John came to North Dakota in 1887 with his parents and three siblings. His interest in the dairy business and in registered Holstein cows enabled his family to be extremely active in the 4-H movement, bringing home many blue ribbons. In 1936, they moved into New Salem, to a house which was owned by Robert Rusch, Sr. (his father-in-law, who had moved to Bozeman, Montana). As long as his health permitted, John helped with the work on the farm; he also worked for the John Deere Company setting up farm machinery.

In a 1920 census document, John’s last name is spelled Klusman.