David W. Bechtel

As printed in 1889

DAVID W. BECHTEL, merchant, Wooster, was born in Wooster Township, July 1, 1843. He is of German ancestry, and his father, Jacob B. Bechtel, was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer by occupation, and the owner of a saw-mill. Upon reaching manhood, Jacob B. was married to Elizabeth, daughter of George Bidenhour, and in 1842 the family came to Wayne County, and settled upon a partially improved farm. Here the parents of our subject passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying in December, 1885, at the age of seventy-three years, and three months later the mother followed him to the grave, also aged seventy-three, lie was a member of the German Reformed Church, and she of the German Lutheran Church. This worthy couple were the parents of fourteen children, nine now surviving, and all but one making their homes in Wayne County. Jacob Bechtel was an industrious man, who made Ids own way in the world. He started a poor boy, but died fairly well oil’. lie always bore the reputation of an honest and trustworthy man.

David W. Bechtel attended the common schools in winters for a few months, and stayed on the home farm until he was seventeen years of age, then going to Sandusky City to learn the trade of carriagemaking. The firm failing, he returned to Wooster, where for a few months he worked at his trade. August 13, 1S(>2. he offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and Second Ohio Infantry, and served almost three years. After receiving his discharge he returned to Wayne County, and in October, 1805, became a clerk in a dry goods store, in which 1m remained ten years. For a year after that he traveled for a Philadelphia firm, and then for six years he was in the office of the supreme reporter of the K. of If. at Wooster. Following this ho was again employed in a dry goods house, and in June, 1885, began for himself, dealing in wall-papers, window-shades, toys, fancy goods and novelties, of which he keeps a large and well-assorted stock.

In 181)8 Mr. Bechtel was married to Rebecca, daughter of J. C. I’lumber, sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and four children have been born to them, Harvey C., Mary A., Bessie and Julia, all at home.

Mr. Bechtel is a member of the Knights of Honor and of the Boy a I Arcanum, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Wooster. He is one of Wooster’s bright young business 'men, who is by his upright character and life winning the esteem of all who know him.

FjRANK SNYDER was born in Bucks County, Penn., in 1880. His grandfather, Andrew Snyder, was a native of Zweibrucken, Germany, on the Rhine, and came to this country in 1 T GO, and for over live years served in the Revolutionary War. He had a family of twelve children, one of the older ones being George, the father of our subject.

George Snyder married Mary Mickley, whose father, Philip Mickley, served seven years in the Revolutionary War. Her grandfather also came from Zweibrucken, Germany, in 1720. Part of the family were killed by the Indians in one of their great massacres. Philip escaped by hiding in the underbrush, while a little brother and sister were tomahawked near by. The family owned the grounds at Gettysburg upon which is now the National Cemetery, and their family burial grounds are still there, having been set aside a, and preserved by the. National Government. To George Snyder and wife were born ten children, as follows: Catherine, now Mrs. John King, of Bedford, Iowa; Aaron, of Osage, Iowa; Lewis AT, for a long time a map publisher, of Chicago, Ill., died in 1888; Eliza, married to William Miller, died in 1853; Henry died in 1848; Prank, whose name heads this sketch; William, a map publisher, of Chicago, died in 1878; Mary, now Mrs. Philip line, of Spencer Centre, Ohio; Sophia, wife of Bev. Samuel Could in, of Rows, Ohio, and George AY., pastor of St. Pauls Lutheran Church of Davenport, Iowa, who served three years in the volunteer service and one year in the regular service during the AYar of the Rebellion.

George Snyder remained in Bucks County until after his father’s death, when he was appointed administrator of the estate. In 1834, with his family, con-, sisting at that time of his wife and seven children, he moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and settled in the southern part of Chester Township, near the present town of New Pittsburgh, buying forty acres of land. He afterward sold his first purchase and bought a larger adjoining farm. He lived to make many valuable improvements in his township, and to realize, in a measure, at least, the consummation of his fond hopes in regard to his adopted county, dying at the advanced age of non rl v eight v years.

Frank Snyder was reared in Chester Township, lining 1ml. four years of ago, when his parents settled here, lie, was early injured to the work of the farm, receiving the educational advantages afforded in the common schools of those days. When twenty years of age he began to learn the carpenter’s trade, and when twenty-two years old, the trade of a millwright, at which he continued thirty-two years, building and remodeling a number of the mills of Wayne and adjoining counties. In 1884 he bought the farm where he now lives of John Myers’ heirs. It contains 200 acres of choice land, and the improvements are among the best in the township. Mr. Snyder married Miss Ella Myers, daughter of John Myers, and they have two children: Wayne and Mary. Mr. Snyder is a, member of the Methodist Church, while his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he alliliates with the Republican party.

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Pitt, and was said to be the first white child born west of the A I leghanies. He was a farmer by occupation, and was married to a Miss Lowery. Lazarus Plumer was married to Jane Craig, whose parents were born and died in Pennsylvania. Of their union ten children were born (three of whom are yet living), three in this county. In 1840 the family migrated to ! Wayne County, to make it their future home. The parents had first come here in 1822, but on account of the sickness of the mother had returned to Pennsylvania. They settled in Chester Township, where the mother died in 1843, aged forty-four years. Tier husband broke up housekeeping in 1841), and died in 1803, at the age of seventy-one..Both of the parents had been members of the Presbyterian Church.

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' at Ins trade until November, 18-75, when lie came back to Wooster, and followed his trade there for some time. In the fall of 185(1 he was made a. deputy sheriff, holding the position for two years. In April, 1801, he removed to Congress Township, and on the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in Capt. Bailey’s company for three months’ service. In forming the Sixteenth Ohio Regiment, C-apt. Bailey was made major and Aquila Wiley was made captain, and our subject second lieutenant of Company C. Soon after lie was attacked with varicose veins j and rheumatism, when he resigned his position, returning to Congress Township, removing to Wooster in the fall of the same year. Following spring he entered the employ of Baumgardner A Co., with whom he remained until May, 18(12, when he again enlisted for three months, i this time in Company E, Eighty-fifth Ohio Infantry, being second lieutenant thereof. They served their term at Camp Chase, and on the expiration of service, in September, returned to Wooster, where he has since made his home.

Our subject and his wife had three children: Rebecca, now wife of David

W. Bechtel, living in Wooster, and Margaret-1. and Washington J., both deceased. Formerly Mr. Pluiuer was a Democrat, imt in 1854 became a Republican, and voted for Abraham Lincoln for !

President in 1860, and has since been a Republican. He takes much interest in the fraternities. Since 1855 he has been connected with the Odd Fellows order — both branches; since 1800 has been a member of the Knights of Pythias, and in 1875 joined the Knights of Honor, being elected supreme reporter, and afterward grand reporter, holding the first position six years and the latter eight years. At present he is grand treasurer of the Knights of Honor. In 1878 Mr. Plainer joined the Royal Arcanum and the (1. A. R.

As printed in Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families .. (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.