From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1176
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

REV. JOHN B. SCHLICHTER

   The honored subject of this review, in the exercise of the high functions of a holy office has accomplished much in the upbuilding of his fellow men, is a man of ripe scholarship and attainments, and one to whom specific recognition should assuredly be made in this connection.  He is likewise identified with agricultural pursuits in Rice county and makes his home in Sterling.  He was born in Waterloo county, Ontario, September 7, 1831, and on the paternal side is descended from Huguenot and Swiss ancestry.  The founders of the Schlichter family in America came from Switzerland, where they had been engaged in business as foresters.  The grandfather of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania and there carried on agricultural pursuits until about 1810, when, on account of his loyalist views he removed to Canada.  He reared four sons and one or two daughters.  The youngest son, Benjamin, did not marry, but the others, Henry, Samuel and John, each had small families.

   John Schlichter, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1794, and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Elizabeth Bechtel, who was born near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but before their marriage they went with their respective families to Canada.  The lady was born prior to 1800, and the wedding took place about 1817.  They reared eleven of their twelve children, three sons and eight daughters, and all were married and, with one exception, had families.  Jacob, the eldest son, had six sons and three daughters, while Samuel reared ten of his fourteen children, who were born of two marriages.  The father died in Canada, at the age of sixty-three years, and his wife passed away at the same place, in 1875.  Their remains were interred in the Mennonite cemetery near Roseville, in Waterloo county.  They were prosperous farming people who lived conscientious, upright lives and commanded the respect of all with whom they came in contact.  By trade the father was a miller and this exempted him from military service.  On the maternal side the subject of this review was of German lineage.

   Rev John B Schlichter spent his youth in his parents’ home and at the age of sixteen began learning the carpenter trade.  He was the ninth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, and thus it became necessary that he should early provide for his own support.  Only two of the large family, however, are now living, his sister, who is older than himself, being the other survivor.  She is Mrs Nancy Holman, the wife of Wendel Holman.  After following carpentering for a time Mr Schlichter realized the importance of education, and at the age of twenty he entered a college in Leoni, Michigan.  Subsequently he returned to Canada, where for several years he engaged in teaching school, but spent part of each year as a student in Oberlin College, at Oberlin, Ohio, under President Finney.

   On the 12^th of September, 1860, Mr Schlichter was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Bristow, of Waterloo county, Canada, a daughter of John and Sarah (Streeter) Bristow, both of whom were natives of Sussex, England, the former born in June1801, the latter on the 31^st of May, 1806.  They were married in Sussex, in 1830, and in 1835 went to Canada with three of their ten children, and seven children were added to the family circle in that country.  They lost an infant son and one son died at the age of five years, while another son passed away at the age of twelve.  Of their family but two are living, Mrs Schlicter, and John Bristow, who is a resident of Middleville, Michigan.  The parents were farming people and reared their children amid the scenes of rural life, impressing upon them lessons of industry and integrity.  The mother died in September, 1858, and the father passed away in September 1881.  They are now sleeping in the Elmyra cemetery, in Waterloo county.  The marriage of Mr and Mrs Schlichter has been blessed with six children, three sons and three daughters: Lillie E, the wife of John Simms Simpson, a railroad official of Hutchinson, Kansas; Sarina E, the wife of Barber C Truesdell, of Sterling, by whom she has one son; Morris A, who died at the age of fourteen years; Ella, wife of Eugene P DeWalt, of Newton, Kansas; George W, who is conducting the home farm; and Robert G, a railroad man living in Newton, Kansas.  The parents have given their children good educational privileges, and the youngest daughter is a graduate of the Sterling high school and business college.

   For some time Mr Schlichter served as a missionary preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist church in sourthern Ontario.  He came to Kansas in 1871, locating in Topeka, where he remained for a year.  In the autumn of that year he filed a claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land near Sterling and became one of the pioneer settlers of Rice county, locating here in May, 1872, where the family joined him the same month.  They took up their abode in the little home which contained but one room, twelve by eighteen feet.  At that time there was no roof or floor, windows or doors, but these accessories were added as rapidly as possible.  He now owns a commodious and attractive residence of eight rooms, a story and a half in height.  Built of concrete stone, it was erected in 1876.  During the years of his residence in Kansas Mr Schlichter has engaged in farming and preaching, making a specialty of horticulture, and through the raising of fruit he has added largely to his income.  During the first ten years of his residence here he acted as a home missionary in the Congregational church and has organized several churches in this and adjoining counties.  The first church which he established was the one in Sterling, which he organized in July, 1872, and it is now a most prosperous society.  He supplied the pulpit for a time.  He has labored earnestly, zealously and conscientiously for the cause of Christianity among his fellow men, and his example as well as precept has been a potent factor for good.  In his political views he is a Republican and has served as superintendent of public instruction of Rice county.  His has been an honorable and upright life, commending him to the confidence and good will of all, and his influence and labors have been of value and benefit to his fellow men.