SOURCE: "History of the Catholic Church In Indiana"-- by Charles Blanchard, 1898   {via Dearborn County Mail List}

HENRY J BECHTEL, in the grocery business at Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, is a son of Joseph and Catherine (Gander) Bechtel, both from Germany, and who came to Lawrenceburg in 1838; the father was a cooper and learned the trade in Cincinnati. He died in Lawrenceburg August 22 1891. The mother still survives. She was twice married - first to Alexander Schwartz, and by this union two daughters and one son were born, viz: Mary, now wife of Matthias Lipps; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Zins, and Edmund, who died in 1880. By her marriage to Joseph Bechtel two sons were born - Henry J and Charles F., of whom the latter died October 10, 1894, aged twenty seven years.

Henry J Bechtel was born July 14, 1865, attended common schools, and at the age of thirteen began working in his present store for his father, in which he has continued ever since. He has a stock valued at about $2,500 and does a business annually to the amount of $5,000. He was united June 9, 1896, to Miss Carrie Fangman. He and his wife are both devout members of the Catholic church, and are held in very high esteem by the entire community of Lawrenceburg. Mr and Mrs Bechtel have one son, Joseph William, born May 29, 1897