John Huels was born in Bavaria, Germany.  He was the son of Joseph and Margarette (Faeh) Huels.  He came to the United States in July, 1847, and direct to the town of Herman, Dodge Co. There he was married to Miss Barbara Oerhl 1847.

In around 1850 he built a brewery, then a store in 1858, and from there the town grew up around him called Huelsburg.  He brewed until 1865, when he sold out, and carried on the store and farm till 1871 when he sold that property and removed to Hartford.   There he bought the Hartford Brewery and ran it two years; then traded the brewery for a farm, and a year later retired from business. During the Civil War, he was the enrolling officer for the town of Herman, town Chairman for one year, and Treasurer two years.

[Source: History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin, Western Historical Company (1881), page 584, sub. by M. Saggio]