Johann Heinrich "John" Koester (H302) was born 1 Apr 1846 in Elsfleth, Niedersachsen, Germany.
John married Johanna "Sophie" Michael (H303) about 1872 in Germany. Sophie was born 14 Jan 1851 in Oldenburg, Niedersachen, Germany to Gerhard and Caroline Sophie Henriette (Hanckel) Michael.
John and Sophie had the following children:
- Hermann Heinrich "Herman Henry" Koester (H304) - born 18 Jan 1874 in Berne, Niedersachsen, Germany. He died at the age of 87 on 29 Aug 1961 in Nebraska, United States.
- (daughter) Koester - born 4 May 1875 in Berne, Niedersachsen, Germany. She died in infancy on 10 May 1875 in Berne, Niedersachsen Germany.
- Friedrich Gerhard "George" Koester (H305) - born 7 May 1876 in Berne, Niedersachsen, Germany. He died at the age of 73 on 6 Nov 1949 in Nebraska, United States.
- Johann Diedrich "John Dick" Koester (H306) - born 18 Mar 1878 in Berne, Niedersachsen, Germany. He died at the age of 65 in Aug 1943 in South Dakota, United States.
- Carolina Mathilde Sophie "Karoline or Lena" Koester (H307) - born 3 Mar 1880 in Elsfleth, Niedersachsen, Germany. She died at the age of 39 on 23 Sep 1919 in Thurston County, Nebraska, United States.
- Bertha Louise Catharine Koester (H308) - born 18 Jun 1882 in Elsfleth, Niedersachsen, Germany. She died at the age of 66 on 18 Dec 1948 in Wayne, Wayne, Nebraska, United States.
- Martha Gesine Koester (H309) - born 5 Oct 1884 in Elsfleth, Niedersachsen, Germany. She died at the age of 22 on 2 Feb 1907 in Allen, Dixon, Nebraska, United States.
- Anna Marie Sophie "Annie" Koester (H310) - born 21 nov 1886 in Elsfleth, Niedersachsen, Germany. She died at the age of 80 on 8 Mar 1967 in Wakefield, Dixon, Nebraska, United States.
- Sophie Louise Catharine Koester (H311) - born 29 Dec 1888 in Elsfleth, Niedersachsen, Germany. She died at the age of 91 on 12 Apr 1980 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States.
- Diedrich Herman Koester - born 11 Apr 1891 in Hooper, Dodge, Nebraska, United States. He died at the age of 33 on 13 Jan 1925 in U.S. Veterans' Hospital, Knoxville, Marion, Iowa, United States.
- (unnamed) Koester - born and died in 1893 in Nebraska, United States.
- Heinrich George "Henry" Koester - born 10 Dec 1894 in Hooper, Dodge, Nebraska, United States. He died at the age of 54 on 5 Nov 1949 in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey, United States.
- Mathilde Gesine "Mathilda" Koester - born 2 jan 1897 in Nebraska, United States. She died in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
John and Sophie, with their 8 oldest children immigrated to America in 1890. They sailed on the ship "Karlsruhe" from Bremen, Germany and arrived 11 Apr 1890 in the port of Baltimore, Maryland.
1900 - US Federal Census - Cuming Township, Dodge, Nebraska, United States (Occupation: Farmer)
1910 - US Federal Census - Elkhorn Township, Cuming, Nebraksa, United States (Occupation: Farmer, General Farm)
1910 - US Federal Census - Elkhorn Township, Cuming, Nebraksa, United States (Occupation: Farmer, General Farm)
Sophie died at that age of 66 on 25 Feb 1917 in Hooper, Dodge, Nebraska, United States. She was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, West Point, Cuming, Nebraska, United States.
1920 - US Federal Census - West Point, Cuming, Nebraska, United States
1925 - Nebraska State Census - Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States (with daughter Sophie and family)
1925 - Nebraska State Census - Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States (with daughter Sophie and family)
John died at the age of 79 on 27 Jul 1925 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, West Point, Cuming, Nebraska, United States.