Dr. William H. Becher ^{1 2 3}

   Cause of his death was alevo sclerosis.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. He has conflicting birth information of 17 Jul 1848 and , Stark, OH. ¹ The birth date published "Portrait and Biographical Record" in 1892 is 1848 whereas 1845 appears on his Ohio Death Certificate.

2. Moved: Abt 1858, , Dallas, IA. ¹

3. Moved: Abt 1861, , Henry County, IL. ¹

4. Military about 1863: in the Civil War. Name: William H. Becher
Rank: [BLANK]
Company: I
Regiment: 93
State: Ohio
Arm of service: Infantry
Event date: 1931
State/Arm of service: Ohio Inf.
Company/Regiment: I,93
Publication title: Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900
NARA publication number: T289
Publisher: National Archives and Records Administration
Collection: Civil War Pension Index Cards.

5. Moved: Abt 1863, Canton Twp., Stark County, OH. ¹

6. Census in 1880 in Pike Twp., Stark, OH. ⁴ William Becher, 32, was living with his two sons: Winfield S., 13; and Webster, 12. Everyone and their parents were born in Ohio, except William's father was from Pennsylvania.

7. Book: Portrait and Biographical Record of Stark County, Ohio, 1892. ¹
WILLIAM H. BECHER, M. D. The professions are worthily represented in Stark County, not only by the numbers, but by the natural talents, acquired skill and knowledge of those who are engaged in them. The flourishing towns and villages are the centers from which the influence of the culture and practical ability of doctors, lawyers and ministers radiates over the country and reaches out hands of healing to body, mind and souls. Two miles south of North Industry is located the office of Dr. Becher, to whom many look for aid when they are ill. lie has been engaged in active practice in that place for twenty-three years and is often called to the city of Canton to see patients.

Our subject was born in this county, near Sparta, July 17, 1848. His father, Henry Becher, was a native of Pennsylvania, as was also the grandfather, who was of German descent, representatives having come to this country, during the Colonial days. Grandfather Becher emigrated to Ohio in early pioneer times and was one of the first residents in Tuscarawas County. Later, he came to Stark County, and died in the city of Canton at the age of eighty years.

Henry Becher is still living and is engaged as a prosperous farmer in Canton Township. He was married, in 1840, to Miss Barbara Collins, is native of this State, and to them were born three children, viz.: Hiram S.. who was engaged in farming and teaching school in Medina County, this State; our subject, and Simon, who resides with his father in Canton Township. The wife and mother departed this life December 8. 1890. and, like her husband, was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. The father of our subject, prior to the Civil War, was Democratic in politics, but at the present time votes with the Republican party.

William H. Becher of this sketch resided on the home farm until ten years of age when, with his parents, he removed to Dallas County, Iowa, where they remained for three years, and at the expiration of that time resided for two years in Henry County, Ill. Then returning to his native county, our subject attended High School in Canton, and when sixteen years of age entered the college at Mt. Union, where he spent one term. After that, he began teaching school in this county and was thus engaged in Pike and Canton Township, for five terms. Having determined to follow the profession of a doctor, he began reading medicine with Doctors Walker and Gans in 1866, and soon after entered the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, where he studied assiduously for three years, and in 1869 was graduated from that institution.

After receiving his diploma, Dr. Becher located where he is at present residing, and at once began to build up the practice by which he is extending his reputation, having a greater number of calls each year as the residents of the surrounding country become better acquainted with him and more confident of his knowledge and skill.

Prior to his graduation, Dr. Becher, April 28, 1864, was united in marriage with Miss Sabilla Apley, who was born in this county in October, 1845. The two children born of their union hear the respective names of Winfield and Webster. Mrs. Becher died April 18, 1879 and the lady whom the Doctor chose as his second wife was Miss Olive Guest. The lady was born December 28, 1861, in Pike Township, and the ceremony which made then one took place, October 21, 1880. Mrs. Becher possesses a cultured mind, a sympathizing heart, to which is added the housewifely knowledge which is necessary for all who would make their homes attractive and comfortable. The year of his marriage, the Doctor erected a large frame residence which is furnished with all modern conveniences and is one of the very finest in the town-ship. It is located on quite an elevation, thus commanding an admirable view of the surrounding country. Although the Doctor devotes the greater portion of his time to his profession, he also has various outside interests, among which is a valuable farm of eighty acres, which is located one-half mile east of his home and which under careful cultivation is made to produce bountifully of the various crops to which the soil is adapted. On this tract of land is located a coal mine, which Dr. Becher has worked for the last fifteen years, and as the result of his labors in that direction, has been handsomely rewarded.

Dr. and Mrs. Becher in religious belief are members of the United Brethren Church. Our subject began practice with a debt of $70, hut by strict attention to business and careful investments, he is now classed among the wealthy citizens of Pike Township. His fine practice gives him so much to do, both in its actual labors and in the continuous study which he keeps up, that he does not care to hold public office, but during elections votes the straight Republican ticket. He is quite expert with his rifle and for the past ten years has been a member of the Canton Gun Club and in this way takes recreation. He is a large stockholder in a clay mine located at Sparta, Ohio, which employs fifty men in the manufacture of hollow tiles and paving brick. The capital stock is $120,000.

8. Census in 1900 in Pike Twp., Stark, OH. ⁵ William Beaher [as indexed in census], physician, 53, born Jul 1846, was married for 30 years [includes first marriage] and was living with wife Ollie O., 39, Jul 1860, who was married for 19 years. With them is his brother, Simon, day laborer, 49, Dec 1850. Everyone and their parents were born in Ohio, except William and Simon's father was born in Pennsylvania.

9. Census in 1910 in Pike Twp., Stark, OH. ⁶ William H. Becher, physician surg., 61, was married twice for 37 years [including first marriage] and was living with wife Olive O., who had been married 30 years. She had birthed no children by 1910. Living with them: Winfield S., 41, who had been married twice; and daughter-in-law Emma E., 35, who had been married 6 years and given birth to one child who was still living, although not found listed in this census with them. Everyone and their parents were born in Ohio, except William's father and Emma's mother in Pennsylvania. William owned the home at 33 Ridge Road.

10. Death Certificate: 16 Jul 1919, Pike Twp., Stark, OH. ² Name: William H. Becher
Death date: 16 Jul 1919
Death place: Pike, Stark, Ohio
Birth date: 17 Jul 1845
Estimated birth year: 1845
Birth place: Stark Co., Ohio
Age at death: 74 years
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Race or color: Caucasian
Street address:
Occupation: Physician
Residence: Pike, Ohio
Burial date: 18 Jul 1919
Burial place:
Cemetery name: Melchimers
Spouse name: Ollie Becher
Father name: Henery Becher
Father titles:
Father birth place: Penn.
Mother name: Barbara Collins
Mother titles:
Mother birth place: Penn.
GSU film number: 1984824
Digital GS number: 4021992
Image number: 1919
Reference number: fn 45538
The informant was Dr. W.A. Becher, North Industry, Ohio.

William married Sabilla Apley on 28 Apr 1864 in , Stark, OH.¹ (Sabilla Apley was born in Oct 1845 in , Stark, OH ¹ and died on 18 Apr 1879 in Canton, Stark, OH ¹.)

William next married Olive O. Guech, daughter of Washington Guech and Ellen Collins, on 21 Oct 1880 in Canton, Stark, OH.¹ (Olive O. Guech was born on 28 Dec 1859 in , Stark, OH ⁷ and died on 7 Jul 1939 in Pike Twp., Stark, OH ^{7 8}.)