First Generation

1. Johann "John" NIEBUHR Sr. was born in 1821 in Hanover, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) Province, Preussen (Prussia).^1,2,3 He appeared in the census in 1860 in Pewaukee, Waukesha County, WI.⁴ His surname was spelled "Neighbour" and his occupation was "Miller." His household consisted of John, 39, born in Hannover; his wife, "Barbary," 34, born in Hesse-Darmstadt; and their children John, 8, born in New York; Dora, 4, born in Wisconsin; and Eliza, 2, born in Wisconsin. Also living with them was Conrad Hess (surname not clear), 24, occupation "Day Laborer," born in Hesse-Darmstadt.

. He lived at his home with his first wife in Oakdale, Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI after 1867.⁵ John appeared in the census in 1870 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.² His surname was listed as "Niebaho" and his occupation was "Grocer." He appeared in the census in 1880 in Oakdale, Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.¹ His occupation was "Hotel and Saloon Owner." He appeared in the census in 1885 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶ John died on 19 January 1893 at the age of 72 in Oakdale, Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵

Obituary Notes: "John Niebuhr of Oakdale died Mon, 19 Jan 1893. He leaves wife and 8 children. They settled in Oakdale in 1867." He was buried in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.³ in the Oakdale Township Cemetery.

Johann "John" NIEBUHR Sr. and Mabel L. UNKNOWN (NIEBUHR) were married about 1850.⁴ (She may have been the wife listed as "Barbary" in the 1860 Census.) Mabel L. UNKNOWN (NIEBUHR) died in 1883.³ She was buried in 1883 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.³ in the Oakdale Township Cemetery.

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Johann "John" NIEBUHR Sr. and Mabel L. UNKNOWN (NIEBUHR) had the following children:

Johann "John" NIEBUHR Sr. and Sophia "Sophy" BENCE were married in 1863.^1,7,9,12 The 1900 Census indicated that they had 6 children, of whom 4 were living at the time. Her obituary indicated that she had five children--Mabel, Walter, Frank, Mrs. John Smith, and Mrs. B. N. Noble--as well as four step-children--Dora, Eliza, John, Jr., and Mrs. F. G. Rice. Sophia "Sophy" BENCE, daughter of Francis John BENCE and Magdalena HARE, was born in 1840 in Pennsylvania.^{1,2,3,7,9,12,13} (Her obituary says that she was born in Waukesha County, WI; that was an error because her parents did not move from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin until 1843. The cemetery records and the Monroe County Genealogical Branches (newspaper obituary) listed her birth year as 1835. The 1870 Census listed her age as 30, the 1880 as 38 and the 1900 Census listed her birth date as April 1840. Her obituary listed her age as 82.) She appeared in the census in 1870 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.² She appeared in the census in 1880 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.¹ Sophy appeared in the census in 1900 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ She died on 14 March 1917 at the age of 77 in Oakdale, Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.^9,12

Obituary Notes: "Sophy Bence b. Waukesha Co., Wi. 1835, d. Oakdale 14 Mar 1917, age 82 y. In 1863 m. John Niebuhr; had 5 child., Mabel d. 20 Jan 1883, Walter, Frank, Mrs. John Smith, Mrs. B. N. Noble, and 4 step-child., Dora and Eliza Niebuhr, John Niebuhr, Jr., and Mrs. F. G. Rice. Had 5 bro and 1 sis. Bur Oakdale Cem." Sophy was buried in Oakdale, Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.^3,12 in the Oakdale Cemetery.

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Johann "John" NIEBUHR Sr. and Sophia "Sophy" BENCE had the following children:

Johann "John" NIEBUHR Sr. and Barbary UNKNOWN (NIEBUHR) were married before 1860.⁴ ("Barbary" may have been a name erroneously given by the 1860 Census enumerator to John's wife Mabel.) Barbary UNKNOWN (NIEBUHR) was born about 1826 in Darmstadt Regierungsbezirke (District), Hessen (Hesse) Province, Germany.⁴