John Mann was born May 14, 1814, in Germany. He used the name John Mann 1884 to 1872, then John Mertz.

John Mann (age 36, born in Tounster, Germany) married Catharine Ritsins (age 18) on April 18, 1854, in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota.

The 1857 Minnesota census showed John Mann (age 40, born in Germany) married to Johanna (age 21, born in Germany) and living in Township 116, Range 23, Carver County, Minnesota.

The 1860 United States census showed John Mann (age 44, born in Germany, farmer) married to Catharine (age 22, born in Prussia) and living in Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota). Daughter Carolina (age 2, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.

The 1870 United States census showed John Mann (age 50, born in Prussia, farmer) married to Catherine (age 36, born in Prussia) and living in Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota. Daughter Caroline (age 12, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.

John Mann married Louisa Wilhelmina Wolff on March 17, 1872, in Chaska, Minnesota.

The 1880 United States census showed John Mertz (age 66, born in Prussia, farmer) married to Mena (age 45, born in Prussia) and living in Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota. Children Henry (age 7, born in Minnesota) and John (age 5, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.

John Mertz died January 24, 1900, in Glenwood City, St. Croix County, Wisconsin.

In our notice published last week announcing the death of Uncle John Mertz, we spoke of him and his settlement in Carver County as we remembered the facts from our acquaintance with him from the year 1856. Mr. Philip Henk, an intimate friend and for many years a near neighbor of Mr. Mertz, furnishes us some additional facts of an interesting nature relative to the past history of Mr. Mertz after he became his neighbor in 1856. He says that while deceased was stationed at Fort Snelling from 1847 to 1849, he learned to speak the Sioux language quite fluently and became a great friend of one of the leading chiefs of that tribe, who insisted on his (Mertz) marrying his daughter, and often mentioned this incident with great merriment. In 1849, Mr. M., homesteaded an eighty on what is now a part of St. Paul, which he sold for a trifle in 1850. He then formed a copartnership in the brewing business with the late Anton Yoerg which he subsequently sold to his partner. In 1852, in company with F. A. Renz, Jos. Ashley, Paul Faber, John Karcher, Mike Engler, Chas. May and Adam Amerhein, formed a colony and each homesteaded a claim below this city, and in 1853, laid out and platted a townsite, naming the embryo city “Yorkville,” and were sure that it would soon become the great city of the Minnesota Valley. This same year Mr. Mertz started a store on the new townsite and employed the services of a likely young German by the name of Mr. Mons, who died shortly afterwards, being the first white person to die in this county. In 1856 Mr. Philip Henk built and operated a blacksmith shop. The steamboat landing was at this point in those days and the village continued to thrive until Chaska loomed up and wrested the laurels from fair Yorkville, which now exists only in name. Nevertheless during all these long years Uncle Mertz has remained boss of Yorkville, and like many other old settler (settlers), died comparatively poor in this world’s goods, but honored and respected by the entire community. The Hon. Henry Eschlie, one of the members of the Yorkville townsite company, was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1857, which framed the present constitution. He died some years ago in St. Paul. The Hon. F. A. Renz, another of the leading members of that colony, represented this county in the Legislature in 1859-60, and again in 1865. He is at present a well-to-do and most highly honored resident of St. Paul, and was city treasurer of that city for several terms. Charles May still resides with us saving accumulated wealth enough to pass his ripe old age in ease and comfort. Mike Engler honored and respected by all who know him, still resides on the “old homestead” in Chanhassen. The Hon. Paul Faber, was prominent in St. Paul politics for many years and died lamented by a large circle of friends. Adam Amerhein and John Karcher, two of our old pioneers died many years ago, and their memory is still revered by all of our old timers. Their old friend and co-laborer John Mertz has joined them on the other side of the great divide. (The Weekly Valley Herald, Thursday, February 8, 1900, Page 1)

“He was born the fifth day of March 1814 near Daremstadt, Herozogthum, Hessen. Came to this county in the early forties, he lost all he possessed, in the burning of his uncle’s house in Baltimore, Md, which was the direct cause of his enlisting in the U. S. services. His company was ordered to the northwest, to Big Stone Lake where they encountered many hardships. Their rations were a little coffee and a small quantity of flour, which they mixed up with water and baked before the fire, on chips cut from cotton-wood trees. His sympathies were with the Indians. He was ever ready to tell of his dealings with them, and of their habits. His imitations of their antics were almost perfect, as I found while at the Standing Rock agency. One sister in St. Louis, Mo., is supposed to survive him. (The Weekly Valley Herald, Thursday, February 22, 1900, Page 1)