John Moyer Bicher ^{1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

   Another name for John was John M. Beacher.^{2 11}

   FamilySearch ID: 9C6N-P4V.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1860 in Earl Twp., Lancaster, PA. ^{5 12} In the 1860 Census in Earl Township in Lancaster County, post office New Holland, we find the household of John Bowman, age 45, day laborer, living with with Maria, 35; son Samuel, 3; John, 7; and Lucetta, 9. (In the census John and Lucetta are listed as Bowman but in reality were born when Maria was married to Isaac Bicher.) Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. John owns no real estate; his possessions are worth $600.
On the previous census page is Henry Moyer, age 40 and his wife Mary, 39 and their family. Henry is likely Maria's brother as her maiden name was Moyer.

2. Census in 1870 in East Earl Twp., Lancaster, PA. ^{5 11} The census listed John M. Beacher, age 18, a farm laborer boarding with many others in the household of John Wallace, a merchant. The post office is Terre Hill, PA.

3. Census in 1880 in West Earl Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹³ The 1880 census recorded John Becker [index wrong but handwriting is Becher] , laborer, 28, living with wife Amanda, 26; daughter Annie, 4; and son William, 4 months, born Feb 1870. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

4. Newspaper: Lancaster Examiner: Mr. John M. Bicher will have public sale of his household goods on Saturday, February 22. He intends moving to Mohnsville., 8 Feb 1896, Lancaster, Lancaster, PA. ¹⁴

5. Census in 1900 in Cumru Twp., Berks, PA. ^{2 5} John Beacher (as indexed in the census, but handwriting could even be John Beecher or John Bucher) appears in the 1900 Census in Cumru Township in Berks. He was born Aug 1851 and was living with his wife, Amanda, born Dec 1854. They had been married 26 years and gave birth to 10 children, 7 of whom were still alive in 1900. Recorded at home in the Census were daughter Ella, born Jun 1877; Mary born Sep 1882; Harry born Mar 1884; John born Jun 1888; Carrie born Oct 1890; Minnie born Jun 1895; mother-in-law Elizabeth Bitzer? born Sep 1825. John is employed as a hat stiffener.

6. Book: Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County Pennsylvania, 1907. ^{5 15}
When the borough of Mohnton was first established in 1907 the taxpayer list included John M. Bicher, and on the list of taxable tenants were Harry S. Bicher and William H. Bicher.

7. Census in 1910 in Mohnton, Berks, PA. ^{1 5} John M. Bicher, age 58, appears in the 1910 Census on Summit Street in Mohnton Borough in Berks. His wife, Eliza A. (56) is with him as well as a daughter, Mimmie (15). Also in the household is Eliza Bitzer, age 84, who could be John's mother in law. All were born in Pennsylvania. The record shows they were married for 35 years and had 10 children, 7 of whom were living in 1910. He was employed as Supervisor of the Borough. Mimmie worked as a knitter in a hosiery mill.

8. Census in 1920 in Mohnton, Berks, PA. ¹⁶ The 1920 census recorded owning a home on Summitt Street; John M. Bicher, carpenter in hosiery mill, 68, living with wife Amanda E., 66; daughter Ella M., servant to private family, 43; daughter Minnie B. Bender, knitter in hosiery mill, 24; grandson Robert E. Bender, 6; and a boarder, G. Evan Matz, laborer in hardware factory, 19. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

9. Newspaper: Reading Times: article about golden wedding anniversary celebration for Mr. And Mrs. John Bicher, 25 Aug 1924, Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁷ CHILDREN SURPRISE PARENTS ON GOLDEN WEDDING DAY
MOHNTON, Aug. 24. One of Mohnton's aged couples, Mr. and Mrs. John Bicher, were tendered a surprise by their children, grandchildren and friends on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. One of the sons wrote the father not to go away on a certain date that he wanted to take him for an automobile ride. This trip took the folks to one of the orchards on the Farr farm near Wyomissing, where a large table was spread. The board presented a fine appearance. Fifty stems of gladiolus, a gift of the fifteen grandchildren graced the table as did also a beautiful large cake, the outside of which was lavishly decorated by a grandson, Henry Bicher, of West Reading. Sixty-four were present to extend good wishes and congratulation on the happy occasion of fifty years of married life of the couple. A number of group pictures were taken. One group showed all of the seven children; another showed all of the fifteen grandchildren, and still another a large group with all the family. The aged people also posed for a picture of themselves. There are no great-grandchildren. Miss Margaret Kegerise, a grand-child, sang several selections. About ten members of Liggett Post band were present and furnished music. Those present included Mr. and Mrs. John Bicher, Mohnton; Mr. and Mrs. William Bridegam, Reading; Mr. and Mrs. William Bicher, Shillington; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wieders, Stella Bicher, Rachel Bicher, Dora Bicher, Mary Bicher, Mr. and Mrs. Bartin Bitzer and daughter, Mildred, Reading; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bicher and sons, John and Harry, of West Reading; Mr. and Mrs. John Bicher and daughters, Esther and Melva, Mohnton; Mr. and Mrs. James Keyser and Sylvester, of Wyomissing; Mr. and Mrs. Warren Kegerise and daughters, Hazel and Margaret, and Hiram Kegerise, of Shillington; Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Bender, Robert Bender, Minerva Bender and William Bitting, Reading; Miss Ella Bicher, Mohnton; Mr. and Mrs. John Curley and son, LeRoy, Ephrata; Henry Bicher and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Haffman, Reading; Margaret Frankhouser, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Davis, Charles Davis, of Vogansville, Lancaster county.

10. Census in 1930 in Cumru Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁸ The 1930 census recorded owning a $2000 home; Chas E. Bender, 40, carpenter in butcher shop, living with wife Minnie, 35; son Robert, 15; daughter Minerva, 6, and father-in-law John M, Bicher [indexed as Bicker], widowed, 78. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

11. Cause of Death: cerebral hemorrhage, 5 Sep 1934, Cumru Twp., Berks, PA. ⁵

12. Obituary: Reading Times: obituary of John M. Bicher on 7 Sep 1934 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁰ John M. Bicher, 83, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Bender, Hendleton. He was a son of the late Isaac and Maria (Moyer) Bicher; and was a member of St. John's Lutheran church, Mohnton. Surviving are these children: Ella M. Bicher, Hendleton; William H. Bicher, Bethel; Mary, wife of Barton Bitzer, Gibraltar; Harvey S. Bicher, West Reading; John E. Bicher, Shillington; Carrie, wife of Warren Kegerise, Shillington, and Minnie, wife of Charles E. Bender, Hendleton. Funeral Saturday at 1 p.m. All services at the Kindt funeral home, Shillington. Interment in the Vogansville cemetery, Lancaster county.

13. Newspaper: Reading Eagle, 30 Sep 1934, Reading, Berks, PA. ^{5 19} Reading Eagle newspaper, 30 Sep 1934, page 10:

WILL LEAVES BIBLE TO STAY IN FAMILY

John M. Bicher, late of Cumru Township, bequeathed a German Bible to his son, Harry, "with the understanding that the same remain the property of a Bicher perpetually," the will of the decedent states.

The estate, valued at $2,000, is divided among the children or their heirs. The three sons, William, Harry and John, are named executors.

He requests that his three sons and sons-in-law serve as bearers at his funeral, and that if his black suit is servicable it should be used, instead of a shroud.

John married Elizabeth Amanda Bitzer, daughter of Jesiah Bitzer and Elizabeth Muckle, on 14 Jun 1874 in , , PA.^{1 2 3} (Elizabeth Amanda Bitzer was born on 24 Dec 1853 in Terre Hill, Lancaster, PA,^{1 2 3 20 21} died on 21 Oct 1926 in Mohnton, Berks, PA ^{3 20 21} and was buried on 25 Oct 1926 in Voglesville, Lancaster, PA ^{20 21}.)

  Marriage Notes:

They were married by Rev. Gerhard.