JOHN H. DEPPE, an old settler and well known and retired carpenter of Beardstown, was born in Hanover, in 1832, August 29. His parents were Casper and Elizabeth (Recor) Deppe, natives of Hanover, and of good German stock. After their marriage and the birth of their children, Mr. and Mrs. Deppe came to the United States, in the fall of 1842, in a sailing vessel of three masts. After a journey of seven weeks and three days they landed in New Orleans. After a three weeks' trip on a Mississippi river steamer they landed in St. Louis in January, 1843. After some time in the city they went to Missouri, and they went to Beardstown from there. Casper was a carpenter, having learned his trade in Germany, and he began working at it for $7 a month for some months. Later he received seventy-five cents a day. This seemed big wages to him. After overcoming many hardships and troubles he succeeded in obtaining a foothold in life. He then entered into contracting and building, and as he was a good workman he had many friends in the city. Later in life he purchased land in Indian creek precinct, Cass county, and there lived for a time and then came back to Beardstown. Here he spent the remainder of his days in retirement and quiet. He died in 1889, February 28. He was then eighty-four years of age. His wife died in 1884, at the age of eighty-six. They were well known old settlers of this city and had a host of friends by whom they were missed. They were active members of the Sixth street Lutheran Church, which they helped organize and build up. Mr. Deppe was a Democrat.

Mr. John Deppe was the only son of the family. He had two sisters, but one died, and the other married Charles Kobelenz, and they are both living in Beardstown. Mr. Deppe has always been a hard-working man, and for eighteen years before his retirement from active life was employed in the car shops of the Quincy Railroad at this place doing work as a car builder and woodworker. He learned his trade under his father. Excepting three years, when he engaged in farming, he has always lived in Beardstown and has been successful in whatever he attempted. He bought a farm in Indian Creek precinct of 160 acres, nearly all of which is improved.

He was married in this city to Miss Annie Morman. She was born in Ingra, Prussia, in 1835. She died at her home in this city, May 3, 1883. She was one of the good worthy women of the city, and was the daughter of German parents, who lived and died in Prussia. Mrs. Deppe came to America in early girlhood. She was a worthy member of the Sixth Street Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Deppe were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Louis, tinner by trade, who married Louisa Dieckhous; Gustav, of the dry goods firm of Deppe Bros.; William, of the same firm; Lydia is at home; Robert H. is a barber of the city; Herman C., a tailor by trade; and Conrad J. at home. The children are young men and women that any one would be proud of, and Mr. Deppe is a father to be envied. He is a Democrat in politics.