The Becker Family History
This history was retrieved by my father from a very old newspaper clipping the photo was not there with the article. But they may have a copy of the photo in the archives of the Calhoun News.
(Editor's Note: The following historical account of the Becker Family was written by Joseph Becker in 1906 and sent to the News by Carl F. Becker of Escondido California. The picture of the entire Becker Family was taken in 1885 after Mrs. Becker died. The small boy in the center is George Becker, age 10. He died in 1971 at the age of 96)
Gregory, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Becker, was born at Stupherrich, Baden, March 6, 1819, and peacefully departed this life in faith triumphant, from the old home place on Silver Creek., Sabbath Evening about 8 o'clock February 25, 1906 having attained the ripe old age of 86 years, 11 months, and 19 days.
He was one of a family of six children; three sons and three daughters. Two of these daughters married Beckers, though they were not related, and the other married a Frey, hence all of the grandchildren of Joseph Becker were Beckers but this one daughter's four children. The ages of these grandchildren varied in age from Pius Becker, who died in Indiana 45 years ago, who if living would be 82 years old, to Henry A. the youngest child of the departed, who is 27 years of age.
According to the good German custom to give each boy a trade he was apprenticed to a wood turner, and on finishing his apprenticeship made a specialty of spinning wheels.
Leaving Germany, he went to Paris and reside there four years, during which time he learned to speak French readily. While living there, he became tired of the aristocracy and oppression of the old world and having an old schoolmate by the name of Kischt in St. Louis, who encouraged him to come, he decided to seek this "Land of the Free". Accordingly he returned to the home of his birth and bade his loved one farewell. This was in 1849, and he never returned to his fatherland. It is thought that he landed in New Orleans. A brother and a sister also came to this country. Mr. Becker came at once to St. Louis, where he worked in a brick yard, and in 1850 landed on the soil of Calhoun from a wood boat at Crater landing. Here he followed the occupation of wood chopper. Among the early pioneers for whom he chopped were Fredrick and Joseph Schaefer and "Old John Meyer". Frederick Schaefer was elected Sheriff of this county in the latter part of the 1850's. The Schaefer's afterward moved to Carrolton, Ill.
Mr. Becker and John Suerbeck Sr. went to Des Moines, Iowa, and purchased 40 acres of land, but shortly returned to Calhoun. In 1854 he purchased of Asahel Newell (who moved to Macoupin County) then 40 acres of ground on which the old home is located. This was his first and only home in this country. Other land was added by homesteading. At this time Silver Creek was practically a wilderness, and his reason for choosing it was owing to its valuable timber, the sale of cordwood being the chief industry, but constant clearing gradually changed this industry to that of farming. The first wheat he planted was late in the 1850's when he put in two acres; the plowing being done by oxen, and a tree top served as a harrow, yet 60 bushels rewarded his labors. The old flail he used in threshing is well remembered by the older children, as well as the watching as he cleaned the grain by allowing the wind to fan it. Oxen were the only farm animals. There was perhaps not a pair of horses on the creek. Though he was an expert ox driver, he did not show the same ability in handling horses later in life.
Mr. Becker was united in marriage in this county to Theresa Daack, August 12, 1855. To them where given the following children: Peter, John, Joseph,(editor of the Jerseyville Republican) George, Henry, Mrs. Becky Piper, Mrs Maggie Tozier of Beardstown, Ill. Mrs. Mary Robinson of Altona, Oklahoma Mrs. Dina Brangeburg, and Mrs. Kate Carter who died in 1903. The wife proceeded him in death in 1879. "Grandpa Becker" gave to Calhoun some of its most honored sons and daughters. The oldest son C.P. was 49 years old when his father was laid to rest. His was the first German family on the creek, a "Yankee" settlement though now it is strongly German.
The German Methodists began work in this neighborhood early in the 1860's at the site of the present Silver Creek school house, and it became for a while a flouishing congregation. With these good people, Mr. Becker identified himself, becoming a class leader and superintendent of the Sabbath School. The work was carried on here as well as in Michael, some times in the school houses, and at other times in the homes. Among the early ministers were Revs. Witzerman, Baumgarden, Stahl, Schutel, Lookey, Elder Newman, and Rodenberg, (father of Congressman W.A. Rodenburg of E. St. Louis Ill.)who also served as elder. The last minister was Rev. Hy. Eiegand. Deaths and removals so the departed removed his membership to the Summit Grove M.E. Church where it remained until his death. Before the final disbanding of the church for a number of years, he was the only man in the community who held to these high Christian principals, often conducting the work alone. His life was so consistent that it impressed itself on all of his neighbors. The writer has known this neighborhood for a number of years, and has never heard a person speak ill of him as a Christian, neighbor, or friend, which is an exceptionally high tribute that all of us might covet. It was his practice when he came to own horses, to have them to rest on the Sabbath, and he would walk to and from church. This habit he followed even after he had passed the mile stone on life's journey of four score, often walking eight and ten miles, and yet so deaf that he could not hear the music or the sermon. Such devotion is equaled by few of us who have both youth and hearing. As was but natural, such heroic faith continued strong in the hour of death. His was a peaceful end, with no pain, but a gradual change. He asked his children to pray that he might be taken as he was "lonesome for God and wanted to go home" he was perfectly conscious to the last. Calhoun is thus bereft of another of her pioneers whose honesty, industry, and high moral character has left its impression that "he being dead, yet speaketh."
The funeral services were held at the Silver Creek school house, Tuesday afternoon, Feb 27. The roads were almost impassable, and yet the room was crowded with neighbors and friends, young and old, who thus paid their last tribute to the dead. After services here, conducted by Rev. Jas. R. Sager, the remains were laid to rest in the Silver Creek Cemetery.