WI BIO - Dane Co - SPRECHER, Edward C.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, p 309

Edward C. SPRECHER, a member of the County Board of Supervisors representing 
the town of Burke [Dane County, WI], was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, 
Germany, 03 November 1840. His father, John F. SPRECHER, was born in the 
same locality, son of Reinhard and Fredericka SPRECHER. The grandparents of 
our subject [Reinhard and Fredericka] were natives of the same Duchy and 
spent their entire lives there. The father [John F.] learned the trades of 
brewer and cooper and followed those trades in Baden until 1845, when he came 
to America, accompanied by his wife and six children. They sailed from Havre 
in the summer on the sailing vessel, "Utica," and landed in New York after a 
voyage of sixty-four days. The father [John F.] bought a small farm in Eden, 
Erie County, New York, where he resided until 1852, when he made his way to 
Wisconsin and purchased a tract of partly improved land, in the town of Sun 
Prairie [Dane County, WI], and there engaged in farming until his death, 16 
February 1859. The maiden name of the mother of our subject [Mrs. John F. 
SPRECHER] was Christiana DEICHLER, and she passed her last days in Sun 
Prairie. She bore her husband six children, namely: Fredericka, John, 
Christiana, Edward C., Charles, and William. Charles served in the late war 
in Company A, Twenty-third Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He 
was killed at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, Louisiana, aged twenty-two 
years.

Our subject [Edward C. SPRECHER] was five years of age when he came to the U. 
S. with his parents, so knows but little of any other country than his 
adopted one. He attended the public schools in Eden [Erie County], New York, 
and later in Sun Prairie [Dane County, WI]. As soon as old enough Edward C. 
SPRECHER began to assist his father on the farm, remained at home until 1861, 
when he enlisted in September 1861 in Company G, Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, remaining in this regiment for three years; was most of the time on 
detached duty as wagon master, remaining in this position until the fall of 
1864, when he was honorably discharged on account of the expiration of his 
term. He [Edward C. SPRECHER] returned home and resumed farming and the 
following year purchased the land, where he now resides, on section 23 of 
Burke Township [Dane County, WI]. On this land he has erected a nice set of 
farm buildings and has enriched the land until he now has a farm of 174 acres 
of good land.

In 1866 he [Edward C. SPRECHER] married Elizabeth FESSLER, born in Baden, 
Germany, in October 1842. Her father, George Jacob FESSLER, was born in 
Baden, there reared, married, and remained until 1853, when the same year he 
came to America, landing in New York City after a voyage of thirty-nine days. 
From New York City they came direct to Sun Prairie [Dane County, WI], where 
Mr. [George Jacob] FESSLER purchased land, and he and his [wife] remained the 
rest of their lives. The maiden name of the mother of the subject* was 
Barbara SPRECHER.

Mr. and Mrs. [Edward C.] SPRECHER have six children, namely: Matilda, Edward 
G., Carl, Otto, Frank, and Jessie. The family attend the Baptist Church and 
Mr. [Edward C.] SPRECHER is independent in politics, but votes the Republican 
ticket in National and State elections. He is treasurer of the Cottage Grove 
Fire Insurance Company and a member of the Hamilton Post, G. A. R., No. 208. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. [Edward C.] SPRECHER are highly respected throughout their 
entire community for their many charming traits of character and are worthy 
of the good fortune they now enjoy.

[* Means the mother of the subject's wife? The maiden name of the mother of 
the subject is already given in the first paragraph. Assuming that Barbara 
SPRECHER is the subject's mother-in-law, then the question arises whether she 
was related to the subject's father, John F. SPRECHER. Submitter made no 
attempt to verify in other records any information presented in this 
biography.] 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly