John Bald was born in Karlstadt, Bayern, Germany on December 28, 1819.He migrated with his parents and brothers and sisters to America about1847. They settled presumably at or near Buffalo, Iowa. Three of hissiblings married three of the children of Johann Andreas Scheiner whomigrated from Germany at about the same time.

John married Elizabeth Scheiner on August 15, 1849. They lived on a farmabout two miles north of Buffalo, Iowa for a while, evidently on the WestHalf of the Southeast Quarter of Section 10, Township 77, Range 2,consisting of 80 acres. This land was deeded to Michael Bald and JohnLoschert on September 18, 1847 and presumably John and his family owned,lived upon and farmed the north 40 acres of this 80, and Michael and hisfamiy owned, lived upon, and farmed the south 40 acres. John's fatherlived with John and his family, and later lived with Mike and his family( on this property perhaps.)

On November 1, 1852 John applied for citizenship in the United States.We note that on the citizenship papers he signed his name in German,"John Baldt." This was presumably the family name in Germany. However,in this country the family spelled the name "B-a-l-d. " When applyingfor citizenship evidently John and the Clerk (a man by the name of JamesThorington) had difficulty understanding each other, as the Clerk madeout the papers in English in the name of "John Boylt" and John signedthem in German, "John Baldt." On October 6, 1854 the court admitted"John Boylt" to citizenship in the United States.

On February 22, 1853 John and Elizabeth borrowed $100, mortgaging thenorth 40 acres of the 80 above described, for one year with interest attwenty (20) per cent. On this mortgage John signed his name in German,"Johann Bald."

Later John and his family lived in Davenport and owned the east half ofLot 9 in Block 47. John Mortgaged this property on October 22, 1855, onJanuary 7, 1857, and on January 29, 1857. He worked as a teamster inDavenport, and afterwards ran a saloon in the country near Davenport, bythe Five Points.. Perhaps he continued farming while living inDavenport, as he gave "farming" as his occupation when he enrolled in thearmy in the Civil War on August 28, 1861.

In the Civil War John was a private of Captain Kendrick, Company E,Second Regiment of Iowa Vol. Cavalry. He was enrolled August 28, 1861 toserve three years, and was discharged September 26, 1862 at St. Louis,Missouri because of physical disability, a left complete inguinal hernia(rupture), one-half disabled. At this time we note John's age is givenas thirty-eight, five feet five inches tall, light complexion, blue eyes,light brown hair.

After John's discharge from the army, and on May 10, 1864, he paid up thethree loans he had made on the property in Davenport.

On October 2, 1865 he bought property in Buffalo, Iowa, described as Lots6, 7, and 8 in Block 7 Heckle & Kautz's Addition to Buffalo, for $385.The family evidently moved to Buffalo at this time and lived on thisproperty for the rest of their natrural lives. At Buffalo John wasemployed in the saw mill, and in the glass factory. He also cut wood forothers and would often be seen walking with his saw over his shoulder.He had a "schnitzelbank," a wood whittling or shaving bench with a
draw knife, with which he would make shingles, ax handles, and otherthings. John's father also owned a "schnitzelbank."