Marshal W. Bachtell retired farmer, Elkader, was born in Chester County, Pa., May 22, 1822, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (White) Bachtell, natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in Chester County, that State, about 1802. By this union there was a family of nine children-six sons and three daughters. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. When eighteen years old he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. While employed at his trade in Philadelphia he became acquainted with Sarah Effinger, whom he married Sept. 16, 1847. They were blessed with three children, two deceased, viz.: Chas. S., Adelaide and Laura L., wife of Joseph M. Thompson. In 1854 Mr. Bachtell left Pennsylania and came to Medina County, and from there went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained one year; then came to Clayton County and located at Farmersburg. Some time later he went to Grand Meadow Township, where he purchased a farm, which he cultivated until 1869, when he removed to Elkader, where he has resided since. He has a beartiful farm of 200 acres, under a high state of cultivation, valued at $50 per acre. Mr. Bachtell came to the county with $52 ready money, and by sickness spent that and $200 more. After repairing his health went manfully to work and by judicious management accumulated a fine property and home, and is one [of] the prominet citizens of the county. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 650-51 |