His Ancestry. 11 



Among these sturdy, church-loving people he was 

 born, February 4th, 1790, in the town of Rheinbeck, 

 Dutchess County, State of New York. In due time, 

 with much rejoicing, the baby of the famih^ was 

 taken to tlie old Stone Church and received the Sac- 

 rament of Baptism. 



We recall many sweet pictures that he has left us 

 of his childhood's home. As a boy he loved to sit 

 beside his father and ask him about his forefathers. 



The name of his first American ancestor, the sec- 

 retary of William Penn, he has not recorded. Yet, 

 it was surely an inspiration to the bright lad, to re- 

 member that his ancestor was no drone, no ignorant 

 rustic, content simply to labor as a bread-winner. 

 He was conscious that this legendary fore-father 

 possessed a liberal education for his day. It pleased 

 him to know that he was a brave and fearless 

 worker, amidst the wilds and dangers of an infant 

 colony. He rejoiced to feel tluit the Peace-maker, 

 William Penn, had made no unwise selection when 

 he chose a Bachman for his secretary — as the grant 

 of townships by the Government gave conclusive 

 evidence. 



He delighted to hear, too, of the sturdy, loyal 

 stock who remained in Switzerland — the Bachmans 

 of Berne. We fancy that we can see the boy eagerly 

 cpiestioning his father about Lieutenant- General 

 Bachman, of the Swiss Guard, who lost his life in 

 defence of the unfortunate Louis XVI, of France, 

 when John was two years of age. The boy's pulse 

 must surely have quickened when he remembered 



