Author Description

Johannes Schmierer (John Smyer) was probably born in Germany around 1740, emigrating in 1755. He initially settled in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia, where he fought in the French and Indian Wars, and is believed to have learned the carpentry trade. By 1771, he had resettled in Catawba County, North Carolina. There he married Utilla Bost, daughter of Wilhelm Bost and Catherine Goodheart, in 1785, and they had nine children. Includes second generation descendants that married into many of the Catawba Co families, such as Shuford, Warlick, Bolick, Bollinger, Deal, Hickman, Perkins, Holland, Sherrill, McKee, Poovey and others. Johannes Schmierer is the earliest known cabinetmaker in that area.