Biography of Christian Brecbill, pages 918/919/920.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.

Christian  Brecbill

	The history of DeKalb county would be lacking should the record of 
Christian Brecbill be omitted, for he is one of its leading citizens, 
being a man of splendid attributes and always ready to assist his neighbors 
in the battle of life and do what he can toward the general good of the 
county. A man of excellent endowments and upright character, he is a 
valued factor in local affairs and commands unequivocal confidence and 
esteem, being loyal to the upbuilding of this locality and ever vigilant 
in his efforts to further the interests of the county along material, 
civic and moral lines.
	Christian Brecbill, whose splendid farm is located on section 28, 
Smithfield township, was born October 18, 1845, near Lake Toon, Switzerland, 
and is the son of Christian and Margaret (Amstutz) Brecbill, being their 
only child. When he was but one year old the father died of typhoid fever 
and his mother followed her husband to the other world three weeks later.  
In 1855, when he was but ten years of age, the subject of this sketch came 
to America and located in DeKalb county, Indiana, where he obtained 
employment on the farm known as the Buss farm in Richland township.  He 
had come here in the company of his grandmother, Barbara Amstutz, who 
resided on the Buss farm until her death, at the age of eighty-five years.  
Here the subject worked for about two years and then went to the Amstutz 
farm, two miles from Waterloo, where he remained until his marriage in 
1866, after which he moved to the Bachtel farm near Waterloo, where he 
remained a year. He was then for a like period on the Si Jackman farm, 
from whence he moved to the farm on which he now lives. During the first 
sixteen years of his occupancy here he rented the place and then purchased 
it.  The purchase price was six thousand five hundred dollars, on which he 
paid two hundred dollars down and that was borrowed. He had a hard up-hill 
fight, but was determined to succeed, and eventually his efforts were 
abundantly rewarded. The farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of as 
good land as can be found in DeKalb county, and to the cultivation of it, 
Mr. Brecbill has given intelligent direction, carefully conserving the 
fertility of the soil and making many permanent and substantial 
improvements, which have added to this appearance and increased its 
value.  The buildings are all modern and up-to-date in their style and 
character, the machinery used is of the most improved pattern, and in 
every detail of the farm work Mr. Brecbill’s success, and among his fellow 
agriculturists he is eminently entitled to precedence because of his 
methods and the success to which he has attained.  He is in the largest 
sense of the word a self-made man and because of this fact he appreciates 
the success of others, being broad-mined and altruistic in his views of 
men and things and standing shoulder to shoulder with his fellow men in 
the effort to advance the general welfare of the community.
	On October 30, 1866, Mr. Brecbill was united in marriage with 
Margaret Elizabeth Brand, the daughter of William and Matilda (Kline) 
Brand.  William Brand, who was a native of Ohio, came to DeKalb county in 
1852, settling on the brand farm three miles west of Waterloo, where he 
bought eighty acres of timber land, for which he paid one hundred and 
fifty dollars. He cleared the most of this land and improved it, 
developing it into a fine up-to-date farm. To the cultivation of this 
tract he gave his attention and also gave some attention to the threshing 
business and worked at the carpenter trade as opportunity offered. His 
death occurred on June 3, 1889. He was an active supporter of the 
Democratic party and a faithful member of the Christian church.  His wife, 
who was also a native of Ohio, died on the same farm on June 7, 1882.  To 
them were born the following children: John C., George W., Hiram, Margaret, 
Henry, Darlin W., Emma and Albertus, of whom Margaret Elizabeth and Emma 
are the only survivors.  Mrs. Brecbill’s paternal grandfather was a native 
of Ireland, who emigrated to the United Sates and, coming to DeKalb county, 
located on a farm south of Auburn, to the operation of which he devoted 
himself until his death, which occurred there.  To Mr. and Mrs. Brecbill 
have been born four children, namely; William, Mrs. Rosia Durst, Scott , 
deceased, and Mrs. Nellie Buchanan.  Mr. and Mrs. Durst live in Auburn, 
where he is a clerk in a hardware store.  William, who is married, owns 
nineteen and a quarter acres of land near his father.  Mr. Brecbill is a 
fine type of a self-made man, a broad-mined, generous, aggressive, far-
seeing, keen American, such as win in life’s battles from sheer force of 
character and personality and depend upon none.  By his own efforts and 
starting in the life practically empty-handed, he surmounted every obstacle 
and has gained not only a competency, but an honest position in the 
community of his residence.

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