Tombstone Tuesday–William P. & Katie (Schaadt) Becher

William P & Katie (Schaadt) Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

William P & Katie (Schaadt) Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of William P. and Katie (Schaadt) Becher, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

BECHER
William P.
1872-1938
Katie
1877-1955

William Philipp Becher was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 2 March 1872, the son of John and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher. His father was born in Bavaria and his mother in Pennsylvania.

William was baptized 7 April 1872 at Zion Chatt with John Philipp Becker and his wife serving as his sponsors. William was confirmed at Zion Chatt on Palm Sunday, 18 April 1886. His father John had died about three years before.

William Becher grew up in Liberty Township and married Susanna Katherine “Katie” Schaadt on 8 September 1898 in Mercer County. They were married by Rev. S. Egger. [1]

Katie was born 19 September 1877, the daughter of Adam and Marie “Mary” (Koch) Schaadt. They lived in Liberty Township, Mercer County, and their address was shown as Brehm in 1895. [2]

Two years after their marriage William and Katie had set up housekeeping in Liberty Township and had one child. In their household in 1900: William P, 28; Catherine, 22; and Louisa W, 1. The couple had been married 2 years and William farmed. Katie had given birth to one child, who was living. They lived near Henry Becher, George Becher, John Roth, and Michael Schott. [3]

In 1910 William, Katie and their five children still lived in Liberty Township. In their household in 1910: William, 38; Catharine, 32; Marie, 11; Leana, 9; Matilda, 7; Lesta, 5; and Bertha, 3. William was a farmer. They had been married 11 years and Katie had given birth to five children and all five were living. [4]

William and Katie remained in Liberty Township, where they were enumerated in 1920: William P, 47; Catherine B, 42; Marie l, 21; Leona L, 19; Matilda, 17; Leslie, g, 15; Bertha H, 12;, and Bernice, 4 years and 7 months. William was still a farmer. [5]

By 1930 most of their children had left home. Only three family members were in the William Becher household: William, 58; Katie, 52; and Bernice, 14. William was described as a general farmer and their name was spelled “Becker” in this enumeration. [6] 

According to Zion Chatt’s records, William had a heart attack and died suddenly in his field on 4 February 1938.  He was 65 years, 11 months, and 2 days old and was buried on the 6th. He was survived by his wife, 1 son, 5 daughters, 1 brother, 1 sister, and 2 grandchildren.

Katie (Schaadt) Becher died of old age on 1 March 1955, at the age of 77 years, 5 months, and 12 days. Her death record at Zion Chatt provides a lot of information about Katie: She was one of nine children born to Adam and Marie (Koch) Schaadt, born 19 September 1877, baptized by JC Reinert, and confirmed 22 March 1891 by Rev. Karl Mueller. She married William Philip Becher in September 1898 and he died 4 February 1938. She died at home and was buried on the 4th. She was survived by her son Leslie; daughters Mrs. Marie ( Hugo) Willrath, Leona, (Buress) McBride, Matilda (Alger) Eley, Bertha (Harold) Stephenson, and Bernice (Harold) Stetler; 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 4 sisters: Mrs. Otto Wendel, Mrs. Lewis Alt, Mrs. Gust Fliescher, Mrs. Otto Fickert, 2 brothers: David and Adam.

William P and Katie (Schaadt) Becher had the following children, all who were baptized at Zion Chatt:
Lavina Maria (1899-1970), married Hugo John Willrath
Leona Louise (1900-1962), married Buress B McBride
Matilda Rosina Philippina (1902-1978), married Alger M “Peck” Eley
Leslie G (1904-1982)
Bertha Helen (1907-1995), married Donald Stephenson
Pauline Emma (1912-1912)
Infant daughter, stillborn (1914-1914)
Berneice F (1915-2008), married Harold Stetler

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 27 Aug 2016), William P. Becher and Katharine Schaadt, 8 Sep 1898; from Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 7, p.338, from FHL microfilm 914957.

[2] Probate Case Files and Indexes 1852-1900, Mercer County, Ohio, Ohio Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998, Adam Schaadt, file no. 3716, 1895; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Aug 2016); from Ohio County District and Probate Courts.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.9B, dwelling 174, family 179, Calvin P Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241304, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304. [note: William’s name is indexed as Calvin P on Ancestry.com.]

[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119, p.18A, dwelling 397, family 348, William Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214. [note: I wrote the names as they were indexed on Ancestry.com]

[5] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 140, p.11B, dwelling 226, family 245, William P Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Aug 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[6] 1930 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 20, p.11A, dwelling & family 259, William Becker; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 2341584, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 1850.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.