Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Alex A. Fackler
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
ALEX A. FACKLER, who resides on
section 20, Flora Township, Dickinson
County, where he is engaged in general
farming, was born on the 12th of July,
1846, and is one of a family of seven children,
whose parents were Simon and Catherine Fackler.
The father was born in York, Pa., in 1822, and
was of German descent, and the mother was of Irish
lineage. Of their family the following are yet living:
Elliott, a blacksmith residing in Canton,
Ohio; George, who follows the same occupation in
New Philadelphia, Ohio; Ann, who is a teacher in
the New Philadelphia Collegiate Institute; Martha,
wife of George Spence, a blacksmith of Massillon,
Ohio; and Ellen, the wife of Frank Henderson, a
farmer residing near Massillon.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood
days upon his father's farm until sixteen years of
age, and in the winter season attended the common
schools, where he acquired his education. At that
time, although a mere lad, he entered the service
of his country, enlisting in Company K, Ninety eighth
Ohio Infantry, on the 18th of August,
1862. From Steubenville, Ohio, he went to Kentucky,
and was first under fire at the battle of
Perryville, on the 8th of October, 1862. After
being engaged in the battle of Stone River, on
the 1st of January, 1863, he went to Virginia
and participated in Hunter's raid along the
Shenandoah Valley and into North Carolina.
On the 1st of September, 1864, he was discharged
on the surgeon's certificate for disability.
Three months previous he was taken ill and was
in the hospital from then until his release from
service in Gallipolis, Ohio.
For about a year after his return, Mr. Fackler was
ill. His father was elected Sheriff of Tuscarawas
County, and on recovering his health Alex served
as Deputy for two years. The father bought an interest
in the paper-mill and our subject was therein
employed until 1869. In the spring of that year
he bade good-bye to his Ohio home and moved to
Iowa, where he worked at various kinds of labor
for about a year. In the spring of 1870, he moved
to Abilene, Kan., and for three years was employed
in the stock yards of that place. In 1871, he came
to Flora Township and secured a homestead of
one hundred and sixty acres, but continued to
work in Abilene through the two succeeding years.
He then began the development of his farm, which
at the time of his purchase was a tract of raw
prairie with no trees upon it and entirely destitute
of improvements. He has since transformed it
into one of the best farms in this locality. With
the exception of forty rods, it is all surrounded by
a well-trimmed hedge fence, and good buildings,
such as are found on a model farm, may there be
seen. He has two acres of his land laid out as an
orchard, in which are one hundred fine bearing
apple trees.
In 1880, Mr. Fackler was united in marriage
with Miss Carrie Lewis, their union being celebrated
on the 22d of December. They have one
child, Elmer, who was born on the 15th of May,
1883. The father of our subject was called to his
final rest December 14, 1891. His widow is still
living and makes her home in New Philadelphia,
Ohio.
Mr. Fackler is a stanch Republican in politics
and a warm advocate of the principles of the
grand old party, to which he has given his allegiance
since he attained his majority. His father
served as Justice of the Peace for sixteen successive
years, and for one term represented his district
in the State Legislature. Our subject is an
Odd Fellow and a Mason in good standing, and
holds the position of Officer of the Day in the
Grand Army of the Republic. We see in our subject
a self-made man, who by his industrious
efforts, enterprise and progressive spirit has steadily
worked his way upward and is now the owner
of a handsome farm of one hundred and sixty
acres and a pleasant home.