William Jacob Beecher Sr. ^{4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12}

   Another name for William was William J. Beacher.¹⁷

   FamilySearch ID: 9C6N-GZL.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1880 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁸ Hiram Becher, coal miner, 38, was married to wife Henrietta, 31. Living with them: Lilly May, 12; Sarah Jane, 10; Edith, 7; and Willie, 5. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

2. The 1890 census was destroyed in a fire, but a directory compiled from it before it was lost shows the following: Beacher, Etta. Brandonville. Edith, William J., 16. Census in 1890 in Brandonville, Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁹

3. Newspaper: Evening Herald: "William Beacher of Brandonville, a driver at Ellengowan Colliery, was kicked in the side by a mule yesterday and it is thought he has internal injuries.", 20 Nov 1896, Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁰

4. Census in 1900 in Mount Carmel Twp., Northumberland, PA. ⁵ Hiram Beecher (age 57, born Jul 1843) is listed in the 1900 Census as a household head living on the west side of Oak Street in Mount Carmel Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. His wife is listed as Etta (51, born Sep 1848). Living with them is son Wilhelm J. (24, born May, 1876). Both father and son are employed as coal miners. Henrietta is listed as having given birth to 4 children, all of whom were living in 1900. Living in the same building as a boarder is Sadie Beecher, his daughter, born Feb 1874 and single, occupation servant, in the housholed of Lewis Hilbert and his wife, Edith (Hiram's daughter.).

5. Newspaper: Mount Carmel Item: "K.G.E. Officers. The following officers of the Mt. Carmel Council No. 324 Knights of the Golden Eagle were installed: Past Chief, Thomas Morris. Noble Chief, Edward Perry; Vice Chief, W. J. Beacher", 22 Jan 1902, Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA. ²¹

6. Newspaper: Mount Carmel Daily News: Wm. J. Beecher Was Injured this A. M., 24 Feb 1903, Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA. ²² Wm. J. Beecher was injured at the Reliance colliery at about 9:30 this morning by a premature blast. Mr. Beecher had prepared a shot but upon its failing to go off after a certain length of time he returned and was about to place in a squib when the explosion occurred. He received the full force of the blast in face and neck. Several small cuts are scattered around over his face and one very severe one on the forehead above the left eye in which Dr. Harple, the attending physician, placed seven stitches. His body is also slightly bruised.

7. Newspaper: Mount Carmel Item: Ad: "Lost. A watch charm, with K. Of P. Badge on one side and K. Of G. E. Badge on the other. Reward for return to W. J. Beecher, 50 So. Market st.", 20 May 1904, Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA. ²³

8. Residence: 131 E. 3rd Street, Mount Carmel, PA on 1 Apr 1908 in Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA. ²⁴

9. Occupation: miner on 24 Nov 1909 in Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA. ¹¹

10. Residence: 131 E. 3rd St., Mt. Carmel, PA on 24 Nov 1909 in Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA. ¹¹

11. Newspaper: Mount Carmel Item: William Beecher helps firefighters, 29 Jan 1910, Mount Carmel Twp., Northumberland, PA. "To bring a sad accident to lifht again we are compelled to state that the body of the late Mrs. Joseph Hinkel was discovered by George B. Morris, of the Antracity Fire Company, and by the assistance of William Beecher and Chief of Police Morgan was carried into a neighbors house. Some persons will persist in distoring the facts in all cases, and this explanation is made to rectify the impression that has been created in the minds of many, that the fireman did not do their duty."

12. Newspaper: Mount Carmel Item: "A party of twelve consisting of Harry Blue, William Beecher, wife and family and H. Beecher left this morning on the Reading for Tulare, Cal. The party will go into the homestead territory and stake up a tract of land they will farm.", 14 Apr 1910, Mount Carmel Twp., Northumberland, PA. ²⁵

13. Census on 4 May 1910 in Tulare, Tulare, CA. ¹⁴ Renting at 373 King St: William J. Beecher, 33, was married for 9 years to wife Emma, 26. She had given birth to 7 children, 6 alive in 1910. Living with them: Edith, 8; Anne, 7; Willie, 6; Arthur, 5; May, 3; John, 2; and William's father, Hiram, 68, widowed. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. No one had an occupation.

14. Newspaper: Tulare Advance-Register, 8 Aug 1910, Tulare, Tulare, CA. ²⁶ TWO CASES OF WIFE DESERTION HERE
MRS. CLARENCE BAKER AND MRS. W. J. BEECHER LEAVE HUSBAND AND HOME
Two cases of wife desertion came to light in this city this morning.
One, the wife of Clarence Baker, took her departure yesterday evening on the 4:15 Santa Fe train, leaving 'her husband and a little boy. Mr. Baker is employed with the Tulare Co-Operative Creamery as driver of one of the cream wagons. He and his wife have only been here about three months.
The other, Mrs. Wm. J. Beecher, has deserted her husband and six children. Mr. Beecher and family first came to Tulare about six months ago, and have lived here on and off since that time.
Mr. Beecher is a coal miner, having come here from Pennsylvania, but has been doing odd jobs, He worked for a time in the McQuone blacksmith shop.

15. Newspaper: Visalia Times-Delta, 16 Nov 1914, Visalia, Tulare, CA. ²⁷ -----
CHINAMAN CHARGED WITH MISCONDUCT TO LITTLE GIRL
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W. J. Beeher Swears Out Complaint Charging Vile Acts.
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A complaint was sworn out before Judge Bagby today against Toy Jaw, a Chinaman who was placed in the county jail Saturday evening by Sheriff Collins. W. J. Beecher, who swore out the complaint, charges vile acts on the part of the Chinaman and the criminal mistreatment of Mr. Beecher's little daughter Edith. The case is one of the most reprehensible of any that have come to the attention of the authorities for some time past.

16. Newspaper: Visalia Times-Delta, 18 Nov 1914, Visalia, Tulare, CA. ²⁸ -----
CHINAMAN CHARGED WITH VILE CRIME IS ARRAIGNED
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Toy Jaw Will Be Given His Preliminary Next Week; J. S. Clack Retained.
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Toy Jaw, the cook of the Mineral King fruit ranch, who was arrested by Sheriff Collins last Saturday, was arraigned before Justice E. A. Dagby this morning on a felony charge, on conviction of which he may lie sentenced to state's prison from one to 99 years.
The Chinaman's arrest was at the instigation of W. J. Beecher, who charged that he committed certain lewd acts in the presence of his little daughter. Toy Jaws bond was fixed at $3,000, in default of which he was remanded to the county jail.
The preliminary examination has not been set, but will he held some time next week. Attorney James S. Clack has been retained to represent the defendant.

17. Newspaper: Visalia Times-Delta, 26 May 1915, Visalia, Tulare, CA. ²⁹ -----
TOY JOY CASE IS NOT YET COMPLETE
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Little Edith Beecher on the Stand all Morning.
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Case Will Likely Go Over Until Morning.
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The Toy Jaw case is proceeding slowly this afternoon and it is hardly probable that it will be finished this evening. Little 11 year-old Edith Beecher, the complaining witness, was on the stand the most of the morning. In a straightforward manner she told the story of the terrible indignities heaped upon her by the Chinese cook at the Mineral King ranch house, and the rigid cross-examination to which she was subjected by Attorney Irwin for the defense did not shake her in the least. The little one is an exceptionally, pretty child with light brown hair and blue eyes which did not waver when she told the jury the story of her wrongs.
The testimony of the mother was taken yesterday afternoon and several other witnesses have been called. Testimony for the defense seems to show that Toy Jaw had always borne an excellent reputation and was held in high esteem by his countrymen and employers.
The following is the jury selected to hear the evidence in the case: H. S. Ewing, James A. Chambless, A. L. Lynham, Jerome Prothero, Dan Clubb, T. R. Evans, J. H. Clack, M. A. Bennett, W. O. DeWherst, D. E. Simons, W. E. Hunsaker, R. E. Fitzsimmons.

18. Newspaper: Visalia Times-Delta, 28 May 1915, Visalia, Tulare, CA. ³⁰ -----
TOY JAW IS GULTY SAYS JURY IN CASE; WILL BE SENTENCED SOON
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Next Tuesday Set by Court as Day on Which Chinaman Will Learn Fate.
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"Melican jury got no mercy on Chinese boy", said Toy Jaw, Chinese cook accused of a statutory crime against eleven year old Edith Beecher, when the jury in the case brought in a verdict of guilty after being out only long enough to take two ballots last evening. The Chinese will be sentenced next Tuesday.
The charges against Jaw were sworn out last November by the father of the little girl and the trial has been going on before Judge W. B. Wallace all the week. The contention of the defense was to the effect that the Beecher children had entered the Chinaman's kitchen without his knowledge and that when he found them there he hustled them out in a very unceremonious manner, at which the children took umbrage and "framed up" the story they told their parents.
This defense evidently did not get very far with the jury, considering the short time they took in returning a verdict of guilty. The trial was one of the quietest heard in Tulare county courts tor some little time. It is felt that counsel for the defense will file a motion for a new trial on Tuesday, in the meantime Jaw is boarding at Hotel de Smith.
.

19. Newspaper: Visalia Times-Delta, 10 Jun 1915, Visalia, Tulare, CA. ³¹ -----
TOY JAW WILL PROBABLY GET JOB AS COOK AT SAN QUENTN
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Cooks Are Scarce and the Chinaman Will Get an Easy Berth.
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Deputy Sheriff Robt. Pool returned home this morning from San Kan Quentin after taking there Toy Jaw, the Chinese cook recently sentenced to serve eight years by Superior Judge Wallace for making improper proposals to a little girl on a ranch where he was employed near this city.
The Chinaman made no trouble on his journey. He seemed to be impressed by the size of the prison upon his arrival. It is probable that Toy Jaw will shortly be given a job as cook in the home of one of the San Quentin officers. Cooks seem to be shy at the state prison now and Toy Jaw is said to be a very good one. It is probable, however, that he will be given a course in the jute mill before getting back to his old occupation.

20. Military on 12 Sep 1918 in Hanford, Kings, CA: World War I Draft Registration Card. ³²

21. Occupation: laborer for W. J. Vaughn, Hanford, CA on 12 Sep 1918 in Hanford, Kings, CA. ³²

22. He was described as medium height, slender, blue eyes, light hair, lost eye. On 12 Sep 1918 in Hanford, Kings, CA. ³²

23. Residence: on 12 Sep 1918 in Hanford, Kings, CA. ³²

24. Census in 1920 in Castroville, Monterey, CA. ³³ William J. Beecher, laborer in salt works, 43, was living with wife Emma, 36; William J., 16; Arthur, 14; May, 13; John L., 11; and Benjamin Franklin, 10. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. William was renting his home, and had served in World War I.

25. Residence: on 26 Feb 1923 in Monterey, Monterey, CA. ³⁴

26. Census in 1930 in Monterey, Monterey, CA. ³⁵ The 1930 census recorded owning a $2500 home at 561 Broadway: William Bucher [indexed wrong, handwriting is Beecher], laborer in fish cannery, 53, living with wife Emma, 47; son William Jr., machinist in fish cannery, 25; daughter-in-law Mary, 23; and grandson William 3rd, 4. The child and his mother were born in California, the others and their parents in Pennsylvania. Mary's father was born in Nevada and mother in Texas.

27. Census in 1940 in Monterey, Monterey, CA. ³⁶ In the 1940 Census William J. Beecher, 64, was living with wife Emma, 57. Both were born in Pennsylvania.

28. Occupation: W. P. A. Fort ORD on 14 Feb 1942 in Monterey, Monterey, CA. ³⁷ During WWII William Jacob Beecher used his experience in blasting mines to build the underground tunnels for Fort Ord and also The Presidio in San Francisco.

29. Residence: on 11 Aug 1942 in Monterey, Monterey, CA. ⁶ In 1942 on his application for a delayed birth certificate William listed his address: Route 1 Box 215A, Monterey, California.

30. Census in 1950 in Seaside, Monterey, CA. ³⁸ The 1950 census recorded at 1427 Mingo Avenue: William J. Beacher [sic], 73, living with wife Emma, 66. They were born in Pennsylvania.
Living next door at Mingo & Darwin is Charlotte C. Beecher, divorced, houseworker in private homes, 42; her daughter Kathleen M. Cardinelli, 20; and granddaughter Margaret L. [surname originally recorded as Cardinelli but crossed out and replaced with Beecher], 4. They were born in California.
Next door on Darwin is crossed out: Arthur L. Beecher, 43, born in Pennsylvania, occupation "inmate in prison" followed by his wife, who is not crossed out: Viola P. Beecher, 34; her daughter Arlene M. 12; son Arthur L., 7; and son William E., 6. All were born in California.
.

31. Newspaper: The Wm. Beechers are 50 Years Wed, 15 Dec 1950, Seaside, Monterey, CA. [newspaper name unknown, not on article clipped]

The Wm. Beechers are 50 Years Wed

Mr. and Mrs. William Beecher, 142 Mingo Avenue, observed their fiftieth wedding anniversary last Friday, Dec. 15. Owing to the illness of Mr. Beecher, any formal celebration had to be omitted.

The couple was married in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania.

Coming to Seaside when there were only one other residence on the hill area, they have occupied their present home for 32 years and still retain some 20 lots.

For this Golden Wedding anniversary there were remembrances from the four sons, Bill in Oakland; John in the San Joaquin valley; Ben in San Francisco, and Arthur in Seaside, away from home at present. Of the two daughters, Mrs. Edith Kelly was unable to be down from San Bruno; Mrs. Louis (Mae) Lopez of San Francisco bringing the anniversary and Christmas gifts from the family. Accompanying Mrs. Lopez was her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Bill Naro, and three-months-old Linda, the fifth great grandchild of the William Beechers, who saw Linda for the first time on this 50^th wedding anniversary. The other great grandchildren are Margaret Beecher, Kathy and Peggy Huckaby, of Monterey Peninsula, and Dorothy Thompson of San Bruno. There are also 15 grandchildren, including five living in local communities. A daughter-in-law, Mrs. Arthur Beecher, was present for the day, and living nearby is able to assist in caring for her father-in-law.

Earlier in the year the Beecher family had planned a Golden Wedding reception for their parents, with guests invited from the large circle of friends made during the long residence here. Greetings have been received from many who were aware of the anniversary date.

32. Obituary: Monterey Peninsula: obituary of William Jacob Beecher on 17 Feb 1951 in Monterey, Monterey, CA. ¹² ---
W. J. Beecher Dies in Seaside
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Seaside today mourns the passing of William Jacob Beecher who made his home at 1427 Mingo street for the past 31 years, earning the respect and affection of all who knew him.
Mr. Beecher died early this morning at his home following a long illness.
He was born May 24, 1876, in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania. Before coming to the Peninsula he was engaged in coal mining there, and on Dec 15, 1899, his marriage to Miss Emma Youst took place in Mt. Carmel. The couple celebrated the golden anniversary of the wedding in 1949.
Mr. Beecher was in charge of the preliminary blasting at the time Fort Ord construction was begun and later did work of the same kind at the Presidio of Monterey. He had been in retirement for the past 12 years.
An ardent sportsman during his early years, he spent leisure hours in hunting and fishing until prevented by illness.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Emma Beecher of Seaside; four sons, W. J. Beecher Jr. of Oakland, Arthur N. and John H. of Monterey, and Ben F. Beecher of San Francisco: two daughters, Mrs. Edith Kelly of San Bruno and Mrs. Mary Lopes of San Francisco: a sister, Mrs. Lily Lindenmuth of Fresno; 14 grandchildren: and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the Dorney and Farlinger Funeral Home, with the Rev. T. J. Barkle officiating. "Burial will take place in El Carmelo Cemetery.

33. Letter: Stanley James Beecher Sr. To Dianne Beecher, 23 Jun 2008. "He took his wife Emma Beecher and 6 kids by train to California, in the 1900's. The family came to Cal. because of an ad in the paper for a explosive expert to do work in Calif. He got the job and helped level land at Fort Ord and the Presidio of Monterey."
"Grandfather William Jacob Beecher was blind in one eye that was white, and he said that it happened in the PA coal mines working with explosives....my grandfather and his family came to California and some of them worked picking fruit."

William married Emma A. Youst, daughter of Henry N. Youst and Johanna Derr, on 15 Dec 1900 in Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA.^{1 2 3} (Emma A. Youst was born on 1 May 1883 in Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA,^{14 39 40} died on 17 Jul 1952 in Monterey, Monterey, CA ^{39 40} and was buried on 19 Jul 1952 in Pacific Grove: El Carmelo Cemetery, Monterey, CA ^{1 40}.)

  Marriage Notes:

They were married by Rev. F. Weiss according to the marriage certificate. ¹⁶