John is listed in the Logansport, IN Gazetter for 1882-83 as a Horseshoer @ 520 North.

I'm told he was a wonderful man and loved kids. However there were some who loved to torment him by stuffing hay in his chimney, according to the story passed on to my Aunt. When the smoke backed up and forced him from the shop, he'd run out blaming it on the "Bloody Irish".