My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John F. Becker, farmer, was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1832, where he grew up and was educated. During his youthful days he was a shepherd boy, and at the age of twenty-one he decided to come to America in order to escape military duty. Not having a pass or any money he, and some others, who were also escaping service, worked in the harbor during the night and hid during the day. After buying a pass for $5 he had just enough money left to bring him to Baltimore, where he borrowed $12, and then came on to St. Louis, and found his uncle, whowas living in that county. As soon as he could earn money enough he aided his parents and five of the children over from the old country. His father, John F., was a native of Westphalia, Geimany, was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1862, at the age of sixty-two. The mother, Mary L. Kenemann, also a native of the same country, is still living, and is eighty-five years of age. Our subject at first bought forty-four acres of timber. He now owns 200 acres of good land. In 1865 he married Mrs. Mary King, nee Breckenkamp, a native of Westphalia, born in 1829. Her first husband was murdered by Price’s men in 1864. Four children, Louisa, Emma, Lizzie and Anna, were the issue of her first marriage, and three children were born to her second marriage, viz.: Mary, Sophia and Katie. All the family belong to the Evangelical Church. In politics Mr. Becker is a stanch Republican; he has resided in this county for thirty-four years.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Franklin County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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