BATSCHELET BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== BATSCHELET, Fred - b: 1842 Canton of Berne, Switzerland source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 586 residence: Davis Twp Fred Batschelet - Fifty-six years ago, Fred Batschelet, pioneer settler and large land owner of Davis township, left the old home of his parents in Switzerland and crossed the ocean to America in search of fortune and a permanent home. After some years, he found what he was desiring in Henry County, Missouri, and besides having accumulated a fortune in land and money, he has contributed one of the largest families of the county to the land of his adoption. Were the fact that he has reared a large family of fourteen children to sturdy manhood and womanhood the only thing which he had accomplished, he would still be worthy of an honored place in the historical annals of his adopted county. This is not all, however. Before Mr. Batschelet had learned the language and customs of his adopted country, and before he had obtained a foothold here in the making of his own career, he offered his services in behalf of the preservation of the Union, and is one of the few remaining Union veterans in Henry County. Fred Batschelet was born July 10, 1842, in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, and is the son of Benedict and Elizabeth (Weber) Batschelet, who were parents of five children. Benedict and Elizabeth Batschelet lived and died in the land of their nativity. Fred Batschelet was reared to the life of a farmer, but learned the baker's trade in his youth. In 1862 he immigrated to America and first settled in Illinois where he remained for three years. During the last year of the Civil War he served in the. Union Army in Company A of the 40th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment. For a time he was detailed to provost guard duty in the South. While a citizen of Illinois, he was married and sometime later he located in St. Louis. In the year 1870 he, with his brother John, came to Henry County and invested in a tract of 106 acres. The brothers cultivated this tract in partnership for about four years and then each undertook to farm for himself. From this small beginning, Mr. Batschelet has accumulated an entire section of land, or 640 acres. Mr. Batschelet was married in 1866 at Highland, Illinois, to Miss Anna Pfister, who was born in Switzerland, April 30, 1848, and came to America when a child with her parents who settled at Highland, Illinois. Fourteen children have been born to this union, as follows: Fred and Godfred, twins, born in Illinois, are farmers in Davis township; John, a farmer, living near Lewis Station; Benedict, a farmer in Davis township; Minnie, wife of Daniel Dehn, Clinton township; Robert, lives in Oklahoma; Albert, a farmer in Bear Creek township; William, Davis township; Anna, wife of W. E. Hillebrand, Davis township; Mary, wife of Allen Mitchell, living on a farm near Montrose; Caroline, Bertha, Edward, and Rosa, at home with their parents. Mr. Batschelet is a Republican and has been active in civic affairs in his township during his long years of residence here. He assisted in the organization of School District No. 42 and is a valuable citizen. Three years ago he retired from active farm labor, advancing years compelling him to relinquish much of his activity which had brought him prosperity during the years in which he has been farming in Henry County. He is a member of the Reformed Church. Few men can look back over a lifetime of endeavor and point to a better record of achievement than can Mr. Batschelet. ==================================================================== BATSCHELET, John - b: 1870 Davis Twp, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 594 residence: Deer Creek Twp John Batschelet, a successful and leading young farmer of Deer Creek township, Henry County, is following in the footsteps of his ancestors, who were tillers of the soil. They were among the early pioneer settlers of the township and John Batschelet is a native son of Henry County. He was born in Davis township, Henry County, November 13, 1870, a son of Frederick Batschelet, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. John Batschelet was reared on a farm and received his education in the Willow Branch district school. He then engaged in farming as his vocation. In 1912 he purchased 200 acres in Deer Creek township and has made his home upon it since. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has a well improved and valuable farm which bears testimony to his thrift and industry. In 1911 Mr. Batschelet was married to Mary Neil, a daughter of Alex Neil of La Due, Missouri. She was born on a farm near La Due, Missouri, in 1882. One child, John K., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Batschelet. Mr. Batschelet is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator of Clinton, Missouri, and he is one of Henry County's progressive, public spirited and substantial citizens. The success that he has attained is due to hard work and close attention to business. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. 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