John Michael Deiss was born as Johann Michael Deiss on May 27, 1841 in Beutelsbach, Wurttemberg, Germany, which is now part of the city of Weinstadt, Germany. His parents were Johann Michael Deiss who was born May 16, 1801 in Beutelsbach and Eva Margaretha Becker who was born Sept. 14, 1814 in Beutelsbach also. John worked in the vineyards as a "Weingartner" (wine gardener) as his father did. He married Maria Barbara Bauer on May 5, 1870 in Beutelsbach.

John was conscripted into the German army for the Franco-Prussian War. He served from July 19, 1870 to April 7, 1871 with a rank of Stabsgefreiter. His first campaign was to occupy the Black Forest. He was in France at the time of the birth of his first child.

John and his family emigrated from Beutelsbach on November 16, 1880. They boarded the steamship S.S. Switzerland in Antwerp, N. Belgium as steerage passengers. After eighteen days they arrived in the Port of New York on December 8, 1880. (He described the experience in the family Bible as "bad shipping".) Three days later the family arrived at the home of John's brother, Rev. Wilhelm F. Deiss (memorial #149273494), in Dundee, Monroe Co., Michigan. On January 19, 1881 they were living on a farm outside of Dundee.

Three children were born to John and Marie in Michigan but only one survived infancy and that was Anna. Her twin was named Emielie Johanna Christiane. Emielie survived only three months passing away on August 15, 1884. The other child was a son named Karl August Gottlob who was born Nov. 24, 1882 and died Jan. 23, 1886.

The following is what was written in the family Bible about Emielie and Karl.
"On August 15th, 1884 died
Emielie Christiane Johanna in Dundee Mich.
born May 2nd, 1884, died on
August 15th, 1884. Burried on August 16th.
Gently rest her ashes.

On January 23rd, 1886 evening 8 o'clock
is gently asleep in the Lord
our son Karl August Gottlob
after longer illness. Burried
on January 26th, gently his
ashes rest until the Day of Resurrection."