Johann Adam Puerner

   Another name for Johann was John Puerner.

  General Notes:

research of Anna-Marie Morin Erdman
John Adam Puerner (He was baptized Johann Adam Purner - .. over the U in Purner)
Born 4/14/1824 in Grafenreuth, district of Wunsiedel, Bavaria to Martin and Maria(nne) Susana (nee Glas). Baptized 4/16/1824,
Married to Katharina Ursula Thoma (or Ursula Katherina Thoma) on 11/25/1848.
Born: 7/2/1825 in Gopfergrun, Bavaria
Translated from German) Wedding Register: "The master weaver Johann Adam Pürner of Grafenreuth, 5th son of the late master weaver Martin Pürner here, and Ursula Katharina Thoma, physical [i.e., biological] younger daughter of the unmarried Dorothea Thoma in Göfersgrün, were married, on the grounds of having produced a marriage license, by the royal district court of Wunsiedel A.D. November 25, 1848, and after the banns having been posted three times, the first, second, and third Sundays of Advent, here and in Redwitz, in this church on the first of January, 1849."
They immigrated to America in 1853.
John Adam Puerner's Obituary:
Translation of his obituary from a German newspaper Jefferson, WI by Mrs. H.H. Zilm:
"John Adam Puerner, one of the earliest and among the last of the living pioneers of Jefferson, Wis., was born April 13, 1824 in Grafenreuth, district of Wunsiedel, Bavaria. He was the last of seven brothers and two sisters.
He was married to Katherine Ursula Thoma in 1846. Of this marriage there were eleven children, of whom, one girl died in infancy.
The family came to America in 1853 and settled in Jefferson Wis. One son, George and two daughters, Kate, (Mrs. Lorenz Meyer) and Elizabeth, (Mrs. G.J. Loetz) came with the family.
At that time Indians were still living in their native habitat at Jefferson and as children were told often about these Indians coming to the homes of white people and begging. Hardships, privations and fatigue of pioneer life were not spared on them, but they bore this all in joyful courage.
J. Adam Puerner was a man of a cheerful nature, He associated with and tool part in the social life of the little town of Jefferson, in a happy frame of mind, and had no small part in the growth and development of the little town into a thriving progressive community.
In 1864 Mr. Puerner was the founder and organizer of the Arbiter Verein (Workingmen's Society) which organization was still functioning at the time of his death. He was elected the first president and held this office for many years, maintaining interest in its growth and functions. He was looked upon as the "Father of the Arbiter Verein". The society was a great blessing to many in times of illness, with its sympathy and ministry in times of bereavement in members families. Mr. Puerner will ever be honored a founder of this society.
He was also prominent in musical circles. For many years he was a Director of the Lutheran Church Choir, and also a teacher in the Lutheran Church School in its early years.
He was for many years Leader and Director of the Second Regimental Band of Jefferson, an organization much in demand for special events in various parts of the state, through many years. A large percentage of the Band's membership consisted of Mr. Puerners sons and sons-in-law.
In business, Mr. Puerner opened a saloon in 1877 and some years later a bakery was added. This was in charge of one of his sons, John Puerner.
The last years of Mr. Puerners life were ones of adversity, also illness and finally total blindness. After the death of his wife, he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. G. J. Loetz, where he was given the best care and comfort, until he was called to the Great Beyond, at the age of 84 years, 11 months, 26 days.
Surviving were six daughters, Mrs. Kate Meyer, Mrs. G.J. Loetz, Mrs. B.H. Straw, Mrs. Margaret Bellman, Mrs. Hubert Heinz, Mrs. W.T. Thiele and three sons: Henry, John, and Martin, George having preceded him by three years.
Services were held at the home of Mrs. G.J. Loetz, 1110 Park St. conducted by the Rev. Henry Vogel of the German Lutheran Church. A quartet, consisting of Mrs. Albert Jahn, Miss Pearl Fox, Geo. J. Hispert and John Bierlang sang appropriate hymns at the service. The Arion Band escorted the funeral party to the Union Cemetery, playing Chopin's Funeral March, a favorite selection, for such an occasion, of Mr. Puerners.
The Arbeiter Vernin in a body, also accompanied the remains to the cemetery, At the grave, a male quartette consisting of John Bienfang, O. J.
Kerschensteiner, Frank Jung and Carl Mueller sang Goathes "Uber Allen Gipfel ist Ruh" (There is a rest over all mountain tops). Six grandsons served as pallbearers."

Johann married Katherine Ursula Thoma, daughter of Unknown and Dorothea Thoma, on 25 Nov 1848 in Bavaria. (Katherine Ursula Thoma was born on 2 Jul 1825 in Gopfersgrun, Bavaria, died on 18 Jan 1907 in Jefferson, Jefferson, Wisconsin and was buried in Union Cemetery in Jefferson, Jefferson, Wisconsin.)