Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon."
Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a7.
 
OSWALD BRECHTEL

     the proprietor of the Walla Walla Bakery, came to the city of that name,
first, in August 1861.  He was born in Baden on the Rhine, August 5, 1833; and
emigrated to the United States in 1852. The baker trade was learned by him in
Indiana, from where he came to this territory with the purpose of availing
himself of such advantages as might be gained here in the prosecution of his
line of industry. Upon his first arrival in Walla Walla, he entered into employ
of the firm of Pefferle and Kurry, bakers, who had been operating in the place,
since 1859. In 1862,he rented their establishment and started business for
himself, with nothing but energy, experience, business integrity, and ability as
capital to help him on to success. The same year he purchased the establishment,
and, until 1863, made crackers by hand, when he purchased a machine for that
purpose. In 1869, he erected a brick building on Main street, that, since, has
been added to in the rear, until it is now 31 feet by 120, and two stories high
with a basement.  It cost him $20,000, although it would not take that sum to
build another like it, at the present time. (A front view of it accompanies this
work). He makes a specialty of the manufacture of crackers, and, in place of the
old mode, by hand, he now has a machine with capacity to work up fifty barrels
of flour per day although the oven will only bake ten. The whole is operated by
steam power. A boiler, number 3 1/2  and an engine of twenty horse power,
operated in the basement, are used for this purpose, to which are attached a
force pump and 150 feet of hose to use in case of a fire. This force pump sends
water through pipes, for use of his dwelling, two and a half blocks away. With
the present facilities for business, he worked up 1400 bbls. of flour for the
market, in 1881, that was sold in Washington Territory, Idaho Territory, and
Oregon.
     Mr. Brechtel was married, January 25, 1865, to Miss Catherine McCoy, who
died, December 12, 1877, leaving four children, three of them girls and one boy.
In politics, he is a Republican, in business, a success, and as a citizen, he is
one, who has contributed in producing the present advanced condition of
improvements and prosperity in Eastern Washington Territory.

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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.