JOHN HENRY WACHTLER
One
of the most progressive and enterprising young men of
Hoisington, Kansas, is John Henry Wachtler, who is a
representative of a highly respected pioneer family of Iowa
and at present engaged in the railroad service as a locomotive
fireman. He was
born at Le Mars, Iowa, on the 25th of March, 1885,
and is a son of Frederick Morritz and Emma (Bender) Wachtler,
the former born at Mountain Lake, Minnesota. The paternal
grandfather, Rudolph Wachtler, was born in Germany in 1831,
but came to this country when twenty years of age, accompanied
by a brother, who resides in New York. After marriage
Rudolph Wachtler settled on a homestead in Cottonwood county,
Minnesota. His
wife passed away, leaving five children: Frederick Morritz,
Rudolph, Henry, Paulina, and Louise. The maternal grandmother was twice
married, the first union being with William Wecker, by whom
she has two children: William,
who resides on a farm in Plymouth county, Iowa; and Katherine,
who is the wife of Frank Kerhberg, who is a farmer in the same
county. Mr.
Wecker served in the Civil war and was killed in the battle of
Vicksburg. His
widow later married John F. Bender, and to this union were
born five children: Emma
Elizabeth, the mother of our subject; Anna, who is Mrs.
Baumgardner, and who resides in Clinton, Illinois; Charles
Ernest, who is living in Nebraska; and Henry and John C., both
of whom are residents of Clinton, Illinois. The parents of our
subject came as early settlers into Iowa and have since
resided in this state, their home being now at Cherokee. In their family
were nine children: John
Henry, of this review; Florence, who resides in Chicago,
Illinois; Edna, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma; Leona, Hazel, Ray and
Ruth, who live at home; Faith, who has passed away; and
Edward.
John Henry Wachtler grew to manhood in Cherokee and acquired his education in the public schools of that community. After laying aside his books he learned painting and paper hanging and followed these trades successfully until 1909, when he entered the railroad service at Hoisington, Kansas, accepting a position as locomotive fireman. He is so engaged at the present time, and has proved prompt, capable and reliable in the discharge of his duties, winning the confidence of his superiors and the good-will of all who are associated with him.
On
the 22d of June, 1910, Mr. Wachtler was united in marriage to
Miss Alma May Christy, who was born in Kansas, September 29,
1889, a daughter of Charles Marion and Elizabeth Ann (Henry)
Christy, the former of whom was born March 11, 1855, and died
at Welch, Oklahoma, June 2, 1908. The mother was born in Delaware county,
Indiana, April 16, 1857, and survives her husband, making her
home at Hoisington, Kansas.
On the maternal side Mrs. Wachtler is a granddaughter
of Emanuel Henry, one of the early settlers in Warren
township, Lucas county, of whom extended mention is made
elsewhere in this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Marion Christy and their family
made their home in Kansas until 1897 and then removed to Lucas
county, Iowa, where they remained ten years, going at the end
of that time to Oklahoma, where the father’s death occurred. He and his wife
became the parents of the following children: a son, who died in
infancy; Mrs. Maude Brown, who was born September 25, 1884,
and who is now residing in Merced, California; Mrs. Berda
Sette, born November 29, 1886, residing at Belpre, Kansas;
Mrs. Wachtler, wife of the subject of this review; Opal, who
was born October 4, 1891, and who is residing with her mother
at Hoisington, Kansas; and Beulah, born April 19, 1896, and
Charles Orlo, born November 3, 1901, who are also at home. Mrs. Wachtler
acquired her preliminary education in the public schools and
supplemented this by six months at Simpson College, Indianola. She and her husband
have one daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth, born at Hoisington,
Kansas, November 17, 1912.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and are well known in Hoisington, where their many
excellent qualities of character have won them a wide circle
of friends. They
are people of refinement and culture, widely read and familiar
with the best literature and both are representatives of
highly esteemed and respected families.
Mr. Wachtler gives his political allegiance to the progressive party and keeps well informed on questions and issues of the day, although he is not active as an office seeker. His fraternal affiliations are with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is still a young man but has already attained a creditable measure of success and he possesses in his ability and energy a guaranty of continued progress.