John Thomas Hibel was born in Viney Hill, a small village in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. By the time he was aged 16, in 1881, John was living, with his parents, at 121 St. Ann's Road, Rotherham. He was employed as a forgeman in an iron foundry. Many people moved into the Sheffield/Rotherham area for work in the iron industry and in the mines. John, his parents and some of his brothers did just that.

By 1889 John had moved to High Green, Sheffield and married Harriet Hannah Shires. In the 1891 census, the family are living at 15 Robinson Row, Piece End, High Green and John's occupation is given as Coal Miner.