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George J. Bachart was born 19 Aug 1808 in the village of Weichs, near the town of Schupheim, Baden, Germany (25 miles north of Basel, Switzerland.)
He was christened in St. Michael's Lutheran Church. He changed the spelling of his name from B-a-c-k-e-r-t to B-a-c-k-a-r-t. He lived with his father until he was 16 years old, then was apprenticed to a blacksmith. By the age of 22 he had established himself in his own shop. That same year he married his cousin, Maria Magdalena Backart on April 19, 1830.
In 1834 he sold his business and immigrated to the United States. He settled in Oneida Co, NY, where he bought 40 acres and farmed for seven years. In 1841 he sold his farm and moved to DuPage Co, IL near Winfield, where he purchased 60 acres and farmed as well as managed a sawmill for ten years.
1950 Fed Census Winfield, DuPage Co, IL Sep 14, 1850
George J. Backart 42 M Sawyer Ger
Mary A. 40 F Ger
Mary A. 18 F Ger
Mary E. 16 F NY
Eliza 10 F NY
Julius E. 4 M IL
In 1850 he sold his property in Illinois and settled in Croton, Newaygo Co, MI where he managed the John Stearns saw mill. The Bureau of Land Management shows that George Backart purchased 52.1 Acres in Newaygo County, MI on 10 Mar 1856 (12-N, 11-W).In 1857 he built his own saw mill which was later remodeled into a grist mill. George built two houses, owned 415 acres, and several lots in the village of Croton. In 1859 he purchased a second mill.
He was a Democrat and served as County Supervisor, Treasurer, Highway Commissioner, and Postmaster. In the 1870 Federal Census George's real estate assets were listed at $10,000; personal property at $4,000; and total business at $36,000. At that time only Jane M (18) schoolteacher and Alice (16) attending school, were at home.
George was a member of the Masons.
At the election, held April 2, 1883, George Backart was elected Highway Commissioner.
He and his wife had the following children: Mary Adeline BACKART, Mary Elizabeth BACKART, George BACKART, Charles F. BACKART, Eliza Barbra BACKART, Julius C. BACKART, Mary Jane BACKART, and Alice Evaline BACKART
He died 25 May 1891 in Croton, Newaygo Co., MI. Buried in Croton, Newaygo Co, MI.
Submitted by his great-great-granddaughter, Pauline (Rode) Bonham [George Backart > Julius Backart > Lucy (Backart) Rode > Clifford Rode > Pauline (Rode) Bonham]
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