John B. Mess

John B. Mess, one of the old time residents of Henry County, was born in Luxenburg, Germany, the son of Michael and Susanna (Niederhorn) Mess. The family continued to live in Luxenburg where their five children were born: Mary, who later married Jacob Klear; John B. who married Sophia Duding; Margaret, Henry, and Peter. By a former marriage, Michael had two children, John W. and Anna, who married Frederick Spangler.

Michael Mess and family left their native land in 1847, taking passage at Antwerp on an old sailing vessel which carried 300 steerage passengers. After a stormy voyage of 51 days across the Atlantic, they made port in New York.

From New York, they made their way up the Hudson River and Erie Canal by boat; then from Buffalo by the Great Lakes to Sandusky. From there, they took the Old Mad River RR which had rails of strap iron on sills four by four in cross ties.

Eventually they arrived at Berwick, Seneca County, with $1 in cash, and where Michael secured employment for 371/2 cents a day. The family remained in that community for ten months and in 1848, removed to Pleasant Township and secured 40 acres of government land where a log cabin was erected, into which the family moved in March, a welcome shelter from the cold. Michael did not live long after working industriously to provide a home and comforts for his family. He passed away at age 56, and his wife at age 68.

Michael Mess assisted in sooring the logs of which the first Roman Catholic Church of the region was built. Later, his son, John B., helped raze this pioneer structure in order to build a frame church, which was later succeeded by the present brick edifice.

John B. Mess was educated in the public schools and was a farmer and carpenter. He secured 70 acres of land in Section 30 of Marion Township. He also served his locality in public offices having been a constable, justice of the peace, assessor, township clerk, and school director. John B. Mess married Sophia Duding, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Royal) Duding. Her father, a native of Hanover, Germany, came to the U.S. in 1849 and married Margaret Royal who was born in Alsace-Lorraine and came to the U.S. with her father, Ferdinand Royal, one of the earliest of Henry County pioneers.

John B. and Sophia Mess had eight children: Frances, the youngest, died at 17; Anthony and John were farmers; Aloysius was a mail carrier; and Joseph L. operated a general store in New Bavaria and for several years was the owner of Joe's Royal Restaurant in Cleveland, at the time of his death. He had two children, Joanne and Eugene.

William C. was postmaster at the time of his death. He married Bernadette Limpach who succeeded her husband in that office. William C. had a son Clifford J. who is married and has four sons, living in Columbus. Ignatius, a carpenter, married Anna M. Schwab, and they made their home in Toledo. Frank X. is a carpenter and contractor, and married Matilda Swary and after she died, married Valerie Zierolf.

John B. Mess continued in carpentry and contracting. After his wife, daughter, and four of his sons died, he entered the Franciscan Monastery at Ashland, Wisconsin, as a lay brother, known as Brother Francis. He was later transferred to Cleveland, where he spent the last years of his life.

Submitted by Valerie Zierolf Mess