Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record - Published 1894 by Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago" Pages 634 - 635

John W. Amann, a prominent carpenter, contractor and builder of Sheboygan, was born on the school section near the city of Sheboygan, on the 23d of August, 1855, and is a son of John and Antonia (Schmidtbauer) Amann, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this work.

Our subject attended school until thirteen years of age, when he began an apprenticeship to the trade of shoemaker, at which he worked as apprentice and journeyman for nine years. On the 11th of November, 1877, he was married to Mary, a daughter of Stephen and Mary A. (Dreier) Beisang. Mrs. Amann was born in Detroit, Mich., and came with her parents, now deceased, to Sheboygan in 1869. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Amann, three girls and four boys: Elizabeth, John J., William, Edmund J., Jacob, Sibilla and Anthony, all natives of Sheboygan.

After his marriage, our subject worked in a chair factory for five years. At the age of twenty-seven he began learning the carpenter's trade, and at twenty-nine years began contracting and building, which he has continued to the present time. After starting in the last-named business he had for a partner Richard E. Eisold (the firm being Eisold & Amann), until 1893, when Mr. Eisold withdrew on account of slackness of business, since which time Mr. Amann has conducted the business alone. The firm of Eisold & Amann built many business houses and residences in Sheboygan and vicinity. Mr. Amann has erected, recently, a fine residence for his own use, at No. 1122 Superior Street, of modern design and finely finished. He is doing an extensive business in building and selling good residences. In this manner he is independent of dull times, always furnishing himself and men something to do.

In politics, our subject is a Democrat, and served as School Commissioner for Sheboygan from 1885 to 1889. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church. Socially, he is a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and is a member of the Mutual Workmen's Benevolent Society. Mr. Amann is a musician of some note, and was one of the early members of John Schmidt's Brass Band of Sheboygan, with which he was associated as bass-drummer for eight or nine years. He is a mechanic of acknowledged skill, and has been quite successful in his business, accumulating a valuable property.

Cordial and genial in manner, he readily makes friends, and by his upright, honest and manly course in life holds the respect and esteem of all who know him.

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