Philip and Theresa Gassmann migrated from Germany in the late 1860s and after working in the copper mines of Michigan for a time, moved to Barnes County about 1878. They homesteaded one and a half miles southeast of Valley City.
To this union were born five children: George, Theresa, Thomas, Frank and Mary. Thomas married Barbara Beck of Fingal, to this union were born five children: Joseph, Edward, John, Albert and Margaret. Joseph never married. Margaret became a nun. Edward married Francis Nielson of Marion, North Dakota. Albert married Mary Bertsch. John married Agnes Stanton of Braddock, North Dakota on September 5, 1928.
John and Agnes Gassmann have four children: JoAnn (Mrs. Frank Bonello); Mary (Mrs. Timothy Reichert); John married to Sharon Linnehan of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and James, now a student at Notre Dame.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 78