Happy Thanksgiving from Karen’s Chatt. I wish all of you a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Nov 22
Tombstone Tuesday–Fred W. & Maria W. (Springer) Becher
Fred W. & Maria W. Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Fred W. and Maria W. (Springer) Becher, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
BECHER
Maria W. 1888-1958
Fred W. 1887-1960
Friedrich Wilhelm “Fred” Becher was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 2 September 1887 to Johann and Louise Friederike (Mamber) Becher. His father was born in Liberty Township and his mother was born in Württemberg. Fred was baptized at Zion Chatt on 25 September 1887 with George Becher and Emilie Rieger as sponsors. He was confirmed at Zion Chatt by Rev. R.V. Schmitt on 31 March 1901.
Fred Becher married Nora Arminte Fennig on 7 September 1909. They were married by Rev. J.L. Marvin of New Corydon, Indiana, although their marriage license and return was recorded in Mercer County. Nora was the daughter of H.J. and Anna (Locker) Fennig of Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio. [1]
After their marriage Fred and Nora lived along Brandt Pike in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, where Fred farmed. [2]
Fred and Nora had two children, Clifford Cornelius (1911-1992) and Werner LeRoy (1915-1979). Nora Becher died on 2 September 1915 from septicemia poison following the birth of their second child Werner LeRoy. She was 33 years, 1 month, and 26 days old.
With two very young children to raise, widower Fred Becher married Maria W.L. (Springer) Itskin on 14 October 1916 in Allen County, Indiana. Maria lived in Sheldon, Indiana, at the time of their marriage and was 28 years old. Fred Becher’s residence was Willshire, Ohio, and he was a 29 year-old farmer. [3]
Maria Wilhelmina Louise Springer was born 29 June 1888 in Sheldon, Pleasant Township, Allen County, Indiana, the daughter of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Leininger) Springer, according to Zion Chatt’s records. One Ancestry.com account indicates her father’s name was Frederick August and her mother’s name was Philippina Catherine Leininger. According to Zion Chatt’s records Maria was baptized and confirmed at St. Marks in Yoder, Indiana.
Their marriage record indicates that this was her third marriage and that she was twice divorced between the years 1913 and 1915. Maria married Oliver W. Itskin on 26 May 1910 in Allen County, Indiana. [4] Maria and Oliver Itskin had a son, Lorraine Itskin, born in 1914. They divorced in August 1913 and Maria married Joseph A. Current on 25 August 1914 in Allen County, Indiana. [5]
In 1920 Fred and Maria Becher lived in Black Creek Township, Mercer County. In the household: F.W. Becher, 32; Maria, 31; Clifford, 8; Lorraine, 5; Verner, 4; Luis, 2. Note that her son Lorraine Itskin was listed as a Becher and was born in Indiana. Fred was a farmer. [6]
The Fred W. Becker household in 1930: Fred W, 43; Mary W, 42; Werner L, 14; Louis A, 12; J Lorraine A Itskin, 16. They lived on State Route 51, wherever that was. [7] Could they have meant State Route 49?
In 1940 Fred and Maria were the only two people in their household. Fred was 52 and Maria was 51 and they had lived in this same house in 1935. [8]
Maria (Springer) Becher died from cardiac and kidney failure at 10:00 p.m. on 29 March 1958 at the Berne Nursing Home. She was 69 years and 9 months old and was buried on 1 April. Her address was Route 1, Willshire, but she had resided at the nursing home four weeks. Her physician was Dr. N.E. Beaver, who was also our family physician back then. Yager Funeral Home, Berne, was in charge of arrangements. [9] Maria was survived by her husband, sons Lorraine Itskin and Louis Becher; 2 stepsons, Clifford and Werner Becher, 6 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 5 brothers: Louis, William, George, Ed, and Harold; 5 sisters: Mrs. Martha Doermann, Amelia Zellinger, Esther Hartman, Ada Buttearl, and Loretta Grover, according to Zion Chatt’s records.
Fred W. Becher died of a stroke on 10 December 1960 at the Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur, Indiana. He was 73 years, 3 months, and 8 days old and was buried on 12 December. Fred was a retired farmer whose address was Route 1, Willshire. His son Louis Becher was the informant for the information on his death certificate. Dr. Norman Beaver was his physician and Yager Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Fred was survived by brothers, 3 sons: Werner, Clifford, and Louis and his step-son Lorraine Itskin. [10]
Fred and Maria (Springer) Becher had one son:
Louis (1917-1994), married Maryan Ferry; married Eileen Prior
[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 Aug 2015), Fred W. Becher and Nora A. Fennig, 7 Sep 1909; citing Mercer County, Ohio Marriages, Vol. 9, p.539, from FHL microfilm 914958.
[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p. 3A, dwelling & family 48, Fred W. Becher; FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 Aug 2015); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.
[3] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2016), Fred W. Becher and Maria W.L. Itskin, 14 Oct 1916; Allen County Marriages, Vol. 44, p.311; FHL microfilm 2130027.
[4] Marriage Index, 1800-1941,Oliver W Itskin to Minnie Springer, 26 May 1910; Index to Marriage Record 1824-1920, WPA, 1938-1940, from County Clerk’s O, Book 34, p.262.
[5] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2016), Joseph A Current and Minnie W. Itskin, 25 Aug 1914; Allen County Marriages, Vol. 41, p.165; FHL microfilm 2111593.
[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, p.11A, dwelling & family 117, FW Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Nov 2016); FHL microfilm 2341584, NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.
[7]1930 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 0001, p.5B, dwelling & family 215, Fredric W Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Nov 2016); NARA microfilm T626, roll 1850.
[8] 1940 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-1, p.9B, line 69, Fred W Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Nov 2016); NARA microfilm T627, roll 3114.
[9] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Nov 2016), Mrs. Fred W. Becher, 29 Mar 1958, no. 7395; Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[10] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Nov 2016), Fred W. Becher, 10 Dec 1960, no. 40779; Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nov 18
Advertising Chattanooga Businesses
Today, a blast from the past—some old advertising giveaways from Chattanooga, Ohio, businesses.
I enjoy collecting these items and they sure bring back a lot of memories. Memories of some businesses that were once in Chatt—Fisher Hardware, Wendel Brothers Motor Sales, Heffner’s Grocery, and the Chatt Home Restaurant.
A tear-off shopping list from Heffner’s Grocery:
Heffner’s Grocery, Chattanooga, Ohio.
A pretty picture and thermometer from Wendel Motor Sales. We always called it Wendel’s Garage.
Wendel Motor Sales, Chattanooga, Ohio
Wendel Motor Sales, Chattanooga, Ohio
This piece was made in Monroeville, Indiana.
Wendel Motor Sales, Chattanooga, Ohio, back of photo.
Most of the advertising items I have are from Fisher Hardware. Fisher’s had a nice hardware and appliance store and they sold John Deere implements as well.
Bullet pencils and a match book from Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio.
From Fisher Hardward, a perfectly good fly swatter, in nearly-new condition.
Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio
The Farmer’s Pocket Ledger, 1953-54, compliments of Fisher Hardware.
Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio
Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio
Some items from the Chatt Home Restaurant and Bar.
Chatt Home Restaurant
The Chatt Restaurant and Bar is the only one of these businesses that is still open today.
I hope these items bring back some pleasant memories for you, too, and that you enjoy reminiscing about the bygone businesses in Chatt.
Nov 15
Tombstone Tuesday–Darleene Becher
Darleene Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Darleene Becher, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
DARLEENE Dau. of
L. & M. Becher
1939-1941
Norma “Darleene” Becher was born in Berne, Adams County, Indiana, on 2 September 1939. She was the first child born to Louis Fredrick and Maryan (Ferry) Becher. Darleene was baptized by Rev. Yahl at Zion Chatt on 15 October 1939, with Lorain and Magdalene (Hone) Itskin as her sponsors. Darleen’s father was from Blackcreek Township and her mother was from Geneva, Indiana. Louis and Maryan Becher lived in Berne at the time of Darleene’s birth and Louis worked as a clerk in a meat market. [1]
![Darleene Becher birth certificate. [1]](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Becher-Darleene-BC.jpg)
Darleene Becher birth certificate. [1]
Darleene died at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, on 25 November 1941, at the young age of 2 years, 2 months, and 23 days. She had been a patient there for 25 days. Her death certificate and the church records indicate that she died of rectal cancer. Yager and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral arrangement. Her death certificate indicates that the family was living at 240 E. Walnut Street in Fort Wayne at the time of her death. She was buried on the 28th. [3]
![Darleene Becher death certificate. [3]](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Becher-Darleene-DC.jpg)
Darleene Becher death certificate. [3]
[1] Indiana, Birth Certificates, 1907-1940, Norma Darleen Becher, 2 September 1939; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Nov 2016); Indiana State Board of Health, Vol. 76-80, Roll no. 16, #39070, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[2] 1940 U.S. Census, Ed 1-6, p. 3A, line 36, Louis Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Nov 2016); from NARA microfilm T627, roll 1024.
[3] Indiana Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Norma Becher, 25 Nov 1941; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Nov 2016); Indiana State Board of Health, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nov 11
Remembering Our Veterans on Veterans Day
Today is Veterans Day, a day to remember, thank, and honor our U.S. veterans.
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and was created to commemorate of the end of World War I. Fighting between the Allied Nations and Germany ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the date generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
Armistice Day became a legal holiday on 11 November 1938, primarily to honor World War I veterans and dedicated to the cause of world peace. After World War II and the Korean War the name was changed to Veterans Day and on 1 June 1954 it became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Herbert Miller, U.S. Army, 333 Reg, 84 Div, “Rail Splitters”, WWII
There are several veterans in my immediate family. My dad, Herbert Miller, was a World War II veteran and his two brothers are veterans. Two of my other uncles and some of my dad’s cousins were also veterans. My cousin Ron Weitz and Joe’s brother Greg served in Viet Nam.
Below are photos of some of the veterans in my family from the Chatt area:
Carl LaVerne Miller, U.S. Army Anti Aircraft Artillery
Kenneth Miller, U.S. Army, 278 Regimental Combat Team 1953-55.
Paul “Red” Linn, WWII, South Pacific.
Paul Eichler, U.S. Army, Korean War
Dale Caffee, U.S. Army, WWII
Donald Caffee, U.S. Army, Korean War era.
Murlin Miller, U.S. Marines, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam
Wesley Kallenberger, WWII, Navy Seabees, South Pacific.
As we remember all U.S. veterans on Veterans Day, we thank you for your service and sacrifices to protect and defend our freedoms.
Karen Miller Bennett, CG®, Retired 2024
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