Other Events:

• : 1881, Hannover, Germany; 1900 Federal Census Shows John Immigrated before Maria or children. Passenger List "Strassburg" from Bremen to Baltimore in Oct 1881 shows family immigrated together. The father may have returned for the family. They are listed with the surna

Notes:

CastleGarden.org shows a Scharff family arriving on 9 Oct 1881 with ultimate destination of Iowa. Members of the family are Gesine, Jacob, Johann (father), Johann, Johanne, Maig, Maria. Many of the birth dates match. The ship's name was the Strassburg (Bremen).

Immigrated from Hannover, Germany area to Holstein, IA. Moved to Doon, IA in 1900 and had 11 children. Hannover may have been their city of departure, not hometown. - Excellda Watke Shaw

Felix Meier Tree on Ancestry.com shows immigrated Oct 1881 on Strassburg from Bremen to Baltimore.

From http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialyon/bankingtwo.htm:
Temperatures were unseasonably cold the early months of 1907 and there was considerable fear that the crop could not be gotten into the ground soon enough. In April temperatures were dropping below freezing almost every night. Vegetables that had been planted were lying dormant. Fruits were damaged and early seeded cereals were in great danger. Some reseeding was being started.

A bad electrical storm hit the week of June 27 and many barns were struck, several destroyed. At the John Scherff farm the house and barn burned down as the result of lightning and five horses and a colt in the barn were destroyed.


John's name may have been Johann Jochim Heinrich Scharf, born in Mecklenberg to Friedrich Ludwig Scharf and Maria Dorothea Engel. The Friedrich listed as his brother may actually be his father in Wisconsin! Also possible is that he is the son of Friedrich Scherff and Maria Best of Plaggenburg Aurich, Hannover. Hannover is their likely birthplace according to most records.

me of Scharff.

John married Maria Steinke about 1869. Maria was born on 5 Apr 1848 in Hannover, Germany; died on 27 Jun 1935 in Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sidema Scherff
2. Gesina M. Scherff was born on 29 Jun 1869 in Hannover, Germany; died on 14 Jan 1915 in Alvord, Lyon County, Iowa, USA.
3. Margaret Scherff was born in 1875; died in 1917.
4. Johanna Scherff was born in Aug 1876; died on 7 Mar 1929 in Cherokee, Cherokee County, Iowa, USA.
5. John Jacob Scherff was born on 13 Jan 1877 in Germany; died on 1 Nov 1938 in Rock Rapids, Lyon County, Iowa, USA.
6. Jacob Daniel (or Henry) Scherff was born on 16 Apr 1880; died on 16 Dec 1959 in Worthington, IA; was buried in Worthington Cemetery, IA.
7. Henry D. Scherff was born on 23 Oct 1882 in Ida County, Iowa; died on 26 Sep 1955.
8. Mary Scherff was born in Oct 1886 in Ida County, Iowa; and died.
9. Anna Scherff was born on 16 Oct 1889; died on 13 Jul 1977 in Pipestone, Pipestone County, Minnesota, USA; was buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne, MN.