John Henry Bechtold ²

   FamilySearch ID: 27SP-CKK

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in Marion Twp., Berks, PA. ⁴ The 1850 census recorded Jno Bechtold, 39, living with wife Frances, 39; Malinda, 13; Sarah, 5; Emma, 4; Frances, 3; Jno, 2, and Simpson, 1. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1860 in Jackson Twp., Lebanon, PA. ⁵ The 1860 census recorded in Jackson Township John Beckthold (sic), occupation stone quarrier, 47, living with wife Fanny, 48; Elizabeth, 21; Fanny, 14; John, 13; and son Simpson, 12. Also in the home was laborer John Kelner, 37. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office was Myerstown. John's real estate was valued at $1,100 and person estate $200.

3. John served in the military on 31 Oct 1861 in Camden, Preble, OH, United States. ⁶ John Bechtold was enrolled Oct 31st 1861, at Camden, Oh. by Lieut Mosey, and mustered in to serve three years a private in Company G 75th Ohio Vols Oct 31st 1861 at Camp John McLean, Ohio, by Captain Swope. On the Muster Roll for March and April 1863 he is reported discharged, March 13 1863, on Surgeon's Certificate of disability by order of Brig. General Steinwehr.

4. Census in 1870 in S. Lebanon Twp., Lebanon, PA. ⁷ The 1870 census recorded John Bechtold, laborer, 22, living with wife Harriet, 21, and daughter Ida V., 2 months old when the census was recorded on 26 Jul 1870. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office was Mysertown & Avon, PA. John didn't have any land value so he wasn't the land owner. His personal estate was valued at $100.

5. Census in 1880 in Jackson Twp., Lebanon, PA. ⁸ The 1880 census recorded J. H. Bechtel, farmer, 32, living with wife Harriet, 30, and daughter Ida V., 10. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

6. Census in 1900 in Norwalk, Fairfield, CT. ⁹ The 1900 census recorded owning a home at 331 West Norwalk Road: Charles Johnson, carpenter, 39, born Mar 1861, living with wife Ida V. Johnson, 30, May 1970, married for 12 years; son Earnest W., 4, Feb 1896; son William A., 2, Mar 1898, and stepson George B. Holtzman, 11, May 1889. Also in the home is mother-in-law Harriett Bechtl, 49, Aug 1850; father-in-law John H. Bechtel, teamster, 50, Jan 1850, who were married for 31 years. Charles and his parents were born in Connecticut. Ida and her parents were born in Pennsylvania. Earnest and William, and their father were born in Connecticut and mother in Pennsylvania. George and his parents were born in Pennsylvania. Harriett and John and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

7. Military on 28 Feb 1905 in , , CT: John H. Bechtold received a military pension for Civil War service in 29th Ohio Infantry. ¹⁰

8. Residence: on 5 Jun 1910 in Darien, Fairfield, CT, United States. ²

9. Obituary: Harford Courant on 27 Dec 1939 in Hartford, Hartford, CT. ¹¹ John Bechtold, one of the last surviving Civil War veterans in this vicinity, who marched with Sherman to the sea and who knew Abraham Lincoln, died last night at the home his grandson, George Holtzman of Rowayton. He was 91.
Enlisting as a drummer boy with the 29th Ohio Regiment, Mr. Bechtold never saw service in that capacity as a musket was given him and he became a soldier.
He marched through Georgia under General Sherman and suffered a leg wound along the way, the full effects of which were felt until nine years ago when the limb had to be amputated.
Mr. Bechtold met Abraham Lincoln in the troubled days after Lincoln became President. Mr. Bechtold was born on February 12 -- the birthday of his lifelong hero, Lincoln -- in 1848, in Meyerstown, Pa. His ancestry was rooted deep in. Pennsylvania history, his great-great -great grandmother having been the sister-in-law of the famous William Penn. Full military honors will be accorded Mr. Bechtold at the services to be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday at the Holtzman home.

John married Harriet Amelia Blantz in 1869 in Pennsylvania, United States.¹ (Harriet Amelia Blantz was born in Aug 1848 in , , Pennsylvania, USA,¹² died on 20 Jan 1929 in Norwalk, Fairfield, CT ¹² and was buried in Rowayton, Fairfield, CT, United States ¹².)