New Ulm review., 1921-06-08
DEATH CLAIMS
]. /. NEUlMANNl [ |
FORMER BUSINESS MAN, LONG
TIME RESIDENT, DIES
YESTERDAY.
OFFICER, GOVERNORS GUARDS
MEMBER OF VARIOUS
SOCIETIES.

MEMBER OF VARIOUS
SOCIETIES.
John F. Neumann, for many years
a resident of New Ulm and one of the
foremost leaders in the early business
and military activities in this city,
passed away at the family residence
on Second North street, yesterday
morning at 1:10 o'clock. Death was
due to a general physical decline,
which came over him rapidly. He
suffered slight paralytic stroke some
three years ago, but apparently COM
pletely recovered from its effects. FIe
was able to be up and around until
Saturday, when his condition grew
suddenly worse and he was compelled
to take to his bed. In spite OF his
physical affliction, Mr.. Neumann re-
tanned his unusually bright mental
| faculties to the end and conversed with
members of his family almost to the
! last.
Served in Prussian Army.
Mr.. Neumann was born at Mulk,
East Prussia, Germany, February 21,
1840, being 81 years, three months and
| II days old when the final summons
came. After attending the schools in
his native village, he secured employ
ment in a dry goods store there when
but ID years of age. Later he was
called to the Prussian colors, being
detailed to the light cavalry, with
which he served during the war with
Hanover in 1866.
Came to u. S. in 1868.
! Coming to America in 1868, Mr..
Neumann worked for one year as a
member Of construction crew of the
Union Pacific Railroad, laying ties
along the line between Cheyenne,
Wyo., and Ogden, Utah, which was
then being built. From the West he
ca iirse tes Minnesota, iocating at Ro-
chester, where he worked as a farm
laborer and later found employment
in store until 1870, when he remoed
to this city, which had since been his
abode. 1's
Established Business Here.
At first Mr.. Neumann was engaged
as travelling salesman, selling dry
goods, and then he, in company with
the late Frank friedman established
a business here. A year later, Mr.,
Neumann retired from the firm and
started a store and saloon for himself
He established quite reputation as a
dealer in fine wines, drawing trade
from a large territory tributary tc
! New Ulm. In 1872 he lost his entire
stock of goods, as well as the family
household belongings and persona
effects in the fire that destroyed the
/ frame building which he occupied anc
which stood on the present site Of thu
John HI. Forster building, now occu
! pied by Mr.. Neumann's daughter
i Mrs. Anna Rinke, with her millinery
store. The family was barely able tt
escape the fire demon with thrir lives
Started General Store.
Undaunted by the heavy loss sus
tanned, Mr.. Neumann decided to again
A enter the business activity of the cit.
and established a general store in tn
building now occupied by the clothin
store Of Emil Metzinger & Co., an,
!. which is still a part of the Neumanl
: estate. He enjoyed full measure .
success, until retiring from active busi
!. ness life in 1910, after 40 years in tn
harness. Since that time he had en-
: joyed a well-earned rest and spent hi
: leisure time in the family circle an
with his many friends here. s
Officer in Governor s Guards.
! His military experience in tn
Fatherland prompted Mr.. Neumann
Itake an active part in the organizatio
! Of Company A as unit Of the fGove1
:, nor's Guards many years ago. II
! was commissioned first lieutenant an
served in this opacity until the re
. organization Of the volunteer militar
f forces of the state into the Nations
Guard. The local unit Of the Gove1
4 lnor's Guards utilized a portion of M
i Neumann' s store buildingas an armor
n and the entire equipment and supple
u were also destroyed by fire when th
structure burned in 1872.
I Memb Der Of Fire Department..
= For many years Mr.. .Neumann ais
: was a member Of the New Ulm Eli
: Department, serving until the +,
: organization of the local fire fighters
y 1887. He was one of the organize
: Of the New Ulm Maennerchor in 1873
III and took an active part in this ma
e choir for many years, practically unt
= the organizat ation disbanded. He W;
pf one of the three surviving chart
members, the two others being Edwa1