Johann Friedrich Stelljes was born May 26 (or 20th), 1826 (or 1825) in Ostendorf, Germany to Gerdt and Meta (Wellbrock) Stelljes. Johann was married to Metta Boettjer (b. May 20, 1824, Weyerdeelen, Germany) on March 14, 1851 in Worpswede Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germany.
Johann and Metta had the following 6 children:
Herman George Stelljes born July 9, 1852 in Ostendorf, Germany. Married Gesche Dammann on Dec 21, 1878 in Alma, Missouri. Eight children: Johann, Anna, Emma, George, Henry, Margaretha, Meta and Katherine. Herman died Jan 22, 1930 in Gifford, Idaho.
Johann Heinrich Stelljes born Dec 15, 1853 in Germany. Died at the age of 1 on Feb 2, 1855 in Germany.
Meta Stelljes born March 14, 1856 in Ostendorf, Germany. Married Hermann Schnakenberg in 1882 in Alma, Missouri. Five children: Marie, Arthur, George, August and Wilhelmina. Meta died June 2, 1895 in Alma, Missouri.
Anna ("Trina") Katherine Stelljes born May 29, 1858 in Ostendorf, Germany. Married Friedrick Detzel Reith on March 15, 1882 in Alma, Missouri. Six children: John, Anna, Bernhard, Magdalena, Otto and Richard. Anna died Sept 13, 1922 in Corder, Missouri.
George Stelljes born Jan 4, 1863 in Ostendorf, Germany. Married Margaretha Dammann on Aug 30, 1888 in Linn, Kansas. Six children: Meta, Herman, Friedrich, Anna, George and Ernest. George died Mar 30, 1942 in Gifford, Idaho.
Anna Maria Stelljes born April 29, 1866 in Ostendorf, Germany. During her early youth, she attended the school in Ostendorf and was confirmed on March 28, 1880. At the age of 17 years, she came to the United States with her father. Anna died July 23, 1933 in Rushville, Nebraska. She is buried in the Rushville, Nebraska cemetery.
Apparently, some of the children emigrated to the United States when they were old enough. When Metta died (~Dec 31, 1882, in Germany), Johann and daughter Anna moved to the United States to be with his children (ref: Anna's obituary). He lived the rest of his life in the Concordia/Alma, Missouri area and died June 1, 1884. He is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Concordia, Missouri.