John F. Puhr

In the year 1890 John F. Puhr, born in 1878, came to America with his parents, Franz and Maria, from Geresdorf in what was then the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Besides John, aged 12, a brother, Michael and a sister, Mary, made the long voyage.

The family homesteaded northeast of Fingal in Binghamton Township, and John grew to manhood there. In the winter months tie walked to the Tower City school to learn to read and write the English language. John went to school through the "4th Reader", as he later told his children.

On June 12, 1907, he married Theresa Reisner at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, then located northeast of Fingal. Theresa had arrived in May of that year after leaving her home village of Pilgersdorf, Austria.

They lived on the homestead farm and raised nine children, including John C., who owns and lives on that same farm. Six of the children are living:

  1. John C.;

  2. Agnes (Mrs. Frank Kapaun of West Fargo);

  3. Theresa (Mrs. Henry C. Morth of Fingal);

  4. Leonard of Kenosha, Wisconsin;

  5. Alois of Lafayette, Colorado, and

  6. Mary (Mrs. George Merten of West Covina, California).

  7. Frank,

  8. Augustine and

  9. Cecilia are the deceased children.

John F. Puhr passed away in 1957 and Theresia in 1972.

There are 41 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 199