When John H. Simeral was born on 14 December 1825, in Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana, United States, his father, William Simeral, was 27 and his mother, Anna, was 25. He married Almira E Crane on 9 December 1852, in Clinton, Iowa, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Oregon, United States in 1870 and Turner, Marion, Oregon, United States in 1880. He died on 21 December 1891, in Macleay, Marion, Oregon, United States, at the age of 66, and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Salem, Marion, Oregon, United States.