George L. Beecher ^{1 2 3}

   Other names for George were George Beacher ⁶ and George Bitcher.^{4 5}

   FamilySearch ID: 2MPL-ZS9.

  General Notes:

The 1920 census for his son, Adrian, lists his parents' birthplaces as Switzerland and they spoke German. ⁷

  Noted events in his life were:

1. He has conflicting birth information of 14 Jul 1818 and La Plata, Charles, MD. ⁶

2. Moved: from Columbus, Ohio. Arrived, 1847, Pierson Twp., Vigo, IN. ^{1 2}

3. Census in 1850 in Pierson Twp., Vigo, IN. ⁶ George Beacher, farmer, 27, is living with his wife Keziah, 25; Oliver P., 5; and William H., 2. George was born in Maryland, Keziah in Ohio, and the children in Indiana.

4. Census in 1860 in Pierson Twp., Vigo, IN. ⁴ George Bitcher, 42, is living with wife Keziah, 35; Perry A., 14; Almira, 11; Almeda, 9; Lucinda, 6; Adrian A., 3. Also with them: Levi Grover, 67, and Malissa, 18. George, Keziah, and Perry are born in Ohio; and all other children in Indiana. Levi is born in ? [not a state or country name, and hard to read].

Next door is Charles W. Grover, 25, and his wife Pheobe, 20; Charles W., 4; and Mary L., 2.

5. Census in 1870 in Pierson Twp., Vigo, IN. ⁸ George Bitcher, farmer, 52, was living with wife Kissiah, 45; Perry, 24; Almeda, 19; Mary L., 16; Adran A., 13; and May, 4. The parents and Perry were born in Ohio, and all other children in Indiana. The post office is Cookerly.

6. Book: History of Virgo County, Indiana, 1891. ⁹
Adrian A. Bitcher, Pierson township, P. O. Soonover, is secretary of the F. M. B. A. of Virgo county, and is a popular young man. He is a native of Pierson township, Virgo county, Ind., and was born March 26, 1857, a son of George and Keziah (Grover) Bitcher, former of whom was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 14, 1818, and died in Pierson township, this county, June 7, 1887. Keziah Grover, was born near Lancaster, Ohio, September 13, 1824, and now resides on the home farm. They were married in Ohio, and moved from there, in 1855, to Vigo county, Ind., their entire means consisting of $30 in cash, a team and a wagon. At that time George Bitcher commenced to improve the farm where his window now lives, consisting of 185 acres of Vigo county's best land, well stocked and improved. Mr. Bitcher was well known and respected by all. At an early date he was one of the trustees of Pierson township, but never afterward, although urged to be by his many friends, would he accept offers of official trust. He was a member for many years, as is his widow, of Fletcher Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he was a Republican. His parents were Abram and Elizabeth (Coffinberry) Bitcher, former of whom was born in Basle, Switzerland, and came to the United States before his marriage, locating in Ohio, after residing in Pennsylvania for a term of years. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Keziah (Grover) Bitcher is a daughter of Levi and Cassie Grover, who were from Vermont. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. George Bitcher was blessed by the birth of six children - four daughters and two sons - all of whom are living, Adrian A. being the fifth in order of birth.

7. Book: History of Indiana from Its Exploration to 1922, 1922. ¹
Adrian A. Beecher, who is favorably known to the people of Terre Haute and Vigo county as an attorney of ability, was born in this county March 26, 1857, the son of George L. and Kezia ( Grover) Beecher. His father and mother came from near Lancaster, Ohio in about 1847, and located in Pierson township, Vigo county. The trip was made overland in a covered wagon, and they started from Columbus, Ohio, where the father was at that time employed. His total capital was $35.00, but nothing daunted, he brought his wife and two children into what was then practically a virgin wilderness. He bought 185 acres of land, and by hard work and frugality, brought it into a high state of cultivation before his death. He cleared much of the tract, and built excellent outbuildings and residence, having all the improvements possible at that time.

They reared a family of six children : Perry A. ; Almira, who married Col. A. P. Asbury, now State Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic ; Almeda, who married Mr. Bazel Brown, who is now deceased ; Lucinda, Mrs. Henry Grover, who is now living at the old homestead where she has spent most of her life ; Adrian A., whose name heads this biography, and May, now deceased, who was Mrs. Rankin Winans, and lived in Kansas.

George married Kezia Agnes Grover, daughter of Levi Grover and Keziah Agnes Friend. (Kezia Agnes Grover was born on 14 Nov 1824 in , Fairfield, OH,^{2 4 5 6} died on 10 Mar 1895 in , Vigo, IN and was buried in Terre Haute: Fletcher Cemetery, Vigo, IN ².)