John DeWald Jr. Is a Living History reenactor, historian and artisan. John’s love of working horn started when he was 12 years old. This passion never waned and in 2010 he joined the Honourable Company of Horners. He pursued his passion and in 2016, he obtained the status of Master Horner. He has also served as their Guildmaster (president) in 2021 – 2022. John and his wife live in a historical 1863 home just outside of Pennsdale, PA. It too is a labor of love for him as it was the house his wife grew up in and he is constantly working to restore various historical aspects of their home. Since retirement, John is continuing to work his home-based business focused around horn work. If you ask John to summarize what he does, his usual reply is: “I make contemporary and historical horns as well as wing bone turkey calls, and other fine accoutrements from horn, bone, metal and wood. In the manufacture of these historical items, I hope to preserve a vital part of our history. I am also striving to leave behind a legacy for my daughter worthy of the craftsmen that have preceded me and in doing so to keep a dying art alive through caring hands."
