Johann Nicol(aus) Hess was born 29 January 1832 at Weidhausen, Sonneberg, Herzothum, Saxon-Megen. Johann Nicol Hess arrived in America at the port of New Orleans in 1856. Nick's passport or "Legitimation" describe him in October of 1856 as being feet, 3 inches tall.   The form of his face was full and his color healthy.   His hair and eyebrows were brown and his forehead was rounded.   His jaw was long and his beard was blond.   This "Legitimation" was issued in Sonneberg, July 30, 1856, just eleven days after his father went to court for him. His father had appeared in the Court of the Ducal Administrator," accompanied by the Ducal Administrator Assistant, made this plea to the court: That his son, Johann Nicol Hess, wished to go to America and had posted notice. Further, that now he had an opportunity to leave sooner than expected. That this presented him with a terrible problem. because of the time requirement for the posting. Accordingly, Georg placed his son at the mercy of the court, without whose help, he said his son could not solve this problem and receive his emigration pass. As his suggestion to the court, he proposed that he himself stand good for the debts that his son might have incurred. He requested that he be allowed to do so and urgently begged the court to grant his son his traveling visa. All of this occurred on the 19th of July 1856. In his Declaration of Intention for Naturalization in this country Johann Nicol renounces his allegiance to the King of Saxony.    Nick filed his Declaration of Intent in May 1856 He came to America in October 1856. Johann Nicol Hess was the eldest of seven children born to his parents, but two of the children died at extremely young ages. Nick left his parents and three younger brothers and sister behind in Germany and never to see them again. He joined the German Volunteer of the Fourth Regiment, U. S. Reserve Corps.   He was private in Company F, 4th  Missouri. U.S. R. C.. Inft. Volunteers and was at the Battle of Camp Jackson which was to the west of Downtown St. Louis and served from May 10, 1861-August 19, 1861 when he was mustered out.   Nicol had suffered a debilitating rupture (hernia) at some time during his three month period, and did not reenlist.   Nick's discharge after 103 days in the army left him a little unhappy.   Nick went back to work after his discharge. Barrels were an essential commodity during  the war years so work was not hard to find.   Perhaps he had met his future wife, Regina Schimd, before his term of service, for they were married less and 7 months later.   It was a mixed marriage, because Regina was catholic and he was Lutheran. and his marriage of Regina Schmid took place March 2, 1862.   Immediately afterward they went to Edwardsville, Illinois and he lived there until his death.   He was a cooper after his duty in the Union Forces during the civil war, but retired in 1891.   He then purchased different homes and lots which afforded him a steady income + his pension from (being a soldier during the War of Rebellion) up until his death.   He was survived by his widow and five children.   Sophia, widow of Fred Begemann,  Bertha of St. Louis, Minnie (Wilhelmina), wife of Joseph Stieren, John and Augusta Hess.   All of their children were raised catholic, but Nick stayed a staunch Lutheran. And at his death he owned five pieces of property, including one on Main Street where in lived with his wife. Three were accessed at $500 a piece and two at $125 each. He also had personal property of a substantial amount for that time but less than $1000. In 2004, their house in Edwardsville, Illinois is still standing and being lived in In the 1870s there was a picture taken of Nick and his cooperage shop at 1502 West Main Street with 11 coopers who worked for Nick. The last named child, Miss Augusta had been in a convent for three years in Racine Wisconsin but several months prior to her father's death, she received a strange premonition that she was needed at home and although she could not explain it, it was so uneasy that she acted upon the prompting and arrived home on the day before Thanksgiving.   She found that her father had been wishing for her.   He having some anticipation of the end and she remained with her parents we were living at home alone. Family Lineage Georg Nicol Hess born December 17, 1808 in Weidhausen, Thuringia, Germany    married about 1830 in Gefell, Thuringia, Germany                 wife: Sophia Schindelm (in)  born About 1810 in Gefell, Thuringia, Germany Children: 1. Johann Nicol Hess born 29 January 1832 in Weidhausen Married: St. Joseph Church, St. Louis March 3, 1862       Died: January 12, 1901 in Edwardsville, Illinois       Spouse: Regina Schmid 2. Elizabeth Hess born: 3 November 1834 in Weidhausen          Died: 8 November 1834 in Weidhausen 3.  Anna Margaretha Hess  born: 28 December 1835 in Weidhausen         Died: 05 January 1836 in Weidhausen 4.  Nicol Hess  born: 08 May 1840  in Weidhausen 5.   Johann Georg Hess  born: 09 January 1843  in Weidhausen 6.    Sabina  Hess   born 09 June 1843  in Weidhausen 7.   Oswald Hess   born 12 May 1849 in Weidhausen See Above:       Georg Nicol Parents:           Johann Georg Hess b. June 25, 1774 in Koppelsdorf, Thuringia married 14 June 1799 in St. Aegidian Church, Oberlind Thuringia died 09 June 1844 in Weidhausen, Thuringia Anna Margaretha Heusser(in) b. 30 January 1779 in Weidhausen, Thuringia died: 30 October 1843 in Weidhausen, Thuringia Johann Georg Hess parents: Johann Georg Hess b. Abt 1750 married about 1770 Anna Barbara Hess(in) born about 1750 in Steinbach Anna Margaretha Heusser(in) Parents Georg Nicol Heusser Margaretha Barbara Schildhelm Johann Georg Hess