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John G Vetter

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John G Vetter

Birth	:	22 Dec 1833 Aidlingen, Landkreis Böblingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Death	:	13 Jun 1913 Madison County, Montana, USA
Burial	:	Virginia City Cemetery, Virginia City, Madison County, USA
Coordinate	:	45.2971458, -111.9402542
Inscription	:	John G VETTER 1833-1913
Description	:	Who was John G. Vetter? Using a memoir written by Minnie Ellen Vetter Paugh – John’s niece, who would have known him, old records, documents and gleaning through old newspapers John G Vetter emerges as a hard-working man of his time. John was a German immigrant who lived in Missouri before settling in Montana, a Civil War veteran – on the Confederate side, a Mason, member of the Society of Montana Pioneers, and an entrepreneur a couple times over. He married & divorced but once and had no known children. He was also a long-time employee of the first public... Read More	Who was John G. Vetter? Using a memoir written by Minnie Ellen Vetter Paugh – John’s niece, who would have known him, old records, documents and gleaning through old newspapers John G Vetter emerges as a hard-working man of his time. John was a German immigrant who lived in Missouri before settling in Montana, a Civil War veteran – on the Confederate side, a Mason, member of the Society of Montana Pioneers, and an entrepreneur a couple times over. He married & divorced but once and had no known children. He was also a long-time employee of the first public psychiatric hospital in Montana. One of 7 children (4 did not survive infancy), John was the son of Christoph Vetter and Maria Katharina Kolb and was born on December 22, 1833 in Aidlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. His baptismal name on the Lutheran Church records was Johann Gottlieb Vetter. John, John’s parents and two surviving brothers immigrated to America in 1852-1853. The Lutheran Church records note their leaving in 1852. John’s parents and siblings settled in Unity, Columbiana County, Ohio. It appears John traveled alone to the USA, under the name Gottlieb Vetter, aboard the Trumbull (traveling from France to New York). He was 20 years old, single, male & and a farmer, born in Wurttemberg. Nothing indicates that John ever settled with his family in Ohio. The first mention of John in the newspapers is in 1861 in Missouri, under legal notices. Minnie’s memoir mentions that he lived some time in Pacific City, Missouri and says this is where he first joined the Masons in 1858. He had legal work done in the St. Louis, MO court system in 1861 when he asked to be relieved of a tax burden for the sale of some property in 1860, which was granted. While in Missouri he set up shop and according to John’s obituary many years later, he had made nearly a half million dollars, only to lose it with the Civil War. With about $3,000 left and some supplies he headed west. According to online documents, John listed Madison County, MT as home when he enlisted into Confederate Army on March 1, 1862. Having traveled to Hunt County, TX he enlisted in A Company of the 22nd Regiment, Texas Cavalry (1st Indian-Texas Regiment) as a private. Without seeing the actual document, it remains unclear as to why he listed Madison County as his home. The discovery of gold in Alder Gulch didn’t happen until June 1863. What action he saw or how long he remained enlisted in the Texas Cavalry is unknown. Minnie’s memoir says that John arrived in Virginia City in 1863, which is possible if he only stayed in the Texas Cavalry a few months. The first time an ad for his boot and shoemaking business in the Montana Post newspaper was March 17, 1866 under “New Advertisements”: The Freemasons of the area had been meeting under special dispensations for a few years prior to the official launch of Virginia City Lodge #1 in January 1866. According to Minnie’s memoir John was “elected to membership” on April 14, 1866. In late 1868 John is listed in the bankruptcy notices of the newspaper. Along with this were regular notices in the newspaper that anyone owing money to John must come forward and pay up or sign a note. The 1870 census shows that John continued as a bootmaker. The memoir notes that he was a successful bootmaker, at one time having 14 shoemakers working for him, so this bankruptcy may have resolved itself or he recovered from it. In January of 1877 John leased his boot shop to J.G. Schaffer, his foreman, so that John could travel to Ohio for a time, likely to visit family. Returning in October 1877 he had visited the Black Hills and had also been robbed of $300 by “road agents.” John was remembered later as the first custom bootmaker in the area and loved to tell stories of the famous men he made boots for; Major Wilbur F Sanders; Acting Territorial Governor Thomas Francis Meagher as well as some of the famous vigilantes of Virginia City at the “rare rate of $25 a pair” as well as mending the shoes of dance hall girls. The next time we see John is a notice in the newspaper for his marriage to widow Maria L. Valstin Daems in June 1878. John was 44 years old and Marie was 42. Within a year there were legal notices in the newspaper informing readers that John would not pay any debts incurred by his wife. When the Capital Saloon and Billiard Hall in Virginia City became available John purchased it, made “extensive additions” and advertised that it was stocked with a fine assortment of choice liquors and cigars. He carried both businesses for some time but sold off the shoemaking business in 1880. Later in 1880 the newspaper mentions the new 15-ball pool table has been added to the Capital Saloon and hinted that John was a master at raking in the money. The 1880 census shows John and “Mary” with the four Daems children still living at home and were all listed as Vetters; Harry, Levy, Paul and “Virginia”. These are Henry B Daems, Levinius Daems, Paul Daems and Veronica Daisy Margaret Daems. John was working as a “saloon keeper.” 1882 brought the closely watched trial of Louis Trappler. An odd-jobber about town, Louis was hired by Marie to do some work. He was accused of stealing a gold nugget and chain from the house. This accusation, as well as other accusations, along with the recovery of some of the items led to a trial, where Trappler was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years at the state penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Later Trappler was allegedly brutally beaten by the guards while in prison and became a cause for prison reform. John made the decision to formally dissolve his business partnership with Jos. P Snell (former owner of the Capital Saloon and Billiard Hall) and end the company of J.G. Vetter & Co in April of 1882. Marie posted a legal notice in the newspaper that ran for several weeks saying the John G Vetter is authorized to collect rents for her and to act as her agent in the management of her properties. Another newspaper notice mentions that Marie was making extensive improvements in her row of buildings “below Elling’s bank.” Land records exist that show John G Vetter purchased land during his life. It’s more likely that this was the younger John G Vetter, his nephew. The younger John was known to be a land investor, while the elder John was not noted as a landowner. The land records simply don’t carry enough information on which John actually purchased land in Madison County. In 1883 John’s saloon was damaged by fire causing about $300 worth of damage. Although Minnie’s memoir mentions that John moved to Helena, MT and ran a saloon there, and that it burned 3 times, no documentation has been found to support the move to Helena, or the fires. The marriage of John and Marie was not a pleasant one, according to the newspaper. John had “trouble” with the Daems children still living at home and incurred debts that Marie was forced to cover. Then he walked out on the family, leaving a message that he was going to Alaska. He never made it to Alaska, but settled in Warm Springs, MT. The exact date of his leaving is unknown, but John is missing from the Madison Valley newspapers from late 1883 until 1887. A 1909 article recording the reminisces of the old pioneers mention that John once headed out to a gold rush in Idaho but after hiking through 12 ft. deep snow in the winter, he lost his supplies and returned to Montana. This same article says that John had made a “comfortable fortune” as a shoemaker. Perhaps this was when he left the family. Although Minnie’s memoir dates of John’s move to Warm Springs differ from what is otherwise documented, what is known is that John spent the rest of his employed life in working AND boarding at the Warm Springs Insane Asylum. Minnie’s memoir notes that John was there at the beginning when the Warm Springs Hotel was converted by its owners into the area asylum and John may have even helped finance the project, but that was in 1877. John is documented as living in Virginia City in the 1880 census and was noted in the newspapers locally until 1883. Whenever he actually arrived, he stayed on and retired when it was turned over to state control in 1912. John was noted to have job titles through the years such as warden, nurse, attendant and in 1910, at 77 years old he worked as the nightwatchman. Ernest Vetter, his nephew, was remembered in Minnie’s memoirs as having worked with John at Warm Springs when he first arrived from Ohio. He found John to be a calm and quiet presence while working with the patients and had strong arms to help control them if necessary. Marie filed for divorce from John after 18 years of marriage in August of 1896. All through autumn the divorce was fodder for the newspaper. The divorce was granted in December of 1896 on the grounds of his not contributing to the care of the family, spending too much time apart from the family and incurring debts. Marie was allowed to return to her former name of Daems and was awarded $1500 and attorney fees. In 1912 he retired at the age of 79. Having been ill for some time, one of his nephews “took him to Rochester” for a diagnosis. His disease was incurable, and he returned the Jack Creek home of John & Mary Vetter, his nephew and niece, where he had been living since retirement. He died of throat cancer on June 13, 1913. His death certificate notes that he a widower – likely referencing his divorced wife Marie who died in 1904. He was buried with full Masonic honors in the Virginia City (aka Hillside) Cemetery in Virginia City, MT. Researched, compiled and composed by Nan Fedor White, Jan 24, 2021

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John G Vetter's memorial?
John G Vetter's memorial is located at: Virginia City Cemetery, Virginia City, Madison County, USA.
When did John G Vetter death?
John G Vetter death on 13 Jun 1913 in Madison County, Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John G Vetter's memorial?
Latitude: 45.2971458
Longitude: -111.9402542

Family Members:

Parent

Christoph Vetter

(unknow - 1888)

Cathrin Kolb Vetter

(unknow - 1883)

Spouse

Marie Loretta Louise Waltzin Daems

(1836 - 1904)

Siblings

John Martin Vetter

(1830 - 1892)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Virginia City Cemetery
Virginia City, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2971458, -111.9402542

2. Boothill Cemetery
Virginia City, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2956009, -111.9480972

3. Nevada City Cemetery
Virginia City, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3105392, -111.9703598

4. Taylor Cemetery
Alder, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3088989, -112.0781021

5. Laurin Cemetery
Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3574982, -112.1050034

6. Daems Vetter Cemetery
Varney, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2377635, -111.7550082

7. Madison Valley Cemetery
Ennis, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3345370, -111.7050900

8. Evans Cemetery
Jeffers, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3451000, -111.6836000

9. McAllister Cemetery
McAllister, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4435000, -111.7421000

10. Upper Ruby Cemetery
Burdick Place, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.1517300, -112.1461000

11. Sheridan Cemetery
Sheridan, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4342003, -112.1781006

12. Bear Creek Cemetery
Cameron, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.1740000, -111.5900000

13. Twin Bridges Cemetery
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5304350, -112.3142840

14. Red Bluff Cemetery
Norris, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5892000, -111.6476000

15. Masonic Cemetery of Twin Bridges
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5423088, -112.3152924

16. Valley View Cemetery
Pony, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6580000, -111.8814000

17. Point of Rocks Cemetery
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4117012, -112.4428024

18. Shoshoni Burial Site
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5467000, -112.3563000

19. Bird Cemetery
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5018000, -112.4483000

20. Iron Rod Cemetery
Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6474380, -112.3131040

21. Harrison Cemetery
Harrison, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7228012, -111.7891998

22. Black Cemetery
Bozeman, Gallatin County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6464615, -111.5190811

23. Silver Star Cemetery
Silver Star, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6907000, -112.2880000

24. Mountain View Cemetery
Dillon, Beaverhead County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2144012, -112.6016998