Bechtol Family

Because our grandson, Sonny Bechtol, named after our son, Lew A. Bechtol, wanted to order a "History Book 1975," we decided the story about the Bechtol farm should be included.

Originally spelled Bechtoldt, our German ancestors moved to Defiance County from Montgomery County, Ohio. Grandfather Louis L. Bechtol was the eldest son of John and Catherine Ann (Fisher) Bechtol. John Bechtol was a coffin maker. In 1874 Louis Bechtol married Rachel Garver of Defiance County.

Among the bits of heritage passed on to us, was that of the keen eye of Grandma Rachel in shooting a squirrel in her backyard woods, whenever she needed meat for a meal.

Of the children born to them, three survived. Anna married Ed Patton of Jewel, Ohio. Their surviving children were Harold, Anna Lee, Lavern, and Marjorie.

Albert married Mabel Andrew of Florida, Ohio. Two sons were born to them — Richard and Everett who were born in Defiance County. After Albert's death, the family moved to Florida.

Herbert married Emma Leonhardt December 5, 1907, in Florida, Ohio. They also had two sons — Lauren and Kent.

After Louis died in 1912, Rachel purchased the old, plank home of Dr. L. L. Patrick, a pioneer physician in Florida. An interesting story concerning Grandma Rachel's discovery of a skull of an Indian believed to have been referred to in a passage found in Volume I of The History of Northwest Ohio thus "the last Indian Chief, 'Myo,' a small, but exceedingly wise, but very cunning Indian. Dr. Patrick had the courage to combat malaria and the 'shakes' along the Maumee River. As Myo was too ill to leave with the last of these Ottawa Indians in Henry County, Dr. Patrick cared for him." After Grandma Rachel died in 1915, the skull was moved to the Bechtol farm. Rachel's plank house had been owned by Dr. Slagel previous to her purchase of it.

The Bechtol House

"Half-Way Inn"

Albert Bechtol remained on the farm in Defiance County and Aunt Anna lived in Jewell. After Anna's death, her family moved to Toledo. Anna Lee married James Sheahan. Our folks, Herbert and Emma, purchased 89 acres in Section 7 of Flatrock Township. The original deed was issued by the United States government May 18, 1837, to Wm. Rohn, and they bought the property from Leah Brubaker, et. al. in 1910. The Bechtols joined the Reformed Church. Their first son, Lauren, was two years old when they moved from the farm in Defiance County to the farm in Flatrock Township. Their second son, Kent, was born December 15, 1912, in Civil War —colonial home. The first improvement made was the clay tile drainage which took the folks $1000 savings. In 1918, Herb built a new barn. A granary was added in 1919 and a brick front porch was added to the house in 1920.

Even though the "buggy horse" knew its way home in the dark, it was replaced with a 1915 Model T Ford. A tractor was purchased in 1929, but the workhorses were kept and used until about 1946.

Bechtol farm

Threshing grain and seed by steam engined threshers always meant plenty of fresh lemonade in a five gallon crock for a crew of neighborhood (ring) helpers. The boys would count how many glasses of it some men drank. The food spread in the long dining room was eaten off an oilcloth covered table. A tub of water under a shade tree with a bar of homemade soap and a brown linen hand towel hung from a tree limb and meant "clean up" before eating.

During the "depression" milk and eggs were sold to the village folks. This was called "Milk and egg" money by the women. Dish towels and everyday clothing were sewn from "feed sacks" which had contained supplements for livestock at the elevators.

Lauren Bechtol, "Uncle Doc" to us, studied veterinary medicine at Ohio State University. He practiced in Bryan, Ohio, until joining the U.S. Army where he inspected meats at CCC camps. During World War II, he was in active service. While serving with the 1st Armored Division in Algeria, he was wounded and taken prisoner.

He married Ann Schuck in Bryan in 1940. Two sons were born to them —Lauren, Jr. and Bruce. Lauren, Sr. died March 8, 1973. Aunt Ann and "Skip" operate the old Schuck Jewelry Store in Bryan, and Bruce is serving in the Submarine Division of the U S. Navy.

Kent and Helen's wedding picture

Kent Bechtol and Helen Schlueter of Holgate were married in the parlor of the Bechtol home in 1935. Their first child, Gary, was born April 24, 1937, in their home in Florida. When Kent's parents retired in 1940, he moved his family to the farm. That fall a second son, Lew, was born, September 24, at Defiance Hospital. It was squirrel hunting season and chilly. The old cook stove had a wood fire to bake pancakes for hunters, as well as to keep the baby cozy. Susan, their only daughter and the first Bechtol girl born since Anna, sixty-nine years before, was born January 20, 1945. Snowstorms that year forced the family to leave the car at the bottom of the hill.

Kent, whose hobby is music, learned the violin from his father at an early age. Later in high school, he began to play the saxophone and still plays with dance bands. He continued to work the farm but earned $15.00 a week at the Defiance Radio Shop. His Dad continued to come to the farm to help tear down the old "Waisner" house that had been moved up to serve as a chicken house. Herb died November 9, 1947, and Kent continued to work the farm and at General Motors Foundry in 1953 and at the Compo Corporation. Emma died on July 12, 1966.

Kent and Helen's son, Gary, learned the carpenter trade after graduating from Florida High School in 1955. He is now studying drafting at Northwest Technical College. He and Elnora Saneholtz of Liberty Center were married on April 8, 1967. Their son, Timothy, was born November 17, 1968.

Lew, the second son, went to Ohio State University in 1958. Between terms he worked at Campbell Soup Co. Later he majored in art at Defiance College and his work consists mainly of water colors. He married Connie Walter of Hicksville on December 31, 1962. Their son, named for his father, was born June 30, 1963 in Modesto, California. A daughter, Laura, was born in Napoleon, Ohio, on July 6, 1968.

The Bechtol Family: Lauren, Emma, Kent, Herb

Susan chose Defiance College for her higher education in 1963 and after having lived and worked in Napoleon for a while, she moved to Bermuda where she now resides.

The Bechtol house has an interest-g history. It was built by Adam Stout 1861 to 1864. It is of colonial style id retains much of its original styling. The original poplar siding has been )vered over, but the intricate eave ipports remain. Inside the front door, beautiful stairway with a carved hanrail leads upstairs. The hallway leading past the costumer has a straight-in-line" row of doors. The first leading into the dining area, then to the kitchen, next into the summer kitchen, and finally to the outdoors. Grandma said this unusual straight pathway through the center of the home, in the distant past, was called a "dog-trot."

Only one fireplace was built, which served as a cooking area in the summer kitchen. All the other rooms had access to chimneys for wood-burning stoves.

Poplar wood was used from a grove of trees just south of where the house was built. Service men, home on leave during the Civil War, came to see how the house was coming along.

During the 1880's, the house was used to serve canal boat travelers and it was known as "The Half-Way House."

After the Bechtol children had all left home, Kent and Helen joined the Ohio Farm and Rural Vacation Association and many, far and near, enjoyed their hospitality.

Tools and articles stored in a "family history room" upstairs telling the story of three generations, proved interesting to vacation guests. The Vacation Farm business led to a "Special Party" enterprise which was again named "Half-Way Inn."

Submitted By Kent Bechtol

Lauren and Kent

Gary, Lew, and Susan

Lauren and Kent

Elnora and Gary

Tim

Laura

Sonny

Susan

Connie and Lew’s wedding picture