Biography of Isaac O. Bachtel, page 838.  History of De Kalb County, Indiana.  
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Isaac O. Bachtel, proprietor of the Eagle Mills, Auburn, was born in Canton, 
Stark Co., Ohio, April 7, 1844, a son of David and Elizabeth Bachtel. When 
twelve years of age he began to take care of himself, working in the mills 
of R. Elston at Magnolia, Ohio.  He educated himself by working for his 
board during the winter and attending the public schools. His first work 
being in a mill, he early acquired a taste for that industry, and chose it 
for his life-work.  When nearly eighteen years he enlisted in Company E, 
Sixty-first Ohio Infantry, and participated in the battle of Bull Run and 
subsequent skirmishes during Pope’s retreat.  His health becoming impaired 
from exposure, he was sent to the hospitals at Washington, D.C., and 
Alexandria, but after three months was discharged for disability, in 
November, 1862.  In 1864 he again enlisted, in the One Hundred and Sixty-
second Ohio Infantry 100-day men, and served four months, doing guard duty 
at Covington, Ky.  After his return to civil life he was employed in 
Magnolia Mills, where he learned his trade, a few months and in October, 
1864, went to Canton, Ohio, and was employed in the Union Mills till 
April, 1865, when he came to Indiana and worked in the Grove Mills at 
Kendallville till November, 1868.  He  then moved to De Kalb County, and 
worked in the mills at Sedan and Auburn till April, 1872, when he purchased 
the mills at Corunna which he ran till May, 1880, when he exchanged them 
for the Eagle Mills at Auburn.  Mr. Bachtel thoroughly understands every 
detail of his business, which he superintends, and makes a first grade 
flour.  He was married Oct. 16, 1870, to Amelia, daughter of Francis 
Baird, of Union Township, De Kalb County.  They have three children---
Elmer, Flora and Orris.  Mr. Bachtel is a member of Mentor Lodge, No. 591, 
I.O.O.F.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin 
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com