He was educated in the public schools and Muhlenberg college, leaving the latter when a sophomore to read law with the Hon. J. H. Oliver, then a prominent attorney and citizen of Lehigh county, but who died after a successful canvass for the nomination of congressman, from the immediate efects of typhoid fever. The death of the preceptor of Mr. Dech caused him to change is career after having read law one and one half years. His father having also died in the mean time, leaving a large estate, Mr. Dech took hold of it as one of the administrators, operating his three large farms. One farm of one hundred acres was located in Whitehall township, Lehigh county, and the other two farms were situated in Northampton county.

At this time, Mr. Dech was appointed assistant postmaster of Allentown under the administration of President Benjamin Harrison and he served the office four years. In 1896 he became a brick manufacturer in the Twelfth Ward, under the name of Kichline Brick Co. This firm employed about 25 people, and continued in business until 1907. Since this time Mr. Dech lived retired at his residence, No. 213 Lehigh Street. He has charge of the Kichline properties, in the Twelfth Ward.

He is a Republican and has taken an active interest in his party since he is of age. In 1875 he represented the Third Ward in the city council; was for twelve years chairman of the second ward executive committee; and was a prominent candidate for the office of county commissioner on three different occasions, having lacked 125 votes only at the general election in 1902. he is a member of the P. O. S. of A.



C. Wilson Dech died at his home, 213 Lehigh Street, Allentown, on February 16, 1931, aged 83 years.

He was born in East Allen Township, Northampton County, May 4, 1848, a son of Solomon and Matilda Magdalene, nee Dreisbach, Dech. He was educated in the public schools and attended Muhlenberg College. During the administration of President Benjamin Harrison he was appointed to the assistant postmastership and continued in that office for four years. In 1896, with two brothers-in-law, Edward Kichline and Edward Huber, he organized the brick company and they continued to operate it until 1907, at which time he retired.

Mr. Dech was an active member of the Republican party. In 1875, he represented the Third Ward in the city council.

In 1869 he married Anna E. Kichline, a daughter of Jacob and Elizra, nee Engelman, Kichline, of Salisbury Township. They were the parents of four children. Those surviving are Eva E., wife of Warren W. Schall, of Rosemont, Bethlehem; William S. and Lloyd K. Dech, of Allentown. There are two grandchildren, Ted L. Schall, of Toledo, Ohio, and Jane Gray Dech, of Allentown. His wife preceded him in death in 1916.

He was a member of the P. 0. S. of A. and also a faithful member. of Bethany Evangelical Church. He served as treasurer of the Men's Bible Class of the church until the time of his death and has also been treasurer of the Dreisbach family reunion since 1910, the time of its organization.