Zender, John

John Zender (nee: Johann Zender), born 1814. When the Zender Family emigrated to the U.S., John had remained in Prussia because Prussian military regulations did not allow men aged 17-26 to leave the monarchy without paying a punitive tax.

In the beginning, John Zender worked as a Carpenter

"Peter Schmidt (actual spelling, Schmitt) came here from Trier, Prussia in 1836. His daughter, Maria Anna Schmitt married early West Ridge settler John Zender. They had a daughter, Marie Zender.

Peter Schmidt had purchased 200 acres. He and John Zender ran a saloon, the Ridge Inn, 6648 N. Ridge Boulevard, early on. The first house was a blockhouse with a 10-foot stockade...The location of Schmidt's place was at 6665 N. Ridge Boulevard, but note: this was the third house that had been built here."

Photos

RPWRHS photo Z001-0103 shows the John Zender family--Three adults and three children. None are identified although it's safe to say the adult man is John Zender.