna, who married Matt Marks of Mazeppa and is now deceased; Nicholas, residing at home; and William, now a farmer in Pepin Township. Mr. Biever died September 24, 1905, after a long life of activity crowned with worldly success. He was a man of quiet disposition, a good husband and father, and held in esteem by his fellow citizens. In politics he was a Democrat, and he and his family members of the Catholic church, and of St. Felix parish. Mrs. Biever, who was born in Luxemburg in August, 1846, is still living, strong and well at the age of 74 years. Note: Only one child's birth date is given.