Johann, his wife Ida, children Ernest, Bornardine, Carl, Ida, Frederick and Josephine sailed to America in 1859 on the ship William Tapscott.  His given name is "August" on the ship manifest, 1870 Utah census, burial and thier surname is spelled "Tietzen on the 18870 Utah census.

He is listed on the European Mission records with Ida (33), Ernest (10), Carl (7), Ida (5), Josephine (1), Bernardine (7), Frederik (3), and Albertine Berthelsen (22). Evidently Bernardine did not survive to make the trip. The name is spelled Titjen on the ship's roster.