DUCHARDT, JOHN. - The most successful of Cass County agriculturalists are those who have not been content to continue their efforts to work along ordinary lines, but have branched out and achieved astonishing results. The conditions in this locality are favorable to experimentation, and those who are taking advantage of these opportunities, are proving to themselves and others the value of such action. One of these progressive farmers is John Duchardt, of Hickory Precinct, who was born in this precinct October 10, 1851, a son of Christian and Mary (Nollch) Durchardt, natives of Hesse Darmstadt and of Wurttemberg, Germany, respectively. The maternal grandparents came to Cass County, Ill., at an early day. Christian Durchardt located at Quincy, Ill., upon coming to America, where he worked as a butcher. Later he came to Cass County and entered a farm from the government three miles north of Virginia. This land was covered with timber, but he cleared it and made it a valuable property. He married at Virginia and settled on his farm where he died about 1899, having survived his wife. They had two children: Elizabeth, who is Mrs. William Needham, of Virginia, Ill.; and John.

John Durchardt, always lived on the homestead and was educated in the schools of his district. He now owns about 500 acres of fertile farming land, the greater portion of which he rents. He has large stock interests, raising Angora goats, draught horses, mules, ponies, cattle and hogs, his stock being noted for its excellence in every particular. His success in stock raising has brought him fame in this line, and his advice is often sought as an expert. In politics he is a Progressive.