Ok, if he 38 in 1900, he was born in 1862. In 1880, he was 18.

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/search/C...amp;frompage=99

John PRECHTEL
Male
Other Information:
Birth Year <1862>
Birthplace OH
Age 18
Occupation Blacksmith
Marital Status S <Single>
Race W <White>
Head of Household Michael PRECHTEL
Relation Son
Father's Birthplace PRUS
Mother's Birthplace PRUS
Source Information:
Census Place Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio
Family History Library Film 1255007
NA Film Number T9-1007
Page Number 161A

His father:
Michael PRECHTEL
Male
Other Information:
Birth Year <1831>
Birthplace PRUS
Age 49
Occupation Laborer
Marital Status M <Married>
Race W <White>
Head of Household Michael PRECHTEL
Relation Self
Father's Birthplace PRUS
Mother's Birthplace PRUS
Source Information:
Census Place Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio
Family History Library Film 1255007
NA Film Number T9-1007
Page Number 161A


Cemetery records for Cleveland
http://dxsrv4.cpl.org/WebZ/QUERY?sessionid=01-3480-1634259571

Id#: 0283279
Name: Prechtel, John A.
Date: 1928
Source: Cemetery record; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #065.
Notes: Age 65. Monroe Cemetery Cleveland, Ohio.

Now the trick is to find him in Syracuse...

Pete