Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1092 - 1093

HIRAM J. BACHTEL, who is a prominent representative of the industrial interests of this county, is engaged as a contractor and builder at Wichita, to which he came in the spring of 1883. He is the scion of an excellent old family, the history of which is of great interest, and in its main points as follows:

            The Bachtel family is of Swiss ancestry, and upon first coming to America, in the seventeenth century, settled at the invitation of William Penn in Pennsylvania. They were Mennonites in religious belief, and left their native soil on account of religious persecution, seeking a country where they could worship after the dictates of their own conscience. They were generally engaged in agricultural pursuits, of peaceful and quiet disposition, strongly opposed to war, and to taking an oath of any kind.

            From the Mennonites have descended many of our most respectable and industrious citizens. Like the Puritan pilgrims, their descendants have been an element for good in this country. Samuel Bachtel, whose father emigrated to America, and settled near Schuylkill, in Montgomery County, in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, in a place called by the ancient Germans Goshenhoppen, and Anna Simon, wife of Samuel Bachtel, are the great-grandparents of the subject of this sketch. Anna Simon's father, Isaac Simon, emigrated from France in Europe, and her mother from Switzerland. The said Simon was compelled to flee from France on account of his religious sentiments, as the persecution of the Protestants at that time was very extensive. Samuel Bachtel was born Oct. 4, 1732 (old style), and Anna, his wife, was born Dec. 18, 1732. The former lived to the age of eighty-seven years and six months, the latter to the age of seventy-eight years and three months.

            From Samuel and Anna Bachtel descended a son, Jacob, who was married to Catherine Kershner. Their offspring were Samuel, Nancy, Isaac, Andrew K., Henry and Polly. Andrew K. Bachtel, the father of the subject of our sketch, was born in Franklin County, Pa., in 1802, and although reared to farming pursuits learned the trade of tanner, which he followed for many years. He married Miss Eliza Duck, of Ohio, and they became the parents of eleven children, namely: Isaac D., Catherine, Martin, Henry, Mary, Samuel, Benjamin F., Lucinda, Hiram J., Andrew, and one who died unnamed in infancy.

            Andrew K. Bachtel had removed from his native State with his father's family to Ohio, where they were among the earliest pioneers of Stark County. His wife, whom he had married in that county, was of English descent, although born in Pennsylvania. The father worked at his trade of tanner after his marriage in Stark County, but later purchased a farm in Seneca County, to which he removed, and where he remained until 1869. He next changed his residence to a point near McComb, in Hancock County, where he continued until retiring from active labor, and then took up his residence in the village, where his death took place at the advanced age of seventy-two years.

            The father of our subject was a very intelligent and well-informed man, and took a leading part in county affairs. He held the various offices, and was well adapted to the keeping of records, being a fine penman naturally. At the age of seventy years he wrote the Lord's Prayer on a piece of paper the size of a silver half dime, a remarkable feat, especially for a man of his years, and indicating his steadiness of nerve, the result of lifelong temperance and correct habits. He was deeply religious, originally a Mennonite, but in later life became an active member of the United Brethren Church. He frequently officiated as preacher among the Mennonites, and was held in the highest affection and esteem. He treasured up to the close of his life some of the old religious books which had belonged to his father, and which had been in the family for generations, some of them bearing the date of 1744, others 1709, and a well-preserved Bible printed in German, bearing date 1748, printed and bound by the monks in the Monastery of Elpharata, Pa. This was a religious brotherhood, and they were among the earliest printers, binders and dispensers of religious books in this country. This Bible is a great curiosity, and will become more valuable as a relic as time rolls on.

            Hiram J. Bachtel, the subject of this sketch, was born near the city of Tiffin, in Seneca County, Ohio, Nov. 11, 1846. During his boyhood and youth he assisted his father on the farm, and acquired the rudiments of a common-school education. Later he took a course in the academy at Republic, and subsequently entered Hudelburg College, at Tiffin, where he was graduated from the scientific department. After leaving college he employed himself as a teacher twelve terms. He had heretofore had some experience at this, beginning when a youth of eighteen years.

            The next important event in the life of our subject was his marriage, which was celebrated on the 14th of May, 1872, at the home of the bride, Miss Rettie McDowell, who was born Nov. 14, 1852, in LaSalle County, Ill., and is the daughter of James and Ellen (Ritchie) McDowell. The parents were of Scotch ancestry, and natives of Stark County, Ohio. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bachtel took up their residence in Nevada, Iowa, where our subject commenced as a contractor and builder, and was successful from the start. Six years later he decided upon a change of location, and came to Wichita, establishing himself here on the 28th of July, 1883. He now continued the business of contractor, and as the result of his fine success owns a beautiful home at the intersection of Seneca street and University avenue, where he has put up a fine residence, and which with its surroundings is one of the points of attraction in the city.

            To our subject and his estimable lady there have been born six children, who bear the names of Maggie E., James E., Edith M., Walter L., Andrew K. and Ada E. The eldest is fourteen years of age, and the youngest four months. They are all at home with their parents, pursuing their studies in the schools adjacent, and form a most interesting family group. The family stands high in the community. Mr. Bachtel, politically, uniformly votes the Republican ticket, and, socially, is a member of the I. O. O. F.

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