Edgar O. Bechtel (1857-1932)

BECHTEL, CESSNA

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal October 27, 1932 (page 1)

ED BECHTEL DIED LAST EVENING

PIONEER OF GRANT TOWNSHIP DID FROM HEART TROUBLE WEDNESDAY

Edgar O. Bechtel, 75 died at the home of his nephew Ralph Cessna, on the farm where he had lived for over half a century, Wednesday afternoon at 4:30, from heart affliction from which he had suffered for the past many months.

The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 3:00 at the Morfoot Funeral home, with Dr. J. O. Simon of Memorial Lutheran church in charge. Interment will be in the family lost in the Nevada cemetery by the side of his parents and a deceased brother who died many years ago.

The deceased was the eldest of the children of the late Jonas and Matilda Bechtel, born near Mount Vernon in Knox county, Ohio, September 28, 1859.

The family moved from Ohio to Louisa county, near Morning Sun, in Iowa, in 1863. Living in Louisa county for a time they moved over into Harrison county, Mo., where they continued their home until 186- when they came to Story county.

The father was in business in Nevada for some time, while the sons engaged in farming west of the city in Grant township.

After the death of the son Hugh who had been engaged in farming with Edgar, the parents moved out onto the farm which continued as the family homestead until their death.

After the death of the father and the leaving of the brother George L. Bechtel, now of Davenport and the sister, Mrs. Minnie Cessna, Edgar continued on the farm with the mother, until her death in 1923.

Following the death of the mother a nephew Ralph Cessna occupied the old homestead and from then until his death Edgar made his home with that family.

While he was more or less invalided during the later years of his life, he was able to be up and around the most of the time until very recently.

He was a man of fine character and of kingly disposition and was much admired for his many excellent qualities by those acquainted with him.

He leaves his brother George M. Bechtel of Davenport, his sister Mrs. Minnie B. Cessna of Nevada and several nieces and nephews, among them the nephew Ralph Cessna and family, with whom he had made his home for nearly ten years.