Biographical Sketch of John F. Becker, Franklin County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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John F. Becker, farmer, was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1832, 
where he grew up and was educated.  During his youthful days he was
a shepherd boy, and at the age of twenty-one he decided to come to
America in order to escape military duty.  Not having a pass or any
money he, and some others, who were also escaping service, worked in
the harbor during the night and hid during the day.  After buying a
pass for $5 he had just enough money left to bring him to Baltimore,
where he borrowed $12, and then came to St. Louis, and found his 
uncle, who was living in that county.  As soon as he could earn 
money enough he aided his parents and five of the children over from
the old country.  His father, John F., was a native of Westphalia, 
Germany, was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1862, at the age of
sixty-two.  The mother, Mary L. Kenemann, also a native of the same
country, is still living, and is eighty-five years of age.  Our sub-
ject at first bought forty-four acres of timber.  He now owns 200
acres of good land.  In 1865 he married Mrs. Mary King, nee Brecken-
kamp, a native of Westphalia, born in 1829.  Her first husband was
murdered by Price's men in 1864.  Four children, Louisa, Emma, Lizzie 
and Anna, were the issue of her first marriage, and three children
born to her second marriage, viz.: Mary, Sophia and Katie.  All the 
family belong to the Evangelical Church.  In politics Mr. Becker is
a stanch Republican; he has resided in this county for thirty-four
years.

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