When he was a young man, his family moved West to the Catholic settlement in Loretto, Alleghenty Township, Cambria County. St. Michael’s in Loretto was headed by Rev. Demetrius "Mitri" Galltizin, who was by birth a Russian Prince and one of the first Catholic priests ordained in America.

Around 1815 John married Mary, presumably at St. Michael's Church in Loretto, with the vows given by Father Smith, as Rev. Gallitzin was known then. May's last name is not known, but it is thought that she too was a native of Maryland.

John and Mary were the parents of at least these five children: Catherine Ann (Krise) Ryan, Susan (Krise) Trexler, David Krise, Mary Ann (Krise) Nagle, and John A. Krise. Their children were all baptized by Rev. Gallitzin.

In 1820 John and Mary resided on a farm in the portion of Allegheny Township that now Clearfield Township, Cambria County. They resided near his parents, brother Henry Krise and sister Sarah Platt. By 1830 his brothers David and Valentine had their own farms in the township as well.

On May 21, 1826 Mary died. She was just 32.

Three years later, on September 22, 1829 John remarried to Sarah Litzinger at St. Michael's Church. Sarah was born on August 20, 1805, the daughtger of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Litzinger. Sarah was about twenty years younger than John.

George Krise Sr., the patriarch, died around 1830 at the very advanced age of about 90.

John and Sarah were founding members of a new Catholic Church in Clearfield Township. St. Augustine Church was built on land donated by John's brother Henry at the new village of St. Augustine in 1847.

John and Sarah were the parents of ten children: Elizabeth Matilda (Krise) Cretin, Julia Ann "Helena" Krise, Henry George Krise, Stephen James Krise, Daniel Demetrius Krise, Thomas J. Krise, Sarah Ellen (Krise) Brand, Jane Agnes Krise, Rebecca M. Krise, and William John Leonard Krise.

When their youngest child William was born in 1850, John was about 65 years old and the grandfather of many.

In 1850 John and Sarah raised their large family on the Krise farm in Clearfield Township. His five children by his first marriage were married and living on nearby farms.

On November 11, 1856, John's son David died at about the age of 36.  It is thought that John and Sarah's daughter Helena also died around this time; she would have been in her early 20s.

The Krise family proudly served their country during the Civil War, but with tragic results. John and Sarah's sons Henry, Stephen, Daniel, and Thomas; their sons-in-law Joshua Cretin and Daniel Brand; and John's grandsons, William H. Ryan and John Albert Nagle all fought for the Pennsylvania volunteers. Sadly, Joshua Cretin, husband of Matilda, died at Antietam, Maryland in 1862, two months before their third child was born. About 1864 their son Daniel died while a soldier. Henry returned home from the war, but it is supposed that he died just two years later from injuries died sustained in the War.  Sadly, too, John's grandson William Ryan died in uniform as well. The Krise family must have gone through some difficult times, but many of their neighbors also lost loved ones to the War.

On February 5, 1872 John died at his home. The Cambria-Freeman (Johnstown, PA) ran a brief death notice that said he was "in his 91st year."  Whether he was 86 or 90 or somewhere inbetween, John lived a long and productive life.

John and Sarah's daughter Jane died unmarried sometime in the 1870s. She was buried at St. Augustine Cemetery.

In 1880 Sarah resided with her two unmarried adult children Rebecca and William.

Sarah died on December 7, 1894 at her home at the old age of 89.

John and Sarah are buried at St. Augustine Cemetery, St. Augustine.
 
John Krise was a pioneer settler of Northern Cambria County and he left a large progeny. His 15 adult children produced at least 71 grandchildren.