Tombstone Tuesday–Alger M & Matilda (Becher) Eley

Alger & Matilda (Becher) Eley, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Alger & Matilda (Becher) Eley, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Alger and Matilda (Becher) Eley, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

ELEY
Matilda Becher
Oct. 13, 1902
May 17, 1978

Alger M. “Peck”
Nov. 5, 1900
July 3, 1964

Alger Medford Eley was born in Berne, Adams County, Indiana, on 5 November 1900 to Elmer and Victoria (Martz) Eley. [1] [2]

Matilda Rosina Philippina Becher was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 21 October 1902, the third of eight children born to William P. and Katie (Schaadt) Becher.

She was baptized at Zion Chatt on 16 November 1902, with George Hoehamer, Philipine Schaadt, Rosina Schaadt, and Otto Wendel serving as her baptismal sponsors. Matilda was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 27 May 1917. Her photo below was taken from her class confirmation photo.

becher-matilda-1917-conf-photo

Matilda Becher, 1917 Confirmation at Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Ohio.

Alger Eley and Matilda Becher were married at Zion Chatt by Rev. J.E. Albrecht on 28 April 1924. Clara Albrecht, the wife of Zion’s pastor, was the witness to their marriage. Alger was 23 years old and Matilda was 21. At the time of their marriage Alger was living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where was employed as an upholsterer. Matilda was a housekeeper and was from Liberty Township, Mercer County. Neither had been married before. [2]

Matilda gave birth to a daughter, Joy, on 22 October 1924, but she died 3 days later. They were living in the Chatt area at the time. [3]

By 1926 Alger and Matilda had moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they lived at 1148 Hanna Street. Alger’s occupation was helper at the Penn Co. [4] On 19 January 1926, in Fort Wayne, Matilda gave birth to their son Robert Eugene. [5]

By 1930 Alger, Matilda, and Robert had moved back to Liberty Township, Mercer County. They rented their home there and Alger farmed. [6]

The Eleys remained in Liberty Township for at least the next 10 years and continued renting their home. Their family in 1940: A.M. Eley, 39; Matilda R, 37; and Robert, 14. Alger worked as an upholsterer. [7]

By 1960 Alger and Matilda had moved to Celina, where they lived at 431 E. Fulton Street. By that time Alger worked as a watchman at the state highway garage. [8]

Somewhere during his lifetime Alger picked up the nickname Peck.

Alger Eley died in Celina on 3 July 1964 at the age of 63. Zion Chatt’s records indicate that he died of a heart attack and/or stroke. He was buried on the 7th and Rev. Arnold Green officiated at the funeral service. He was survived by his wife and his son Robert E.; 2 brothers, George, Hillsboro, North Carolina, and John, Fort Wayne, Indiana; three sisters, Mrs. Claude Buchanan, Willshire, Reba Minnear, and Treva Pettigrew, both Anderson, Indiana; and one grandchild. [9]

Matilda (Becher) Eley died 17 May 1978 at the age of 76 years. She was buried on the 19th with Rev. Gary Anderson in charge of the service. Matilda was survived by their son Robert, a brother, 2 sisters, a grandson, and 2 great-grandchildren. [10]

Alger and Matilda had two children:
Joy I (1924-1924)
Robert Eugene (1926-2008), married Margaret Coate

 

[1] Indiana Births, 1880-1830, Adams Co Births, Book H-6, p.49, Eley, 5 Nov 1900; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 Sep 2016); from Indiana WPA 1938-1940.

[2] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 Sep 2016), Alger M Eley and Matilda R Becher, 28 Apr 1924; from Mercer, Ohio Marriages, Vol. 12, p.274; from FHL microfilm 2366955.

[3] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,: database with images, FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org : accessed 23 Sep 2016), Joy J Eley, 26 Oct 1924; from Liberty, Mercer deaths, no. 56198, FHL microfilm 1992606.

[4] U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 Sep 2016), Alger M Eley; 1926 Fort Wayne City Directory, p.387.

[5] Indiana, Birth Certificates, 1907-1940, Indiana State Board of Health, Robert Eugene Eley, 19 Jan 1926; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 Sep 2016); microfilm, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, IN.

[6] 1930 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 20, p.3B, dwelling& family 74, Alger M Eley; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 Sep 2016); from FHL microfilm 2341584, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 1850.

[7] 1940 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-22, p.13B, visited 263, A.M. Eley; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 Sep 2016); from NARA microfilm T627, roll 3114.

[8] U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 Sep 2016), Alger M Eley; 1960 Celina City Directory, p.325.

[9] Alger M “Peck” Eley, Find a Grave.com (www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 Sep 2016); memorial no.   29398078. Note: His Find a Grave memorial also includes his obituary from the 5 July 1964 issue of The Lima News.

[10] Matilda R Becher Eley, Find a Grave.com (www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 Sep 2016); memorial no.  29398079.

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