Johann Friedrich Gerlicher was born to Anna Dorothea and "Johann George" Jan 2, 1835 by the family records at Stoppach, and Jan 5, 1835 at Untersiemau by the records of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Johann's 17 year old mother probably bore him out of wedlock, for she left him under the care of her parents in Untersiemau while she went to work for Johann Nicolaus Zech and his elderly mother in Stoppach. Anna later married the gentleman, and eventually brought Johann Friedrich to live with them.