The Becker Families of Montgomery County, Ohio

HENRY BECKER, a well-known and substantial farmer of Randolph township, Montgomery county, Ohio, is descended from an old Pennsylvania- German family, united with Swiss stock.

John Becker, his great-grandfather, was born on the Atlantic ocean, the father of John being, in fact, the founder of the family in America. John Becker, the grandfather of Henry, was born in Bedford county, Pa., was reared a miller, lived while in Lancaster county, and married a Miss Snowbarger; of the children born to this marriage the following named grew to maturity: John, Jacob, Samuel, Andrew, Henry, David, Elizabeth, Nancy and Maria. In 1815 their father brought his family to Ohio, and in June arrived in Randolph township, Montgomery county, settling on the farm now partly owned by Henry Becker. With Mr. Becker came William Hart and family, the latter comprising Mrs. Hart, their son Henry, and daughters Rebecca, Catherine, and Eve, all born in

Lancaster county, Pa. Mr. Becker bought section No. 4, on which was a small clearing and a log cabin, and Mr. Hart bought section No. 5. Mr. Becker bought his section from several parties, and for a portion of it paid as high as $10 per acre, and on this land he died at the age of sixty-six years.

John Becker, father of Henry, was born in Bedford county, moved with his father to Lancaster county, Pa., and came with him to Montgomery county, Ohio, where, in 1815, he married Rebecca Hart, daughter of William Hart, alluded to above, and settled on the land bought by his father, clearing 103 acres, and also bought land in Darke and Shelby counties. He died at about the age of sixty-six years, a member of the Lutheran church, of which his wife was likewise a member. In politics he was a democrat, had served as township trustee, and was a well-known and esteemed citizen. His children were named Henry, David, Abraham, Annie and Rebecca.

Henry Becker, son of John and Rebecca (Hart) Becker, was born on his father's farm in Randolph township May 13, 1816, and acquired a very fair education in a subscription school, taught in a frontier log cabin in the neighborhood. He was reared to the hard work of the farm, and also assisted his father in a saw-mill which had been erected on this land in the year of his birth. Henry began work in this mill at the age of thirteen years, and has always made its operation his chief business, the mill being now on his home farm. Here, in his early days, were sawed huge black walnut logs four feet through, and also the great poplars and oaks of the virgin forest.

Henry Becker was united in marriage, January 16, 1840, in Darke county, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Shiltz, who was born in Adams county, Pa., January 20, 1819, a daughter of John and Catherine (Myer) Shiltz. John Shiltz was a farmer, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and the father of the following children: Amos,

John, Cyrus and Sarah. He settled in Darke county in 1830, cleared a farm of 120 acres, and died at the age of seventy-eight years, his widow living to be eighty-four years old. After his marriage Mr. Becker settled on his present homestead and continued milling, the old mill and twenty-four acres of land having been devised to him by his father. In 1865 he built a new mill, and has done a very large business in shipping black walnut lumber to distant points. He has prospered, and now owns 190 acres in his homestead, 170 acres in Miami county, 120 in Darke county, and a forty-eight acre tract on the pike in Randolph township, Montgomery county, or a total of about 528 acres. Mr. Becker’s life has been one of continued activity, and at the age of eighty he is still hale and strong, enjoying the fruits of his industry. The children born to himself and wife were named Sarah A., who died when twenty-two years old; Catherine, Thomas J., John S., Isaac N. and Clement. In politics Mr. Becker is a democrat, and has served as township trustee for several years. He is one of the oldest living of the native-born citizens of Randolph township, is consequently widely known, and is honored for his pioneer work as well as for his deeds as a good citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY BECKER, miller; P. 0., Union. Mr. Becker is a native of Ohio; born in Montgomery County, May 18, 1816; is a son of John and Rebecca Becker. The father emigrated to this State with his parents in June, 1815, being a native of Lancaster Co., Pa. Tlid grandfather of our subject was a miller by occupation, and erected one of the early saw mills on West Branch. John Becker was also a miller, and continued the business of his father, 'which has been handed down to him whose sketch we pen. The mother’s maiden name was Hart; she died in November, 1856. The father served in the township as Trustee for a number of years, and died in December, 1857. Our subject is one of five children, four of whom are now living, viz.: Annie, Rebecca, David and Henry. The latter was united in marriage with Sarah Sliilt, in 1840, and to them were born six children, and of them Thomas, John, Isaac and Catharine are now living.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

JACOB E. BECKER, Prop. National Hotel; P. 0., lawton. The subject of this sketch is the son of Hemy Becker, a native of Lancaster Co., Pa. He was by occupation a farmer and shoemaker. He was united in marriage with Susan Snader, and as a result of this union had ten children, of whom eight are living, viz.: Susan, Solomon, Samuel. Henry, Jacob, George, j Christopher and John. In 1832 Mr. Becker moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and purchased a farm containing 160 acres in this county near the town of Liberty. Mr. Becker departed this life a worthy and esteemed member of the Lutheran Church, in 1851. Jacob E., the subject of this memoir, was born in Lancaster County, November 13, 1833, and by being studious in his habits managed to obtain a fair knowledge of all the common branches. He was employed by the neighboring farmers until the death of his father, when he returned home and took charge of the farm, remaining three years. At the age of 23 years he went to Indiana, and remained one year, and returned to Ohio and married Nancy- E. Cox, May 27, 1857. She is the daughter of John Cox, a native of this State, and was born March 10, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Becker are the parents of four children: Charles E., Clara and Enna are now living. After his marriage Mr. Becker followed various pursuits until he accumulated enough capital to start a restaurant at Trotwood Station, Madison Township, where he remained two years and purchased a piece of land near Miamisburgh and turned his attention to tobacco raising, which he continued cultivating for several seasons and then disposed of it and his farm and purchased 28 acres near Alexanderville, where he remained until 1872, when he made another sale and moved to Liberty and purchased a hotel, which he managed two years, and sold out and purchased a saw mill at Carrolton, and engaged in the lumber business. He soon disposed of this business and purchased the National House in Harrisburg, where he now resides.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE W. BECKER, farmer, P. 0., Ellerton, was born in this township, March 25, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Susanna Becker, natives of Lancaster Co., Pa., who settled in Jefferson Township, about 1816, commencing life in a log cabin in the dense forest. They had a family of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, Henry dying in 1851, aged 63 years, a sincere adherent of the Lutheran Church. His wife was born Jan. 13, 1799; is still living and a member of the Reformed Church. George W. lived with his parents until his majority, and was married Jan. 8, 1860, to Sarah Kelsey, daughter of David and Margaret Kelsey, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to this township at an early day. Mrs. Becker was here born Feb. 4, 1840, and has bore Mr. Becker six sons and one daughter, as follows: RosaB., Valerius, William H., David E., Francis M., Seabury, and Jesse L. Mr. Becker is a member of the Lutheran and his wife of the United Brethren church. Franklin A. Stupp, who married their daughter Rosa B., was born May 13, 1859, and is a son of Isaac, and Leah Stupp, natives of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his wife of the Reformed denomination. Mr. Becker and family are among the worthy, law-abiding people of their community.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.