Johann was born on 14-Sep-1853 in Trossen. Johann's father was Michael Smollich and his mother was ? Hartwig. His paternal grandparents were Johann Smolich and Lowisa Czerlinski. He was the oldest of six children. He had a brother and three sisters, and also a sibling of unknown gender, named Friedrich, Luise, Henriette, Anna and <Unknown>. He died, at the age of 84, in 1937.