William August BICHEL

REFN: 4927

From Mills County, Iowa 1985, published by Mills County History Book Commi

ttee:

W. A. BICHEL FAMILY

William August Bichel, son of Frederich William and Louise Catheri

ne (Voss) Bichel was born May 27, 1868 in Mills County, Iowa. His paren

ts were both born in Prussia, Germany. They came to America in the 1850

's after they were married and settled in here, where William grew up a

nd attended school.

On Mar. 15, 1894 he married Anna Celia Kay, daughter of Jochim and Marg

areth (Kuhl) Kay. They had nine children: Louise married Frederick Beben

see; Laura married Ferdinand Jurgens; Wilhemina married Ludwig Jurgens; He

len (twin to Ellen) married Joseph Klemke. They farmed nearHemingford, N

ebraska a few years and then moved to the ranch he had homesteaded near Ha

tcreek, Wyoming. They later retired to Lusk, Wyoming; Ellen (twinto Hele

n) married Emil Knag. They farmed in Box Butte County, Nebraska forma

ny years and then retired to Alliance, Nebraska; William married Viola Nip

p; Theodore, unmarried was killed in an auto accident north of Silver Cit

y,September 18, 1933; Ferdinand married Hilda Schroeder; Edward never mar

ried.He was inducted into the army in 1942, and was a Sgt. in the 336 Bo

mbardmentSquadron, 95th Bombardment Group that flew missions over Europe.

William andAnna lived on their farm four miles west of Mineola where t

hey raised corn, hay and Hereford cattle which were his pride and jo

y. He was affiliated with the Overland Tire Company and Pottawattamie Mutu

al Insurance Company. Throughhis dealings with the Tire Company, he acqu

ired a couple of airplanes whichhis sons used to fly for pleasure.

Anna's interests were her family and St. John's Lutheran Church where s

he was a Charter member of the Frauen Verean (Mineola Cemetery Assn.) T

he purpose of the group was the care of the cemetery, which they did wi

th scythes dressed in their skirts, through the hot summer months.

Mrs. Bichel was found dead along the road after having suffered a hea

rt atack, while on the way to a Cemetery Association meeting in Mineol

a. Shehad fallen from the buggy. The horses remained nearby grazing unt

il she wasfound. She passed away January 2, 1913.

William Bichel passed away Frebruary23, 1935. They are both buri

ed in Mineola Cemetery.

The original Bichel land was sold to the Rohrberg family. St. Bonifi

ce Catholic Church was built onthree acres of this land and accordi

ng to the deed, the Rohrbergs were givenrights to utilize the land ne

xt to the cemetery for agricultural purposes until such time as the Pari

sh needed it. Only the cemetery remains at this writing. Written by Irle

ne Rohrberg.

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