Peter Hasselbacher, who is now comfortably well off, and is the proprietor of a substantial, well-cultivated farm, pleasantly located on section 7, Rosefield Township. landed in this country more than three decades ago, with just $1 in his pocket, and it is only by courage, persistent and faithful labor that he has attained his present position.

November 3, 1828, was the date of the birth of our subject in Herzogaurach, Bavaria, Germany. His parents were Leonard and Magdaline (Brittner) Hasselbacher, who were also natives of the same place as their son. His father was a stonemason by occupation, and he and his wife were both devout members of the Lutheran Church. They had four children, namely: John Peter, Eva, now Mrs. Lawrence Freehalld; Catherine, wife of John Thaeler; and John Michael.

Our subject was the first of his family to come to the United States, and arrived here in the month of November, 1857, coming directly to this county. He lived one year with a brother-in-law, and in 1858 began his career as an independent farmer, purchasing in that year forty acres of timber land on section 7. This he cleared, placed under excellent cultivation, and greatly improved, and has since purchased forty acres, and now has a farm of eighty acres of as fertile and productive land as can be found in this neighborhood.

In his struggles in the pioneer life that he led here the first few years after he came to this county, Mr. Hasselbacher early won the assistance of a wife who is active and capable, and did her full share in bringing about their present comfortable circumstances. Their marriage was solemnized in the month of September, 1857, and to them have come four children: Ludwick; Catherine D., wife of William Awl; Mary; and Simon P., a resident of Yates City.

Mrs. Hasselbacher's maiden name was Eva M. Gundacker, and she was born in Linden, Bavaria, Germany. She is a daughter of Casper and Eva Magdaline (Steinmetz) Gundacker. They were the parents of seven children as follows: Barbara, who married and died, leaving a son and daughter; Margaret married and died, leaving a son and daughter; Kundegunda, who died in Germany, leaving one daughter who lives in New York City; Dorothea, who died in Buffalo, N.Y., and was the wife of Fred Brothers, and was the mother of three daughters; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Hamarbecher; John S., a resident of Germany; and Eva M.

Our subject and his wife are very worthy people, possessing in a large degree those pleasant attributes that make them desirable friends and neighbors. Their daily lives are guided by true Christian principles, and in them the Methodist Episcopal Church has two of its most efficient working members. Our subject is a sturdy Republican in politics, and cast his first vote for Lincoln. He believes thoroughly in a sound education, and his children have received excellent school advantages.