Albert Slechta
Coming to America very early in life Albert Slechta has since his childhood made his home in Crawford county. He has been closely identified with agricultural and stock-raising interests and has acquired an enviable reputation as a breeder.
He was born in Bohemia, March 27, 1876, and is a son of Albert and Mary (Vonnestic) Slechta. The family emigrated to America in 1881 and located in Crawford county, Iowa, where the father successfully engaged in farming. He rented land for ten years and then purchased two hundred and forty acres, which became the home place. He died at the age of seventy-seven, but the mother is now living on the homestead with her son Albert.
There were seven children in their family, six of whom grew to maturity, namely: Mary, who is now deceased; Frank, who lives in Crawford county; Albert; of this review; Joseph, who also lives on the home place; Charles, at home; and Lucy, deceased.
Albert Slechta received his education in the common schools of Crawford county and was reared on the home farm, showing an interest in the various duties pertaining to stock-raising and agriculture, which indicated marked ability in a pursuit to which he has devoted the best energies of his life. After the death of his father he and his brother Joseph were associated in carrying forward the work, although at the time they did not have money enough even to buy a team of horses. Today they have acquired an acknowledged reputation as farmers and stock-breeders and are in possession of one of the valuable properties of Milford township.
They have devoted special attention to the breeding of full blooded Percheron horses and have about fifty head in their herd, the leader of which they value at more than fifteen hundred dollars. They have five full blooded mares, two of them having been imported from Europe. They are both men of resourceful business ability, and in the field to which they have turned their attention they have found ample room for the exercise of talents which have brought well merited rewards.
Mr. Slechta of this review is in hearty sympathy with the democratic party but has never aspired to public office as he is entirely devoted to his business. He and his brother are members of the Catholic church, in which they were reared, and as citizens they have ever attempted to perform their duty in behalf of their fellowmen.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.