Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Bechlin, F. F., Captain
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown A-L


CAPTAIN F. F. BECHLIN editor and proprietor of the "Bucks 
County Mirror" and the "Bucks County Express and Reform," 
P.O. Doylestown, was born near Hamburg, Germany, June 10, 
1850, and is a son of William F. and Frederick (Noelke) 
Bechlin.  The father was a college professor in the old 
country for many years, and afterward became professor of 
the Gymnasium, and while holding this position took the 
cholera and died in 1867.  The mother died in Danzig in 
1877.  The subject of this sketch was brought up in his 
native country, attending school until 15 years of age.  In 
January, 1865, he became a sailor boy, and his first trip 
was from Hamburg to Philadelphia.  He made two voyages on 
the same vessel and went to New York, when he was 
discharged.  He remained a sailor on the American ships 
running out of New York for seven years.  He made trips to 
Cape Horn and was two years sailing up and down the coast of 
China.  In 1869 he landed in Sydney, Australia, and spent 
about three months in digging gold in the mines.  He then 
made a voyage to San Francisco, and sailed between that 
point and the Chinese coast for some time.  He next went to 
Germany on a German vessel, arriving there in the spring of 
1873.  He attended school in Germany and passed examination 
for a mate on a vessel.  He then became mate and was 
employed on German vessels for a short time.  In the summer 
of 1874, he became officer of a Trans-Atlantic American 
vessel.  In 1877 he was promoted to captain of the 
Hamburg-American steamers, and held that position until 
June, 1882.  During his sea life of seventeen years he lost 
two ships, on one of which there were only himself, the mate 
and cook saved.  In 1882 he went to New York, where he 
remained about one year.  In February, 1883, he came to 
Doylestown and purchased the "Mirror" and the "Express and 
Reform," the latter a German newspaper, and has published 
them both ever since.  Under his management these papers 
have steadily increased in popularity and circulation.  He 
uses an improved gas engine in running his presses, and 
produces a spicy and newsy paper.  He was married November 
20, 1883, in New York, to Caroline Heitman, a daughter of 
Nicholas and Anna (Schroder) Heitman, natives of Germany.  
Capt. Bechlin is a member of the Masonic order, Knights of 
Pythias, League of Honor, Sons of Progress, and a member of 
other secret societies.  He is a very progressive and 
enterprising citizen, and the years that he has spent in 
this county have been well improved.