JOHN KIRCHER, a practical farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 29, township 17, range 11, was born not many miles from Frankfort on the Main, Germany, October 4, 1835. His father, Henry, was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. He grew up a farmer, and was there married to Elizabeth Folp, who was born and reared in the same province. After they had six children, they decided to try their fortunes in a new country. In 1847, they took passage on board a sailing vessel at Havre de Grace, France, and after forty-seven days landed in New Orleans, and came from there up the rivers to Beardstown. Here they lived a short time, and a few months after landing the mother died, at the birth of another child, when she was in her fortieth year. The infant died also. The children have been taught to revere her name. Her husband is yet living, aged eighty-seven, making his home with his son, our subject. He has been a cripple for forty years, having lost his leg by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of a friend, when they were out hunting. The Lutheran Church has always been his choice, as it was that of his wife, and he has always been a Democrat. Our subject and a sister, Elizabeth, wife of Michael Fortune, of Rich Hill, Missouri, are the only remaining children.
John Kircher landed in Beardstown in 1847. His mother died before he was twelve years old, and he had to go out among strangers to work for a living. In 1856, he bought his first forty acres of land; he was married the same year; he hired to a man to work on a farm at $20 per month, and boarded himself. The next year he rented a small farm and commenced farming for himself, and improving his forty acres. His first corn was shelled by a hand sheller, and he hauled it fifteen miles to market, and got fourteen cents per bushel for it. From then on, he bought one piece of land after another, adjoining his, when he could get it, until he now has a farm of 280 acres.
He was married in Cass county, Illinois, to Elizabeth Rahn, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, near the birthplace of her husband, coming in 1854 with her parents, John and Mary Rahn, to Cass county. Mr. Rahn was a farmer near Arenzville. He died February 1, 1892, aged eighty-two years. He had come to this country in 1854, with his wife and family. The wife, who is yet living, is eighty years old and lives with her daughter, Mrs. Kircher. They were always members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Kircher is the only daughter, although she has three brothers, George, living in Christian county, and John and Henry, living in Cass county.
Mr. and Mrs. Kircher have had eleven children: Louisa and an infant died young; Edward married Laura Buck, and is a farmer in this county; William married Josephine Buck, and is also a farmer in this county; Henry, Frank, Mary E., Lena, Anna, Lucy and Rosa are all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Kircher are members of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Kircher and his grown sons are sound Democrats. They are excellent representatives of the thrifty German element in this township.