Mar 12

Tombstone Tuesday–John and Anna Maria Becher

John & Anna Maria Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

John & Anna Maria Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of John and Anna Maria Becher, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The maker is inscribed:

Anna Maria
Apr. 8, 1837
Dec. 26, 1917

John Becher
May 20, 1833
July 25, 1883

BECHER

According to the old Family Register of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Johannes Becher was born 20 May 1833 in Thuisbrunn, District Oberfranken, Bavaria, the son of Friedrich and Margaretha Becher. Johannes was baptized in Bavaria and confirmed in Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Johannes married Anna Maria Becker on 22 January 1855. Their marriage was performed by Zion’s first pastor, J.D. Gackenheimer. Rev. Gackenheimer was a traveling minister who established several congregations in the Mercer/Van Wert County area.

Zion was established in 1855 and their marriage was the first recorded in the old church book. His parents were given as Friedrich and Margaretha Becher, and hers as Johann and Barbara Becker.

Their marriage is also recorded in the Mercer County Probate Court, where both surnames were written as “Baker”. Maria’s father gave his consent for the marriage. [1]

Zion’s Family Register shows that Anna Maria was born 8 April 1837 in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Johann and Barbara Becker. She was baptized in Bethlehem and confirmed in Mercer County, Ohio.

The Bechers’ death and burial records were also in the church record book:

Johann Becher was born 20 May 1833 in Thuisbrunn, District Oberfranken, Bavaria. He died 25 July 1883 at the age of 50 years, 2 months and 6 days. He was buried on the 27th.

Mrs. Marie Becher, born Becker, died 26 December 1917, at the age of 80 years, 8 months and 18 days.  She was buried on the 28th.  Survivors were her children and grandchildren.  The cause of her death was dropsy and old age.

Below is a copy of Anna’s Ohio death certificate. It indicates that she was born in Pennsylvania and died in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, of hardening of the arteries. The informant was Mrs. Henry Becher of Chattanooga. [2]

Anna M. Becher death certificate, 26 December 1917, Mercer County, Ohio.

Anna M. Becher death certificate, 26 December 1917, Mercer County, Ohio.

According to Zion’s records Johannes and Anna had the following children, all born in Mercer County:

Sophia, b. 4 November 1855
Maria, b. 29 July 1857
Jakob, b. 8 May 1859
Catharina, b. 8 February 1861
Louisa, b. 23 August 1862
Johann Freidrich, b. 14 March 1864
Heinrich Conrad, b. 21 April 1866
Georg, b. 29 February 1868
Mathilda Barbara, b. 18 March 1870
Wilhelm Philipp, b. 2 March 1872

According to the 1876 and 1888 maps of Liberty Township, Mercer County, Johann Becher owned the west half of section 6, which would be 320 acres. His land would have been west of Chatt, on the Ohio/Indiana state line.

Johannes “John” and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher were the grandparents of Odas “Hod” and Clarence Becher, whose tombstones were recently featured on this website. Hod and Clarence’s father was Georg Becher, born in 1868.

 

[1] Mercer County Marriage Vol. D: 111, Probate Office, Celina, Ohio.

[2] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8VD-YZ8 : accessed 10 Mar 2013), Anna M Becher, 26 December 1917; citing Black Creek Twp., Mercer, Ohio, Dist no. 850, File no. 79518, Regis. no. 118.

Mar 08

Emily (Bryan) Reid and Her Daughters

This is a photo of my great-great-grandmother Emily (Bryan) Reid Bisel and her six daughters. My great-grandmother Pearl (Reid) Brewster is seated at the far left.

Emily (Bryan) Reid and her daughters. Front: Pearl, Emily, Laura. Back: Zorphia, Minnie, Edith, Gladys.

Emily (Bryan) Reid and her daughters. Front: Pearl, Emily, Laura. Back: Zorphia, Minnie, Edith, Gladys.

The original photo belonged to my great-aunt Dorothy (Brewster) Weaver, sister of my grandmother Gertrude (Brewster) Miller. Both were daughters of Pearl (Reid) Brewster. I visited Dorothy in 1999 and she allowed me to copy the photo.

My great-grandmother Pearl was the oldest of the six daughters of my great-great-grandparents, Emily (1856-1940) and William (1855-1905) Reid. The Reid women in the above photo, left to right, front row: Pearl, Emily, Laura; back row: Zorphia, Minnie, Edith and Gladys.

The Reid daughters with their married names: Pearl Selina Brewster (1880-1962), Laura Dell Metzner (1882-1921), Minnie Mae Brockway (1884-?), Zorphia Ellen Lawrence (1887-1975), Edith Louisa VanSkyock (1892-1968) and Gladys Ester Lare (1899-1994). Laura died in 1921, so the photo was taken before that year.

1913 postcard from Fort Recovery, Ohio. Emily (Bryan) Reid, 3 granddaughters, daughter Laura (Reid) Metzner.

1913 postcard from Laura Metzner, Fort Recovery, Ohio, to her sister Pearl Brewster, Geneva, Indiana. In photo: Emily (Bryan) Reid, 3 granddaughters, daughter Laura (Reid) Metzner.

Above is a postcard, postmarked Fort Recovery, Ohio, 21 July 1913 and addressed to Mrs. Phill Brewster, Geneva, Ind.  I believe this is a photo of Emily (Bryan) Reid, her daughter Laura (Reid) Metzner and Laura’s three daughters Vadia L, Hazel and Clara L. Laura’s girls would have been about 12, 7 and 5 respectively, and those ages look to be about right for the girls in the photo. What a lovely old two-story home in Fort Recovery.

Laura and her husband Arthur A. lived in Fort Recovery sometime between 1910 and 1916, and possibly longer. According to the 1916 Mercer County Directory, A.A. Metzner, wife Laura and 3 children lived at Wayne & Caldwell Streets in Fort Recovery. Arthur was a traveling salesman. [1] That was probably the location of the above house. Emily lived in Portland and she may have been visiting Laura the day the postcard photo was taken.

The 1916 directory provided some good additional information to accompany the postcard, so remember to include city and county directories on your list of items to check.

1913 Postcard sent to Pearl Brewster from her sister Laura Metzner.

1913 Postcard sent to Pearl Brewster from her sister Laura Metzner.

The back of the postcard, transcribed as it was written:

July 20

Ft. Recovery

Dear sister and all How are you all  we are all pretty well  When are you coming out  you can look for us some Satterday  i gess they are all well at Portland i want to go home this week if I can

What do you think of this card

Laura

Rite some

 

[1] The Farm Journal Illustrated Directory of Mercer County, Ohio, 1916, 1921 (Philadelphia: Wilmer Atkinson Company, 1916), 113.

Mar 05

Tombstone Tuesday–Clarence Becher

Clarence Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Clarence Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Clarence Becher, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

1897-1972
CLARENCE BECHER

Clarence is buried immediately to the south of his brother Odis “Hod” Becher. Both markers are in the same row and on the same cement slab.

According to the church records of Zion Lutheran Chatt, Clarence Eduard Becher was born 8 December 1897 to George and Maria (Schlenker) Becher. He was baptized 1 January 1898. Maria Becher was his sponsor and the minister was Rev. August Affeld.

While looking for his baptismal record I noticed that Clarence Oliver Rehman Becher was born to Jacob and Maria (Kettenring) Becher on 20 July 1879. I imagine that was very confusing and it reminds us that we need to be aware that there may be duplicate names in the same area. Imagine duplicate names in the same church! It appears that the other Clarence went by the name of Raymond.

Clarence Eduard Becher was confirmed on 9 April 1911 by Rev. George Haas. Raymond, Albert and Cary/Carrie Becher were also in this confirmation class. Albert was the son of John and Friedericke (Mamber) Becher and Cary/Carrie was the daughter of Henry and Rosina (Schlenker) Becher. In their confirmation photo below, Clarence E. Becher is in row 2, at the far left and Cary/Carrie Becher is the girl in the second row to the far right.

1911 Confirmation class, Zion Lutheran Chatt. Clarence Becher far left row 2.

1911 Confirmation class, Zion Lutheran Chatt. Clarence Becher far left row 2.

The church records indicate that Clarence E. Becher died 19 January 1972 and was buried 22 January. He was 74 years old. Two sisters as well as nieces and nephews survived him. His funeral text was Matthew 28:19,20 and Psalm 23:4-6. The Rev. Ralph Hershberger officiated at the funeral.

Obituary:

Clarence Becher
Rockford—Clarence Becher, 74, of Coldwater died at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in Briarwood Manor Nursing Home, Coldwater. He had been a patient there four years.

He was the son of George and Mary Schlenker Becher. Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Cletus (Lucille) Menchofer of Coldwater.

He was a retired farmer in Liberty Township and a member of Zion Lutheran Church at Chattanooga.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, here, Rev. Ralph Hershberger officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. [1]

Clarence Becher; his brother Odas "Hod" Becher's marker to the left. (2011 photo by Karen)

Clarence Becher & his brother Odas “Hod” Becher’s marker to the left. (2011 photo by Karen)

According to Zion’s records five children were born to George and Mary Schlenker) Becher: Mable Louise, William Clarence, Odas and Lucille.

In 1940 Clarence was living with his widowed mother and brother Odas in Chattanooga. He was single, 43 years of age, and his highest level of education was eighth grade. His occupation was given as a farmer. [2]

[1] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 20 Jan 1972, p.2, digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 March 2013).

[2] 1940 U.S. Census, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Enumeration District 54-22, p.3A, line 39, house order 51, Mary Becher, digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 February 2013); National Archives microfilm T627, roll 3114.

Mar 01

My Favorite Mobile Apps

Phone appsThis Sunday, 3 March 2013, I will be speaking in Celina at the meeting of The Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Their chapter was established in 1980 and they are an active group with a nice list of Mercer County-related publications for sale.

I will be presenting Tech Tools for Genealogists. This is when I get to tell about and demonstrate some of my favorite technical gadgets and apps that I use for my genealogy research.

Below is a list of five of my favorite apps that I regularly use, mainly for genealogy, but some can be used for other purposes as well. I have an Android smart phone and tablet, so some of these apps may not work on the iPhone or iPad. These apps can be found in the Google Play Store and most are free.

Evernote—Android-EvernoteThis is probably the app I use the most. I use it for research to-do lists, research notes, blog ideas and drafts, Internet links, pasting information, photos, recipes, you name it. I can e-mail a note right from Evernote as well as save photos that were taken with my phone camera. Evernote has an audio feature to record ideas and messages. I save a lot of information in Evernote using my home PC and since it syncs with all my devices I know my notes are always with me.

Dropbox (2) Dropbox—I use Dropbox to store my important files and documents. Since this app is also “in the cloud” it syncs with all my devices, just like Evernote does. I upload files and folders from my home PC and I have access to them virtually everywhere, even on another computer by logging in with my password. I like the fact that Dropbox backs-up my files as well as giving me access to them everywhere.

To install Evernote and/or Dropbox, go to their website, download the program to your PC, create a password and get the app for your devices from the app store. Both are free, but you can upgrade to their paid versions.

GedStar Pro for Android—This app is for Android devices and allows me to take my family history with me on my phone and tablet. The data is stored on my device, not in the cloud. Although I cannot edit the data on my device it is very handy to be able to access my family tree and all my notes from my phone or tablet. To use this app, download the companion Windows program from their website onto your PC. This program converts the data from your genealogy program so it can be transferred to the android device. You get the mobile app from the Google Play Store. There is a 28 day trial period and if you like the app you can purchase a registration code for $9.95. I also like their “On This Day Widget”, which each day shows me who was born, died or married on that day, from information in my database.

GedStar Pro & Find a Grave apps.

GedStar Pro & Find a Grave apps.

Find a Grave—Find a Grave has created a nice searchable app for mobile use. Just like the on-line version, type in the name and information of the deceased and the cemetery and tombstone information will be shown. Photos will also be shown, if they have been submitted to the Find a Grave website. This app is free.

Find a Grave app.

Find a Grave app.

ShutterFolio for Shutterfly—I just got this app that connects to my Shutterfly account a couple weeks ago. It allows me to view all of my Shutterfly albums and photos on my smart phone and tablet. It also enables me to upload photos to my Shutterfly account as well as download photos from my account to my phone or tablet. Nice. Now I have access to my photos wherever I go. This app is $2.99 from the Google Play Store.

Here are three additional free apps that deserve an Honorable Mention:

Google Translate—Type or speak a word in English (or another language) and it will translate the word into the language of your choice. The word can be spoken back to you and as well as spelled out. You can also send a camera image of text for translation, although I have not tried this feature. This app is for both Android and iPhone.

Kindle Reading Apps—I can download and read my Kindle books on my smart phone and/or tablet, not just on my Kindle. The Kindle app syncs all my e-book reading so I can start reading on my phone or tablet right where I left off on my Kindle. There are over a million books in the Amazon Kindle Store and hundreds of magazines as well.  You don’t have to own a Kindle to use this app and it is available for Android and iPhone/iPad.

Android-Shazam Shazam—Not a genealogy-related, but I love this app. It “listens” to a song and will tell you the title and artist of the song. Shazam is available for Andriod and iPhone.

 

I hope you enjoy these apps as much as I do.

 

Feb 26

Tombstone Tuesday–Odas “Hod” Becher

"Hod" Otis Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Otis “Hod” Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Odas “Hod” Becher, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

“Hod”
ODAS BECHER
1901-1971

According to the church records of Zion Lutheran Chatt, Odas LeRoy Becher was born 16 December 1901 to Georg W. and Maria (Schlenker) Becher. He was baptized 12 January 1902 at Zion, with Johann Becher and Friedericke Becher as sponsors. Odas was confirmed 30 May 1915 by Rev. W.F.H. Heuer.

Odas LeRoy Becher died 9 June 1971 at the age of 69 years. He was buried on 12 June, the Rev. Ralph Hershberger officiating at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford. His funeral verses were Heb 4:16, 7:25 and 12:1-3.The church record also shows that he was survived by his wife, a brother and a sister.

Obituary:

Hod Becher Dies at 69

Odas (Hod ) Becher, 69, R. 1, Rockford, died at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Lima Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient six weeks.

He was born Dec. 16, 1901 in Mercer County, the son of George and Mary (Schlenker) Becher.

He married Vivian Carr in August of 1945 and she survives with two step-children, Robert Carr, Celina, Mrs. Doyle (Wanda) Gilliland, R. 1, Rockford; nine step-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Cletus (Lucille) Menchoffer, Coldwater; and one brother, Clarence Becher, Coldwater.

Mr. Becher was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, a retired-employee of General Electric Co., Fort Wayne, and a member of Willshire Lodge 667 S&AM.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, with the Rev. Ralph Hershberger officiating. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 1:30 p.m. Friday. Masonic services will be held in the funeral home at 8 p.m. Friday. [1]

I wonder how Odas came to have the nickname “Hod”. Hod Becher and his side-kick Ivan Johnson were mentioned nearly every week in the “Chattanooga News” section of the Willshire Herald. One installment reported that he was a Chevrolet salesman in 1933. [2]  But you have to wonder if that was fact or fiction since there was a lot of good-natured kidding in that section of the newspaper.

A few months later the paper reported: Hod Becher made a trip to Fort Wayne the first of this week to open the G.E. and put men to work. Everything looks rosy now. [3]

And, Hod Becher has been wearing a “wet” scented red rose. Several of the girls admired its great beauty. [4]

In 1930, “Otis” was living with his parents, George and Mary “Becker” and his brother Clarence. Otis’ occupation was farm laborer. [5]

In 1940 Odas was living with his widowed mother and brother Clarence in Chatt. Odas was single, 38 years of age and his highest level of education was the 8th grade. His occupation was given as an assembler at General Electric. [6] The Bechers lived near the Ted Lininger family in 1940. I remember Ted because he and his family went to Zion Chatt. His daughter Catherine still attends church there. I’m sure Catherine remembers Odas.

The above’ tombstone provides a nice likeness of Odas.

[1] The Daily Standard, Celina, Ohio, 10 June, p.1.

[2] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 3 February 1933.

[3] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 6 April 1933.

[4] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 27 July 1933.

[5] 1930 U.S. Census, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Enumeration District 20, p.3B, line 74, dwelling 68, family 68, George Becker; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 February 2013); FHL microfilm 2341584 from National Archives microfilm T626, roll 1850.

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Enumeration District 54-22, p.3A, line 39, house order 51, Mary Becher and p. 3B, line 41, house order 51, Odas Becher digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 February 2013); National Archives microfilm T627, roll 3114.