My Genealogy Hound

Christian Bechler is accounted a prosperous farmer, stockman and miller, of Belcher Township, Prairie County, Ark., and like the majority of the natives of France, he is of an energetic temperament and progressive in his views. He is a man whom nature seems to have especially designed to be a farmer, for he has met with more than the average degree of success in pursuing this calling, and is now the owner of 448 acres of land, all of which is under fence. He was born in 1827, and when only fourteen years of age, became weary of life in his native land, and began to turn his thoughts to the new world across the water, where adventurous spirits could find wider scope of opportunities, and more congenial surroundings. He first landed in New Orleans, and in 1840 went to Ohio, and in 1846 to Iowa, thence to California in 1849, like so many others in search of gold. After working in the mining regions of that State, until 1852, he returned to Iowa, and the following year was married to Barbara Conrad, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Klopfenstein) Conrad, who were natives of Switzerland, and came to America in 1820. Mrs. Bechler was born in Ohio, and after their marriage, she and Mr. Bechler set energetically to work to accumulate some means, and they still own the farm on which they first settled in Henry County, Iowa, which comprises 160 acres. In 1883 they came to Prairie County, Ark., and as above stated, own an excellent farm. They expect to make this State their home, and are interested in everything pertaining to its welfare. He is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Mennonite Church, and are the parents of the following family: Daniel (deceased), Benjamin J. and John (deceased), Peter, Mary (Mrs. L. J. Anderson, of Arkansas County, Ark.), Anna (Mrs. C. B. Zimmerman, of Prairie County), Jacob, Katie, Frances and Cordelia, the last two being twins. Mr. Bechler is one of a family of three sons born to Christian and Elizabeth (Bechler) Bechler, both of whom were born in Switzerland, and emigrated to France, where the father died in 1830, the mother’s death occurring in New Orleans, La., in 1843. Their children are: Joseph (now deceased), Peter (a resident of Iowa) and Christian.