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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  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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A. J. BECKER, M. D., a rapidly advancing young physician of Catasauqua, has been engaged in practice for about nine years, and at the present time has his office at No. 728 Second Street. His ancestors for several generations have taken a leading part in the development and improvement of this region, and have always been patriotic and public-spirited men. His great-grandfather, Rev. Christian L., was born and reared in Germany, becoming a minister in the Reformed Church. In middle age he brought his family to America, settling near Easton, and later removing to Baltimore, where his death occurred. The grandfather, Jacob C., was born in Bremen, Germany, and received his education at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, from which he graduated with the degree of Master of Arts, after studying theology with his father, and being ordained as a minister in the Reformed Church. His pastorates were principally in Northampton County, and his death occurred in Bethlehem in August, 1858, when he was sixty-eight years of age. His wife, Susannah (Dreisbach) Becker, was a native of Howertowu, and daughter of Jacob Dreisbach, a farmer. Mrs. Becker died when almost ninety years of age, at the home of her son, Rev. Cyrus J.

The gentleman last named is the father of our subject, and has been Pastor in the Reformed Church of this city since 1858. His birth occurred in Allen Township in 1827, and he attended the common schools near his home subsequent to going to Easton, where for four years he was a pupil in Vanderveer Academy. Later he entered the Junior class in Lafayette College, from which he graduated in 1846, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, being later honored with the degree of Master of Arts. After studying theology with his father for three years, he was ordained, December 25, 1850. From the age of eighteen years he had preached occasionally, and now became assistant to his father, who had charge of seven congregations. For four years his duties comprised holding services in two churches, one on each side of the mountain, and, on the expiration of this time, on account of his health, he was obliged to live a quiet life for a period of nearly four years. It was in 1858 that he removed to this city, taking charge of the congregation here and of those at Howertown and Shoenersville. In 1870 he resigned from the Catasauqua Church, as it was self sustaining; but he has continued his work in the others mentioned up to the present time. The church at Howertown was erected by his father as early as 1835, and has about four hundred and twenty-five members, while the church at Shoenersville has about two hundred and fifty members, and the son has succeeded in upbuilding these various pastorates, having been active in the various lines of work connected with them.

On the 11th of November, 1852, Rev. Cyrus J. Becker was married to Miss Mary J. Weaver, who, like her father, was born in East Allen Township. Of this union two children were born: Rev. Jacob F., who is a graduate of Ursinus College at Collegeville, and of the theological seminary at Albany, N. Y., and is now a minister in the Presbyterian Church at. Rensselaerville, N. Y., and Dr. A. J., of this sketch. The father was formerly a Mason, but is now a demitted member, and in politics he has always favored the Republican party.

The birth of Dr. Becker occurred March 18, 1861, in Seigfried’s Bridge, Northampton County, but from his first year he was reared in Catasauqua. After attending the common and high schools of this place, he was for two years a student at Weaversville Academy. When about eighteen years old he began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Becker, of Bethlehem. In 1882 Dr. Becker was enrolled among the students of Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, where, after a course of a few years he graduated, in 1885, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In addition to the regular course, he took all the practical special branches, having a diploma from each department. Since locating in this city his career has been marked with success, and much of his time and attention has been turned to the special lines of throat and nasal diseases.

The Doctor was married in Coplay, in November, 1888, to Miss Ella Schreiber, a native of that place, and daughter of Daniel Schreiber, one of the early settlers and farmers of that locality. Her father was one of the original owners of the land on which he is now located, portions of Coplay and Hokendauqua. Dr. Becker and his wife are active members of the Reformed Church, and they own their pleasant home property. Our subject is a member of the Homeopathic Medical Society of the Lehigh Valley, and also belongs to the Hahnemann Medical Association of Philadelphia. He is a Republican politically, and is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Lehigh County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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