Photo Credit goes to Barbara Ward-Dicken, a 2nd Cousin of mine. Photo first appeared on the cover of the Esterline Family Book written by Ms. Dicken
John Henry Esterline 1821-1895
John Henry Esterline was my third great grandfather. He was born about 1821 in Wurzburg, Bavaria, Germany. According to Wikipedia, Wurzburg is a City in the region of Franconia, northern Bavaria Germany. It is located on the Main River. Family legend has it that Grandfather John came over on a ship as a stowaway at the age of nine years. To this date there have been found no documented records of him being listed on any passenger ships rosters. He filed his intent for Naturalization in order to become a United States Citizen on 9 October, 1855 in Spencer County, Indiana. He stated that he left Germany by way of La Havre France and arrived in New York on 15 May, 1838. At that time he would have been 17 years old if we have the correct year of birth for him. The first census record that has been located for him within the United States was the 1850 Census for Spencer County, Indiana. That particular census his year of birth is listed as 1810. That Census record was enumerated on 18 October, 1850.
There wasn't any particular relationship between grandfather John and the people with whom he was living during that particular year, that I have found to date. His occupation was listed as a Farmer. On 1 May, 1853 in Spencer County, Indiana he married Mary AnnMiller, daughter of Michael Miller.On the 1880 Census for Spencer County, Indiana John & Marys Daughter Mary Caroline Esterline (James) lists her father's place of birth as Prussia.
Source:"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVW-6QC : 9 November 2014), John Estoline in household of Geo Kerr, Ohio, Spencer, Indiana, United States; citing family 819, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)