WABASHA COUNTY, MINNESOTA ***************************************************************************** Biography transcribed & donated to Wabasha County, MN Bios by Barbara Koska Timm. For more information, please check out her site "Biographies and Historical Sketches of Wabasha County, Minnesota" at . ***************************************************************************** "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY MINNESOTA" COMPILED BY FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE AND OTHERS ILLUSTRATED WINONA, MINN. H. C. COOPER, JR., & CO. 1920 Betcher, Frederick (p. 516), a well known and respected resident of Lake City, now retired, was born in Pommern, Germany , July 25, 1850, son of Ludwig and Dorothy Betcher, who were farmers. He attended school in his native land, but relinquished his studies at the age of 15 to work on a large farm, and was subsequently employed as a farm hand there until reaching the age of 22. On October 29, 1872, inspired by a letter received from a brother who had previously settled in the United States, he, himself, resolved to seek his fortune in this country, set out and in due time was landed among a crowd of immigrants at Castle Garden, New York. Thence he came directly to Goodhue County, Minn., where his brother, William, had arrived in 1870. With little trouble he found work as a farm hand, being employed largely in grubbing, fencing and teaming, and at the end of 13 months found himself in possession of $200 not a very large sum for that much work, but in those days farm labor was cheap, as also were farm products. For a number of years Mr. Betcher continued working for others, taking care not to squander his money, and at last felt himself able to establish a home and work on his own account and more directly for his own benefit. To secure the home a wife was necessary, and his affections were already engaged to Mary Ehlers, of Lake City, daughter of Martin and Elaine (Moult) Ehlers. She was born in Germany, December 24, 1855, and was 28 years old when she came to the United States. His marriage with her took place August 1, 1884, and they began housekeeping on the Berchtol farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, where they remained five years. Their next home was on the Petsinger farm in the same township, where three years were spent. From there they moved to the Al Maybe farm in that township, which proved a more permanent location, as they remained there 14 years. Mr. Betcher then bought the Reade farm in sections 21 and 22, Lake Township. This was an old improved place of 260 acres, with 180 acres under the plow, and situated four miles south of Lake City. Mr. Betcher increased the tilled area to 200 acres, rebuilt the house, making it a good frame structure of eight rooms, rebuilt the barn, and added other buildings. The barn measures 38 by 70 by 16 feet, having a full basement, and among the other buildings, mostly the product of Mr. Betcher's enterprise, are a machine shed 24 by 40 by 10, a granary 24 by 40 by 10, a double corn crib 18 by 24 by 10, a stone poultry house 18 by 30, and a steel windmill. There he carried on general farming with profitable results until 1915, when he rented the farm to his son, Edward L., and retired, buying a residence in Lake City, which he and his wife now occupy. During his active career he served as school director and for some years was treasurer of Lake Township. In politics he is a Republican, while his religious affiliations are with St. John's Lutheran congregation at Lake City. Mr. And Mts. Betcher are the parents of five children: Catherine, born March 14, 1886, now Mrs. George Von Helmst, of Lake City; Margaret, born June 14, 1889, wife of Reinhardt Kuyath, a farmer of Lake Township; Anna, born April 27, 1890, wife of Charles Miller, residing near Zumbro Falls, this county; Edward, born March 6, 1893, who is on the home farm; and Emma, born February 15, 1897, who is the wife of George Peters, manager of Dr. Shores' stock farm in Goodhue County.