The Henry Precht Family

Henry Precht, son of George Precht, born January 6, 1843, at Kettenburg, Kirchspiel, Walsrode, Hanover, Germany, came to the United States at the age of 24 years. His lady friend Louise Westermann and her sister, also from Hanover, came over on the same ship.

They came directly to Napoleon, Ohio, where they were married the same year and lived several years. Soon after the birth of their eldest son, August H. Precht, they moved to a farm near Okolona, Henry Co., Ohio, where five other children were born and raised to young adulthood. Namely: Mrs. Otto (Minnie) Stuva, Charles, William, Edward and Mrs. Herman (Emma) Rabe. A son George died at the age of fourteen.

About the year of 1880, the Henry Precht family bought 200 acres of river bottom in Washington Twp., Henry Co., near the north Turkeyfoot Creek and the river. Here they built a wood frame house, but after several years of flooding out, they resorted to a higher piece of ground near the present State Route 24 and built a two story block house and a large barn. This farm has been purchased by the State of Ohio; buildings are being demolished and a state park will be developed here.

The families of August, Charles, and Edward Precht remained in Henry and Fulton Counties engaging in farming. William Precht, with his father Henry, farmed the above farm until William met his death in 1931 in a farm accident. The widow and her three children remained on the farm until the death of Henry in 1933 at the age of ninety years. At this time, Mrs. William Precht and children returned to Shelby, Ohio, her former home. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Rabe lived their entire lives in and around Liberty Center, Henry Co., Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Otto Stuva moved to Barton City, Michigan.

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Precht

Additional Material

My mother's parents, Henry Precht and Louise nee Wetchman, came from Germany arriving in 1867. Henry Precht had been in the army and was about to be called in again, so he decided to leave for the United States, asking his girl friend to go too. They were married in Napoleon, Ohio, and first lived on a farm just east of Okolona, Ohio. Then later they bought an 80 acre farm near Hamler, Ohio, and moved there.

They had four sons: August, Charles, Edward, and William, and two daughters, Minnie and Emma. Then in 1903 they sold their farm and bought 190 acres, the Showman farm, a mile east of Damascus Bridge on the north side of the river.

In 1912 and 1913 they built a new house and barn on that farm, which is now a part of the 478 acre North Turkeyfoot Tract that the state bought to make into a park.

The Precht family were members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Okolona, Ohio, and later joined St. Paul

Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio.

Submitted by Julia Meyer