Obit from the Wells Mirror, Jan. 10, 1957, p.4-
...John K. Bias passed away at his home on Second Ave. SW on Saturday, January 5, having reached the age of 83 years.
...He was born May 8, 1873 at Wurstdorf, Germany (sic), the son of Christian and Elizabeth Bias. At the age of 16 he came to America and since that time has lived in the Wells vicinity.
...On Sept. 12, 1899 he was united in marriage to Martha Staloch at St. Casimir Church.
...Mr. Bias was engaged in farming until nine years ago when he retired and moved into Wells.
...He was a member of St. Casimir Church and the Catholic Order of Foresters.
...Funeral services were held at 9am on Wed. January 9 at St. Casimir Church. Six nephews of the deceased served as pall bearers. Interment was in St. Casimir Cemetery.
...Besides his wife, Martha, he is survived by five sons: Frank of Wells; Claude of Harland; Peter and Clement, both of Wells and Charles of Cedar, Minn; eight daughters: Mrs. Louis (Mary) Willette, Easton; Anne Bias, Rippey, Ia; Mrs. Clara Petersen, Jefferson, Ia; Mrs. Louis (Margaret) Ripley, 250 Alice Ave, Salem, Ore; Helen Bias, Slayton, Minn;(Agnes) Sister M.Martin, O.S.B., Crookston, Minn; Mrs. Ed (Dorothy Anne) Cummingham, Twin Lakes; and Mrs. James(Rita) Northrup, 909 Banton Ave., Janesville, Wis.
...Surviving also are 35 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, two sisters: Sister M. Urban of Omaha, Neb, and Martha Bias of Wells, and one brother, Joseph Bias of St. Peter.

Note: as of 2013 all listed surviving members of this family are deceased.

Also of note: the alternative birth locations would be Groß Weitsdorf, Schlesien (Slaskie), German-occupied Poland; AND also Blotnik, Dolnosloskie, Poland (formerly known as Blattnig, Silesia, Prussia). So to say he was born in Germany is partially correct as far as there was no independent Polish state at that time (bet 1795-1918). At the time of his birth it was in the Prussian Empire.