Biography/Notes

John Christian Worm, Sr., wife Hellena and children arrived in New York on October 25, 1835 aboard the ship Copernicus from Nassau, Germany. According to an old family story, a son disappeared aboard the ship. The captain of the Copernicus took a special liking toward the boy, and he disappeared just before the ship reached New York. The captain allowed the entire ship, except his cabin, to be searched. The boy was not found. The captain believed that the boy fell overboard, but the family believed that the captain had stolen him.

The family eventually settled in Seneca County, Ohio. On January 18, 1836, John purchased the SE 1/4, NE 1/4, section 18, township 1N, range 17E of Venice Township. A copy of land office records states that he paid for 40 acres on April 18, 1837 at the land office in Bucyrus, Ohio.

Sometime between 1841 and 1850, John C. disappears from Seneca County. Family stories say he returned to Germany. Some say he returned to claim his inheritance and was robbed and thrown overboard on the way back. One family claims he returned for some carpentry tools he had left behind. Regardless of why he left, he apparently never returned. His wife Hellena is in the 1850 and 1860 census living with her oldest son, John.