CHRISTIAN DUCHARDT was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, June 25, 1818. Both his parents and grandparents were natives of that country and passed their lives there. His father, Karl Duchardt, was a butcher by trade and carried on that business. Of his eight children, four came to America, viz.: John, who settled in Beardstown and died there; Christian; William, a resident of Beardstown; and Mary who was married and died in that place.

Christian Duchardt attended school until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he came to America, sailed from Hamburg in September, 1836, on the Franklin, and six weeks later landed at New York, from whence he came direct to Beardstown, Illinois, landing here a poor boy. The journey from New York to this place was made via the Hudson river, Erie canal, the lakes and canal, and the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers. At that time Beardstown was a small place and Cass county was sparsely settled, much of the land being owned by the Government and for sale at $1.25 per acre.

Mr. Duchardt worked at his trade, that of butcher, until his marriage, where he bought eighty acres of land, in section 22, township 18, range 10, covered at the time of purchase with a growth of brush. He bought a log cabin in Virginia, moved it to this place, and commenced at once the work of clearing and improving his farm, and here he has since lived. He has bought other land at different time, prosperity has rewarded his efforts and he is now regarded as one of the substantial men of his vicinity. Nor has his whole time and attention been given to making money. He devotes much time to reading and is well posted on the general topics of the day; is public-spirited and generous, always supporting those measures that tend to advance the best interests of the community where he lives.

In 1846 Mr. Duchardt married Mary A. Nellsch, a native of Wittenberg, Germany. They have two children, John and Lizzie. John was born February 28, 1851. He has the management of the home farm. Lizzie was married March 21, 1882, to William Needham, and has one child, Mary Ann.

Mr. and Mrs. Duchardt and their daughter, Mrs. Needham, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.