Johann Nepomuk Hiedler - Definition and Overview

Johann von Nepomuk Hiedler, also known as Johann von Nepomuk Hüttler (March 19, 1807 - September 17, 1888), was a maternal great-grandfather and possibly also the paternal grandfather of Adolf Hitler. Johann Nepomuk was named after a Czech hero and saint, Johann von Nepomuk, which is thought to be evidence that he had some Czech blood. He became a relatively prosperous farmer and was married to Eva Maria Decker (1792-1888) who was fifteen years his senior. Legally, he was the step-uncle of Aloys Schicklgruber (later Alois Hitler), the step-son of his brother Johann Georg Hiedler. For reasons unknown Nepomuk took in Alois when he was a boy and raised him. It is possible that he was, in fact, Alois' natural father but could not acknowledge this publicly due to his marriage. In any case, Nepomuk left Alois a considerable portion of his life savings. Nepomuk's granddaughter, Klara had a longstanding affair with Alois before marrying him in 1885 after the death of his second wife. In 1889 she gave birth to Adolf Hitler.