Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob & Mary (Kettering) Becher

Jacob & Mary (Kettering) Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Jacob & Mary (Kettering) Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Jacob and Mary Becher, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Jacob Becher
1859-1916
Mary Becher
1860-1923
BECHER

According to Zion Chatt’s Familienbuch, Jacob Becher was born 8 May 1859 in Mercer County, Ohio, the third of ten children born to Johannes and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher. Jacob’s father Johannes Becher was born in Thuisburnn, District Oberfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria, and his mother was born in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Jacob’s parents were living in Mercer County by 1855, where all of their children were born.

Although Zion’s records indicate that Jacob Becher was baptized in Mercer County, there is no record of his baptism at Zion Chatt. However Jacob was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 4 May 1873.

Jacob Becher married Mary Kettering on 12 October 1882 in Mercer County. They were married by Rev. W.G. Nicol. [1]

Mary Kettering was born in March of 1860. [2] Zion’s records indicate that she was born in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Find a Grave indicates that she was the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Fennig) Kettering, [3] but I have not found a record that names her parents. This surname was spelled Kettenring in some of the church records.

The first census the Jacob Becher family was enumerated in was the 1900 census. They lived in Blackcreek Township and Jacob was a farmer. The Jacob Becher household, as shown in 1900: Jacob, 41; Mary, 40; John H, 16; Minnie C, 14; Jacob E, 12; Ida M, 10; Ida C, 10; Sarah E, 7; James W, 4; Raymond C, 1. Mary had given birth to 8 children and all 8 were living. This record indicates they had been married 18 years. [2]

The Jacob Becher household in 1910: Jacob, 50; Mary, 50; John HF, 26; Caroline MA, 24; George JE, 22; Ida FC, 20; Iva MM, 19; Sarah EC, 17; James WT, 14; Clarence OR, 12; Samuel OL, 9. The family lived on Leininger Pike in Blackcreek Township where Jacob was a farmer and their son John was a carpenter. Jacob and Mary had been married 27 years and Mary had given birth to 10 children and 9 were living. [4]

Jacob Becher died of a stroke on 28 October 1916 at the age of 57 years, 5 months, and 20 days. He was buried on the 30th. He was survived by his widow, children, and brothers and sisters.

In 1920 widow Mary (Kettering) Becher, 59 years of age, lived in Blackcreek Township with three of her children: James, 24; Ida, 27; and Oscar, 19. Her son James was a farmer. [5]

Mary (Kettering) Becher died of pneumonia on 17 March 1923. She was buried on the 19th and was survived by 4 sons, 4 daughters, and 13 grandchildren, according to Zion Chatt’s records.

Jacob and Mary (Kettering) Becher had the following children. All ten of them were shown in Zion Chatt’s records and all were baptized at Zion.
“John” Henry Friedrick (1883-1950), married Rosa Bollenbacher
Caroline Wilhelmine Anna “Minnie” (1885-1964), married Richard S Wilson
George Jacob “Edward” (1887-1975), married Hulda Berron
Ivy Maria Margaretha “Ida” (1890-1928), married Samuel Baumgartner
Ida Friedrika Katharine (1890-1949), married Firm Shifferly
Sarah Ellen Jane “Ella” (1893-1967), married HJ Reef
James William Diebold (1895-1959), married Eva L. Burry
Clarence Oliver Rehman “Raymond” (1897-1956), married Clara Catharine Fogle
Samuel “Oscar” LeRoy Becher (1900-1922)
Clella Alice Alberta (1903-1903)

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 Jul 2016), Jacob Becher and Mary Kettering, 12 Oct 1882; from Mercer County Marriages Vol. 5, p.161, from FHL microfilm 914956.

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p.7B, dwelling & family 153, Jacob Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241303, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1303.

[3] Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); Mary (Kettering) Becker memorial #29627223.

[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.1A, visited & family 6, Jacat Becker; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[5] 1920 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, p.8A, dwelling 158, James Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

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