Continuation of Henry Precht Family

Henry A. Precht, second youngest son of August and Sophia Furhop Precht and grandson of the ancestor Henry Precht, was born in Fulton Co., OH, August 14, 1910. He was the first child to be baptized in the St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Clinton Twp., near Wauseon, which was organized July third of that same year. He attended the Olive Branch Country School and also Wauseon High School. As a young man he came to Napoleon and worked for the Shell Oil Co., under Henry Theilman.

On June 22, 1940, he was united in marriage to Dorotha J. Leininger, born July 26, 1913, and the daughter of Walter J. and Eva J. (Newcomer) Leininger of Wauseon, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Precht purchased a home one mile west of Napoleon on old State Route #24, also called Horseshoe Bend. This property was purchased from the government in 1824 by Horatio G. Phillips originally a 28 acre farm now plotted into lots. In May, 1942, Henry Precht was employed by the City of Napoleon and given a position in the electrical plant. The next year in May, Henry was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 34th Infantry of the 5th Army Division in Italy, as a replacement. He was awarded the Purple Heart and two Oak Leaf Clusters, for wounds received on three different occasions.

On July 17, 1944, he was seriously wounded at Leghorn, Italy, and later transferred to the U.S. and hospitalized until he received his medical discharge in May, 1945. After his recovery, he returned to Napoleon and took the position as water treatment operator at the city waterworks, where he worked for 32 years retiring in September, 1974. He also served his community as weather observer for nine years making daily reports to the weather station in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Four children were born to this marriage: Janice Louise, b. 2-15-43, married to Julian R. Knepley on October 4, 1969. They have three children, Jason G. b. April 29, 1971, Jacob F. b. November 4, 1973, and Julia Rae, b. Sept. 7, 1974. Jordan J., a twin to Julia lived only five days; Linda Jayne Precht, b. October 3, 1946, married David C. Smith on Feb. 22, 1969. They have one son Benjamin Adam, b. October 10, 1969. Richard Allan Precht, b. April 23, 1948, first married to Roberta Rothman, having two sons, Mark Richard, b. Sept. 12, 1970, and Robert Henry, stillborn Dec. 26, 1971. The mother and the two sons lost their lives in an automobile accident on December 26, 1971. On August 3, 1974, Richard married Sarah Kerr and she has a son Jeremy, b. Nov. 6, 1971; Lucinda Jean Precht, b. May 20, 1959, lives with her parents at 1030 Riverview Ave., Napoleon, Ohio, at this date.

In gratitude for excellent and faithful service in water and other utility operations of 32 years of service to the citizens of Napoleon, Ohio, Henry A. Precht was given a bronze plaque and with his wife honored with a dinner at the Napoleon Holiday Inn. Presenting the plaque was Mayor Thomas F. Moriarty, his wife, from left to right and the present manager of the water filteration plant, Orville Ernst and Mrs. Ernst. Seated are Mr. and Mrs. Henry Precht. Picture taken Oct. 1,1974.