AUGUST GAUCHAT.—Many of the most enterprising and prosperous
farmers of Clay county have come from the land beyond the sea, some of
them, mayhap, seeking a refuge from military despotism, others fleeing
from the penury and poverty that obtains in their native country, while
others come with the hope of legitimately bettering their condition by
willing toil. Prominent among this latter class stands August Gauchat,
whose finely-improved farm, almost adjoining Clay City, bears visible
evidence of his industry, thrift and good management. A native of
Switzerland, he was born March 12, 1851, in the village of Prilly, Canton
Berne, which was also the birthplace of his father, John F. Gauchat.
    John F. Gauchat made farming his principal occupation during life.
being employed in tilling the soil in his native land the greater part of
his active career. In 1857 he made a bold venture, going on a sailing
vessel to South America. At the end of ninety-eight days on the ocean he
arrived in Buenos Ayres, and from there went up the La Plata river to
Santa Fe. Going then into the country, he bought a tract of land, and
at the end of a year and a half, having made some improvements on it,
sold it and returned to his native heath, having been away from home
two years. After the death of his wife, whose maiden name was Sophia
Geauque, he came here in 1881 and spent his last days with his son
August, dying at the age of sixty-one years. Nine children were born to
him and his wife, namely: Julia, August, Zaline, Louis, David, Fred-
erick, Mary, Paul and Emile. David now lives in Clay county, Indiana.
Frederick came to Indiana and died, while yet in manhood’s prime, in
Indianapolis. Paul is a resident of Linton, Greene county, Indiana. All
of the other children still live in Switzerland.
    Brought up in his native canton, August Gauchat was educated in its
schools, in which French, the language of the people, was taught, attend-
ing regularly until sixteen years old. In the subsequent six years he
followed farming, but not satisfied with his future prospects he deter-
mined to come to America. Leaving Switzerland September 2, 1872, he
came directly to Indiana, arriving at Bowling Green, Clay county, on
October 2 of that year, a stranger in a strange land, unable to speak any-
thing but the French language. Mr. Gauchat worked at various kinds
of labor for awhile, for two months being employed in a brewery at
Bowling Green, and for a year working in the timber. He subsequently
worked on a farm three months, receiving sixty-five dollars wages for
that time. With the money that he had accumulated he then, in com-
pany with John Wellen, bought a tract of standing timber, and for
twenty-one years was engaged in the manufacture of staves until forced
to give up the business on account of the scarcity of timber. In 1877
Mr. Gauchat bought fifty-five acres of land lying three and one-half miles
northeast of Clay City, and after living on it seven years sold it and pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres in sections twenty-nine and thirty-
three, very near Clay City. Taking possession of the frame buildings
that were standing on section thirty-three, he lived there until 1900, meet-
ing with marked success in his agricultural labors. Building a com-
modious and conveniently arranged house on section twenty-nine, and
erecting substantial barns and outbuildings, he then moved with his
family to his newer home, and has since resided here, his home being one
of the most cheerful and attractive of any in the vicinity. in 1881 Mr.
Gauchat visited his old home and friends in Switzerland, and on his
return to Indiana brought with him his brother Paul and his father.
In 1900 he made another trip to his native land, and at that time took in
the Paris Exposition.
    On June 20, 1876, Mr. Gauchat married Mary Betteron, who was
born in Mackinic township, Holmes county, Ohio, April 17, 1839. Her
father Abraham Betteron, was born in the village of Nods, Canton Berne,
Switzerland, where he received a good education, and was well drilled in
agriculture. In 1837, accompanied by his second wife and his three
children, he came to America in a sailing vessel, being three months on
the voyage. Locating in Holmes county, Ohio, Mr. Betteron bought
forty acres of land near Berlin, and after living there a brief time removed
to Mackinic township, where he remained several years. In 1850 he
came across the country to Indiana, journeying for two weeks with
teams. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered
land in section twenty-two, Harrison township, and built for his first
dwelling house a two-story cabin of round logs. Clearing a large part
of the land, he engaged successfully in general farming, and later erected
a substantial frame house, in which, with the exception of a few years
spent in Bowling Green, he resided until his death, in 1879. Mr. Bet-
teron was four times married. By his first wife, who was a life-long
resident of Switzerland, he had one child, Julia Harriet. his second
wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Forchelin, bore him four children,
namely: Sophia; Amos; Mary, now Mrs. Gauchat; and Margaret. This
wife was born in Canton Berne, and died in Indiana, on the home farm,
in May, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Gauchat have three children, Caroline
Louise and Charles Louis, twins; and Lydia Julia. Caroline L. married
Silas A. Travis, and they have two children, Vera Etna and Vella Glenn.
Charles L. married Addie Neal, and they have three children, Olive
Cletis, Charles Vincent and Kermit Orville. Mr. and Mrs. Gauchat
are members of the Reformed church.