Born Johannes Heinrich von Pein in Lower Saxony, now part of Germany, he & his wife, Etta Claasen and their two oldest children immigrated to the US in 1857. It is believed his parents were Matthias von Pein & Ottina Janssen Mulder. He was a master ship's carpenter by trade and after arriving in Cincinnati, he and his wife had three more sons. He & his wife eventually moved to Richmond, IN, where two sons had established themselves in business.