My Genealogy Hound

J. A. BECKER, a retired agriculturist and leading citizen of Berrien Township, Berrien County, Mich., has for many years actively participated in the public work and social and religious life of his home neighborhood. Mr. Becker is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, July 27, 1824. The parents, Jacob and Anna (Becker) Becker, also born in the Quaker State, in Lancaster County, were both of German descent. The paternal great-grandfather emigrated when a young man to America and settled in Pennsylvania, in which State his son. Grandfather Henry Becker, was born. The father of our subject served bravely in the War of 1812. He was an industrious, hard-working man, of earnest purpose, and combined the trade of a carpenter with the occupation of a farmer. The parents were married in their birthplace and afterward made their home in Dauphin County, on a farm which the father cleared and improved. Of the six children, three sons and three daughters, who blessed the fireside of the old homestead, our subject is the sole survivor. The father was a prominent man in his locality. He was a friend to educational advancement and was an excellent German scholar. Upright and intelligent, he was universally respected, and was tendered various offices of the county, which he refused to accept.

Father Becker, however, served with able fidelity as Assessor of the township for several terms, and also efficiently performed the duties of Collector. The parents were both valued members of the Lutheran Church and liberally assisted in the promotion of religious work. United in life, the father and mother were not long divided by death, both passing to their rest in 1851. Growing up to manhood upon a farm, our subject has always given his time and attention to the pursuit of agriculture. Obliged to assist his father in his early years, his education was limited, but habits of keen observation increased his stock of practical knowledge. In 1845, Mr. Becker was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Peck, a native of Dauphin County, Pa., and a daughter of Conrad Peck. Mrs. Becker was born in 1826, and received a good common education in the schools of her home district. After his marriage our subject carried on his father’s farm until he came to Michigan in 1865. At this latter date Mr. and Mrs. Becker settled on their present homestead, then all wild land.

In a comparatively short time Mr. Becker had cleared twenty-five of the two hundred and ten acres, one hundred and sixty acres of the farm now being under high cultivation. The old stumps are removed from the land and the modest frame house in which the family at first resided was replaced in 1869 with a handsome brick residence, 28x30 feet in dimensions, and two stories in height; beneath the ground floor is a fine cellar. The attractive dwelling was erected at a cost of $3,600. The substantial barn, built four years later at an expense of $600, is commodious, being 36x46 feet in size. Mr. Becker has also other barns on the valuable farm and has built a number of sheds. The largest barn is of goodly dimensions, 36x70 feet. Aside from general agriculture Mr. Becker profitably engaged in stock-raising and planted an orchard of five acres. The sons, now in charge, are thoroughly practical and are representative farmers, energetic and successful. They prosperously handle a high grade of stock and profitably conduct mixed farming, harvesting annually large crops.

The sons and daughters of our subject, all living, are; Jacob, married; Eliza, Mrs. Murphy, residing in Silver Creek Township, Cass County, and the mother of three children; John, married; Mary, Mrs. Fisher, living on the home farm, the mother of eight children; Henry, united in marriage with Elizabeth Baker, living in Berrien Centre, the father of three children; Martin, married to Miss Easton, his home in Silver Creek Township, and the father of two children; Oliver, single; Anna, the wife of Washington Harmon, Berrien Springs, and the mother of one child; Lillie, wife of Charles Vaughan, residing in Nebraska, mother of four children; Mary, wife of Cyrus Linewever, at home in Benton Harbor, the mother of two children; Adaline, wife of Alvah Easton; living in Berrien Township, the mother of five children; Sarah, wife of Jerry Nederer, living in the State of Washington, the mother of two children; and Ona, single. This household of sons and daughters, who have all worthily attained to manhood and womanhood, occupy positions of honored usefulness in their various localities and are known as upright and enterprising citizens, receiving the esteem of a host of friends.

Our subject is a member of the Lutheran Church in Berrien Centre and is actively connected with the religious work of the organization, occupying an important official position. Mr. Becker was Superintendent of a Sunday-school in his native State, and has long taught in the school of Berrien Centre. His son John is the present Superintendent of the Berrien Centre Sunday-school of the Lutheran Church. His youngest daughter is also a teacher in the Sunday-school. Realizing the value of an education, our subject gave his children every possible opportunity to improve themselves. Oliver is now a student at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Becker has been a member of the School Board for many years, and to his efforts the excellence of the district schools of his locality is mainly due. Fraternally, our subject is an active member of the lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons at Berrien Springs. He also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Berrien Centre; he is a Clansman of the Grange at Berrien Centre and has been Master. Formerly a Good Templar, he was at one time Worthy Chief of the lodge at Berrien Centre. Mr. Becker has also been prominently identified with various agricultural societies. Politically interested in local and National affairs, he is not a radical partisan, but casts his vote impartially for the best man. He was elected to the office of Highway Commissioner and by his faithful discharge of duty gave great satisfaction to his fellow-townsmen. His father, having signed notes for others and thus becoming surety, lost almost all of his property. Our subject began life for himself with a capital of twelve cents, and with his self-reliant energy and genuine business ability has unaided won his way upward to a position of ease and now enjoys a well-earned competence and the sincere regard of a wide acquaintance.