Posted on: Lee Co. Ia Obituaries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Ia/LeeObits/10195 Surname: Kirchner, Pechstein, Blaettner ------------------------- Newspaper Article (believed to be in Keokuk Daily Gate City, Oct 25, 1921 [Transcribed from original newspaper clipping by John E. Kirchner, 3/06/01] PIONEER WOMAN OF COUNTY DIES Mrs. Katherine Pechstein Passed Away at the Home of Her DaughterIn Wyaconda, MO., This morning WAS BORN IN BAVARIA She Came to This Country in 1847, Settling Near Franklin, and to Keokuk Ten Years Later This morning at 3:30 o’clock, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Blaettner, near Wyaconda, occurred the death of Mrs. Katherine Pechstein, mother oof Henry Pechstein, of this city. Mrs. Pechstein came to Keokuk in 1857 following her marriage, and lived here until about six years ago when she went to live with her daughter in Wyaconda. Mrs. Pechstein was one of the older residents of this section, and she remembered many of the incidents of earlier days in Keokuk. She was a resident of Lee county since 1847, and she remembered to have seen Chief Keokuk, who died a year after the family came to this county. She was a member of the Evangelical church, and during her lifetime she lived as she had been taught in the tenets of her faith. Born in Bavaria Katherine Kirchner was born in Ober Franken, Bavaria, December 9, 1835. She came to the United States in 1847 with her parents and landed in New Orleans after a voyage, on a sailing vessel, of more than sixty days’ duration. The family came directly to Lee county, Iowa, and settled on land on Devil creek between Franklin and what is now Viele station. She attended school at Franklin and walked to and from school in all kinds of weather, a distance of two or three miles. She was confirmed in the German Evangelical church in Franklin and has been a member that church all her life. In her youth she was employed in the families of the late Judge Johnstone and W.C. Stripe, while they were residents of Fort Madison. Married in 1857 She was married to Conrad Pechstein in Franklin in 1857 and came directly to Keokuk, where her husband was operating a brewery near Ninth and Fulton streets, and made her home in Keokuk until about six years ago, when she went to live with her daughter, Mrs. John Blaettner, near Wyaconda. Mr. Pechstein died in 1873. Five children were born to the couple. George died three years ago and Conrad died in infancy. The three surviving children are Henry Pechstein, of Keokuk; Dr. John W. Pechstein and Mrs. Lizzie Blaettner, of Wyaconda. There are ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. There are also two brothers, Andrew Kirchner of Keokuk, and George Kirchner, of Donnellson. Broke Hip Five Years Ago. Five years ago Mrs. Pechstein fell and broke her hip. Until that time she was in the best of health. She was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical church of Keokuk and the Ladies’ Aid society of the same organization. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.