iIgnatz Becker

GEDCOM Note

<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </p>19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;">Lewis Becker, a native of Baden, Germany was born June 19, 1850, his parents being Ignatius and Catherine (Staub) Becker, natives of Germany.  His father was a tailor by trade, at which line of business he always worked until he came to this country, with the exception of a few years that he farmed.  March10, 1865 Lewis, with his parents, left the fatherland, taking passage at Harve on the ship Mercury, bound for New York.  During the voyage 16 persons died, 12 children and four grown persons.  One man had the small-pox and he was locked in a box to keep the disease from spreading.  On arrival at New York they came West as far as St. Louis and from there came up to Calhoun County where his parents remained nine years.  After being there about four months Lewis was taken down with he chills and was not able to do much for about 2 years.  In the spring of 1868 he came toGreene County and was employed by William Bagby aout 18 months, during which time Mr. Bagby died.  He stayed there that winter and assisted Mrs. Bagby with the feeding and chores.  Attending school 2 months of the time.  This was all the American schooling he received, but he had attended school eight years in Germany.  Lewis worked for Jehosaphat Eldred for about five years.  He then rented ground near Walkerville and put in a crop of wheat, but it all froze out that winter, and only stayed there one year, and then rented a farm of Schnelton Brothers, West o Carrollton, on which he ramained two years.  He next rented a farm of 240 acres from Geo. W. Wright and son paying $1,200 per year, cah rent and renting for five years.</p>.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;">In 1882 he bought 100 acres of land on Sec. 25 and in 1883 he moved onto it, and it has since been his home.  He was married April 22, 1879 to Sophia Unger, daughter of Timothy and Christine Unger, and by this union there are four children -- Anna C., Katie M., Lawrence F. and Joseph A.  Lewis had to giveall his wages to his parents until he was 21 years of age, so that his start in life did not begin until after that time; but by hard work and perserverance he succeeded and is now enjoying the fruits of his industry.  But few know how our foreign people toil to make a beginning in life, but their labors usually reap a rich harvest.</p>9in;">Mr. and Mrs. Becker are members of the Catholic church, at Carrollton.  In politics he is a democrat.  In 1874 Mr. Becker's father Ignatius Becker, with a family of six children moved over from Calhoun County and he is now living with Lewis.  There were twelve children in the family but one died in the old country, two in Calhoun County and one drowned while in Arkansas.  Those living are Lew, Oswald, now in Washington territory; Reinhart, now in Arkansas, Annie, Sarah, Wendelein, Romean and Maggie.</p>yle="margin-top: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0.19in;">Mr. Beckers thinks it would be profitable to most of our young American people to be in Germany three or four years; as it would teach them, first to work, second to save, and third the value of a nickle or a dollar.  There would not be so many of them failing in business.  But the way it is they do not save in good times and in hard time they haven't anything to save.</p>