The Peabody Herald, Peabody, Kansas, February 11, 1915. [5]
1880 J. M. Bechtel (age 42, born in Ohio, married) lived in Florence Twp, Stephenson County, Illinois, in a household with Elizabeth Bechtel (38), Emma C Bechtel (13), Franklin Bechtel (17), Minie Bechtel (11), Dora D Bechtel (9), Marrin A Bechtel (8), Ida A Bechtel (6), and Laura E Bechtel (3). J. M. Bechtel's parents were both born in Pennsylvania. J. M. Bechtel was a farmer. [1]
1900 John Bechtel (born in Ohio in Mar 1838, married for 35 years) lived in Peabody Twp, Marion County, Kansas, in a household with Elizabeth Bechtel (58), Dora D Bechtel (29), and Arthur V Bechtel (17). John Bechtel's parents were both born in Pennsylvania. John Bechtel was a sheriff. [2]
1910 John Bechtel (age 72, born in Ohio, married for 45 years) lived in Peabody Twp, Marion County, Kansas, in a household with Elizabeth Bechtel (67). John Bechtel's parents were both born in Pennsylvania. John Bechtel could not read or write. John Bechtel was a agent. John Bechtel's residence was a house, mortgage free. [3]
1915 John Moyer Bechtel, spouse of Elizabeth Bechtel, died on February 10 in Peabody, Marion County, Kansas. He was born on March 19, 1838 in Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio, son of Jacob Bechtel and Anna Bechtel. [4]
J. M. Bechtel Dead John M. Bechtel was born in Ashland county, Ohio, March 19 1838 and died February 5, 1915, age 76 years, 10 months and 14 days. When twelve years of age he moved with his parents to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he attended public school until he was eighteen years of age when he was hired out by his father to work in a saw mill which mill he afterward purchased and operated until 1865. Then he moved to Freeport, Illinois, with his wife and two children where he engaged in farming and stock raising until 1884, when he moved with his family to Peabody, Kansas, where he was engaged in the mercantile business and later in insurance business. He was married in 1861 to Sarah Hoover who died. To this union was born two children, one dying in infancy and one son, Franklin, dying at the age of twentyone years. He was again married in 1865 to Elizabeth Bentz Snyder, to them were born seven children who are all living except Mrs. Minnie Stockdale who died in Kansas City in 1898. Warren and Arthur are living in Oakland, California, Mrs. Grant Holler in Sugar City, Colorado, while Mrs. J. W. Nusbaum, Mrs. E. A. Rood and Mrs. T. D. Heath reside at Peabody. He was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1877 and was a faithful member through all the years. He was the eldest son of Jacob and Anna Bechtel, deceased. Besides his wife, six children, seventeen grand children and two great grand children he leaves three sisters and one brother as follows: Mrs. C. W. Nusbaum, Boise, Idaho; Mrs. George Hoover, St. Joseph, Missouri; Mrs. Levi Hoover, Peabody, Kansas and David Bechtel, Goshen, Indiana. J. M. Bechtel was a citizen of decided views and they were always for the best interest of the town and country. At one time he served as mayor of Peabody and so universal was the sorrow caused by his death that every business house in town closed from 2 to 3 o'clock yesterday during the funeral services which were held at the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. M. C. Brooks. All the children were here for the funeral.
[1] United States Federal Census, 1880, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] United States Federal Census, 1900, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1910, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[5] The Peabody Herald, Peabody, Kansas, February 11, 1915, page 1, [NewspapersClip].