Bios: WILLIAM BECKER, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
  
    Copyright.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
  ************************************************
  
  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Ed McClelland
  
  An html version of this volume may be found at
    
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1908/
  
   ************************************************
  
      WILLIAM BECKER,
  
  [p. 456] who served as sheriff of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, from
  1894 to 1897, has been a resident of New Castle for more than sixty
  years. He was prominently identified with the business interests of the
  city for a long term of years, and, although now living in retirement,
  still retains various property interests. He was born in Germany March
  28 1833, and is a son of Christian and Amelia (Krops) Becker.
  
  Christian Becker moved with his family to America in 1842, landing at
  Baltimore on July 6 of that year. He immediately wended his way westward
  to Pittsburg, where he worked as journeyman at the blacksmith trade
  until 1846. In April of the latter year he moved with his family to New
  Castle, Pa., and, with four sons, worked in the rolling mill. He later
  established a blacksmith shop of his own and continued at that until his
  death.
  
  William Becker was nine years of age when brought to America by his
  parents. Upon their removal to New Castle in 1846, he became a
  rolling-mill worker and continued as such for nine years. In 1856 he
  established a meat market in the old market house on the Diamond, where
  the Soldiers' Monument now stands. He enjoyed a remunerative trade and
  continued that business with uninterrupted success for a period of
  thirty years. He then purchased the building now occupied by Brown &
  Hamilton, and for nine years successfully engaged in the hardware
  business. At the end of that time he disposed of both building and
  store, and has since lived in practical retirement. He is still
  financially interested in the New Castle Wholesale Grocery Company, and
  is owner of the grounds on which the New Castle Golf Club is located, as
  well as residence property in the city. He is a man of wide acquaintance
  through the county, and is held in high esteem. As sheriff he made a
  record of which he may well feel proud, and added greatly to his
  popularity among the people.
  
  Mr. Becker was joined in marriage, November 27, 1855, with Miss Belinda
  Weakley, a daughter of Robert Weakley, who was a soldier in the War of
  1812. She was born and reared in Mercer County. The following children
  were the issue of this marriage: Elizabeth, wife of Hiram Hartsuff;
  Clara, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Ida May, wife of
  Robert C. Howe, and Anna, wife of Harold Blakeley. Fraternally, Mr.
  Becker has been very active as an Odd Fellow, having become affiliated
  with that order as early as February 5, 1855; he also is a member of the
  Masonic Order. He has traveled extensively, both in this country and
  abroad, having made three trips to Europe, being accompanied by his wife
  upon two occasions. He is a progressive and public-spirited man and a
  credit to the community.
  
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and
  Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing
  Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
  
  Updated: 24 Oct 2001