Born May 12, 1833, in the village of Neudorf, in the German Province of Luxembourg. His father, Henry Manderscheid, was a native of the same village, where his father, also named Henry, a farmer, passed his life. John received a very good education in the excellent schools of his native village, which he attended until he was thirteen years old, becoming proficient both in the French and German languages. When seventeen years old he learned the mason's trade, which he pursued in the Fatherland until he left it in the spring of 1855, to try his fortunes in the New World, embarking at Antwerp on the sailing-vessel "Anna Kimball," and after a pleasant voyage of forty-five days landed in the city of Boston. He came from there to Tete Des Morts, Iowa, where he secured employment on a farm. One year later he resumed work at his old trade of a stonemason, and the ensuing five years was engaged in contracting and building. In 1863 he came to Richland Township, having decided to give his attention to agriculture. Mr. Manderscheid has been twice married. The first time in Galena, Ill., in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Altman, a native of Luxembourg, Germany. The young wife and mother died in 1861, after a brief wedded life of scarcely two years. The second marriage of our subject occurred December 29, 1862, in Bellevue Township, on which occasion he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Susannah Goedert. Mr. Manderscheid has for many years been a conspicuous figure in the public life of his township and county, and has held several important offices. He affiliates with the Democratic party, is a man of long experience in politics, has been a delegate to the State and County Conventions, and is careful, reflective and conservative in his views. He has been Supervisor of Roads for twenty-three years, and has served as School Treasurer of the township. In 1881 he was elected County Supervisor on the Democratic ticket, held the office three years, and was President of the Board one year. He has been County Assessor for ten years, and County Collector for four years; is a member of the grand jury at present, and has served on the petit jury. In 1884 Mr. Manderscheid was elected to the Twentieth Session of the Iowa State Legislature for a period of two years, and served so satisfactorily that he was re-elected to represent his constituency in the twenty-first session of that honorable body, from 1884 to 1887. He was a member of the committee of compensation of public offices and of bridges and road buildings both terms, and served on several minor committees. He was an ardent Catholic and a valued member of the St. Lawrence Church, contributing freely to its support.
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