John Banch of Texas County, Missouri

John Banch, merchant and miller, and son of Frank and Mary Banch, was born in Germany, in the Province of Schweried, Mecklenburg, April 19, 1834. His father was a merchant tailor by trade, and in connection carried on farming. John Banch was the fifth in order of birth of four sons and three daughters. He was reared in his native country, completing a fair education, and in 1856 came to America. He landed in New York City, spent a year in New Jersey, then a year in Wisconsin, and then spent some time in traveling in the South and West. He was in Missouri at the breaking out of the war, and in 1861 he enlisted in the three months' service, in the Second Missouri, and at the end of that time went to Illinois, subsequently enlisting in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois, Company K, and served until the termination of hostilities. He was married in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1865, to Miss Catherine Steffen, a native of Germany, from Prussia, born June 20, 1848, and the daughter of John Peter and Agnes (Bell) Steffen, who came to the United States in 1851, and located near Milwaukee, Wis. After the war Mr. Banch and family moved to Missouri, and here they have since resided. To their marriage were born two sons, John H. and William Frederick, both engaged in business in Cabool. Mr. Banch is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his wife of the Roman Catholic. He has served his locality with credit in the school board of his district and other municipal offices. He is a member of the G. A. R. He built a large store and mill here and a store at Dykes Post office, and aside from this he has farming interests here and at Dykes.