Born on 1 October 1808, in Roßhaupt, Tachau, Bohemia, Austria, son of Thomas Degelmann and Magdalena Bauer. Kohltagelöhner (coal day-labourer). He emigrated to São Francisco do Sul, SC, aboard the steamship Electric in 1869. He died on 5 July 1870, aged 61, in Joinville, SC.