George Beecher
(1790-1842)
Maria Barbara Graef
(1792-1848)
George Reifschneider
(1786-1859)
Elizabeth Spengler
(1786-1878)
William Beecher
(1817-1881)
Sarah Anna Reifsnyder
(1817-1881)
Levi Reifsnyder Beecher
(1848-1929)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Ellen Louisa Lake

Levi Reifsnyder Beecher 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  • Born: 23 Nov 1848, Lower Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA 1 10 11 12
  • Christened: 17 Dec 1848, Hamburg: Trinity Lutheran Church, Berks, PA 13
  • Marriage (1): Ellen Louisa Lake 1
  • Died: 6 Mar 1929, Wernersville, Berks, PA at age 80 5 10 12 14
  • Buried: 11 Mar 1929, Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA 10 12

   FamilySearch ID: MRZ1-W11.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in Lower Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA. 11 William Beacher, age 33, blacksmith, is living with wife Sarah, also 33; Reuben, 11; Mary, 7; John, 3; Levi, 1. Also in the home are William's sister, Mary Beecher, 23; and William's brother Harrison Beecher, 17, also a blacksmith. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1860 in Lower Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA. 2 William Beecher, 42, blacksmith, is listed in the 1860 Census in Lower Heidelberg Township in Berks County with real estate valued at $350 and possessions worth $175. With him is Sarah, 43; Reuben, 21, mason; Mary, 17; John, 13; and Levi, 11. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is listed as Stouchsburgh.

3. He appeared as a sponsor at a baptism on 7 Sep 1867 at Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA. 15

4. Census in 1870 in S. Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA. 16 Two Beecher households are found on as neighbors in the 1870 Census in South Heidelberg Township in Berks County. The post office is Wernersville.

William Beecher, age 52, blacksmith, is living with wife Sarah, 52; Levi, 21; and Levi's wife Ellen, 16. With them is a Sarah Strunk, age 4, and Harrison Beecher, 37, no occupation listed. William's real estate is valued at $1,800 and his possessions worth $400.

Reuben Beecher, 30, farm laborer, is living with wife Emma, 26, and George L., 7 months old, born in Oct. 1869. He has no real estate and $400 of possessions. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

5. He appeared as a sponsor at a baptism on 6 Feb 1870 at Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA. 17

6. Census in 1880 in Penn Twp., Berks, PA. 18 The 1880 census recorded Levi R. Beecher, blacksmith, 31, living with wife Ellen L., 26; son William L., 9; and son John A., 4.

Next door is William Beecher, blacksmith, 62, with wife Sarah A., 62; and servant Sallie M. Strunk, 14. Also living with them is Grandson Goerge L. Beecher, 10.

Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

7. Census in 1900 in Lower Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA. 1 Levi R. Beecher, 51, born Nov. 1848, blacksmith, was living with his wife, Ellen L., 45, born Jan. 1855. She was married 30 years and had 4 children, all still living in 1900. In the household is John H., blacksmith, born Nov. 1875; and Howard L., born Sep. 1883. Ellen L. was born in England as were her parents. All others were born in Pennsylvania, as was Levi's parents.

8. Newspaper: Evening Report: "There are now four cases of smallpox in the house of Levi Beecher, near Wernersville: Mr. And Mrs. Levi Beecher, their daughter, Kate, and Mr. Beecher's sister-in-law, Mrs. Emma Beecher. They are getting along as well as can be expected.", 27 Nov 1901, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. 19 There are now four cases of smallpox in the house of Levi Beecher, near Wernersville: Mr. and Mrs. Levi Beecher, their daughter, Kate, and Mr. Beecher's sister-in-law, Mrs. Emma Beecher. They are getting along as well as can be expected.

9. Residence: on 16 Dec 1902 in Wernersville, Berks, PA. 4

10. Occupation: Sexton of Hain's Reformed Church in 1907 in Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA. 20 From Page 474:

Harvey R. Artz became Mr. Rollman's successor as organist, but not the sexton. A division of the duties was then made, and Levi R. Beecher moved on the church property, assuming the duties as sexton and general caretaker of grounds, cemeteries and buildings.

From Page 477:

After Aaron R. Rollman became the organist, his father-in-
law, William Strunk, or some other member of his family, at-
tended to the bellow lever. After Mr, Rollman had retired as
the organist, Levi R. Beecher operated the bellows until the in-
stallation of an electric motor.

11. Book: Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, 1909. 21
Levi R. Beecher, who was for many years a blacksmith of Heidelberg township, where he is now living retired, married Ellen Louise Lake, a native of London, England, where her father carried on the business of a contractor for a time and whence he emigrated to America when she was a young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Beecher became the parents of four children: William L.; John A. m. Elsie Dundor; Katie E. m. Isaac Luckenbill; Howard died young.

12. Census in 1910 in Lower Heidelberg Twp., Berks, PA. 22 The 1910 census recorded Levey R. Beecher, blacksmith & farmer, 57, living with wife Ellen L, 56; son-in-law Isaac Luckenbill, carpenter in car shop, 31; daughter Katie Luckenbill, 28; and granddaughter Viola L. Luckenbill, 7. Eveyrone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania except Ellen's parents in England. Levey and Ellen were married for 40 years and she had birthed 4 children, 3 alive in 1910. Isaac and Katie were married for 7 years and she had birthed 1 child, who was alive in 1910.

13. Newspaper: Reading Times: "William Beecher, of Philadelphia, spent a week with his father, Levi Beecher and family, near Hain's church.", 29 Jul 1915, Reading, Berks, PA. 23

14. Census in 1920 in Wernersville, Berks, PA. 24 The 1920 census recorded at 204 Hill Road: Isaac A. Luckenbill, asst. foreman freight depot, 39, living with wife Katie E., 37; Viola L., 16; and father-in-law Live [sic] R. Beecher, widow, 70. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

15. Cause of Death: valvular heart disease, 6 Mar 1929, Wernersville, Berks, PA. 12

16. Obituary: Reading Times: death of Levi R. Beecher on 7 Mar 1929 in Reading, Berks, PA. 5 Levi R. Beecher, 80, Wernersville, died at the home of his son-in-law, Isaac A. Luckenbill. There survive two children: John A. Beecher and Katie, wife of Isaac A. Luckenbill, both of Wernersville; also two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Ellen (Lake) Beecher, died many years ago.


Levi married Ellen Louisa Lake, daughter of Isaac Wilson Lake and Ellen Ross Lewen.1 (Ellen Louisa Lake was born on 12 Jan 1854 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 25, christened on 12 Feb 1954 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,25 died on 5 Nov 1915 in Wernersville, Berks, PA 6 26 27 28 29 30 and was buried on 11 Nov 1915 in Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA 6 30.)

Sources

1 1900 United States Census, Pennsylvania, Berks County, Lower Heidelberg Township, Series: T623 Roll: 1377 Page: 172.

2 1860 United States Census, Pennsylvania, Berks County, Lower Heidelberg Township, Series: M653 Roll: 1075 Page: 388.

3 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Death Certificate 98752. John A. Beecher. Father Levi Beecher. Mother Ellen Lake. Spouse Elsie Dundore.

4 Reading Times (Reading, PA) (Reading, Berks, Pernnsylvania.), 16 Dec 1902, page 3. Marriage of Isaac A. Luckenbill and Katie E. Beecher.

5 Reading Times (Reading, PA) (Reading, Berks, Pernnsylvania.), 7 Mar 1929, page 2. Death of Levi R. Beecher.

6 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Death Certificate 107664. Mrs. Ellen Louisa Beecher. Father Isaac Wilson Lake born in England. Mother Elinor Ross Luyens born in Scotland. Spouse Levi R. Beecher.

7 Kershner, W. J. (William Jacob), 1852-1926; Lerch, Adam G., joint author, History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna (Reading, Pa., I. M. Beaver. 1916. Online at http://archive.org/details/historyofstjohns00ker .), 19 Jan 1884, Baptisms by Rev. Wm. J. Kershner.

8 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Certificate 023242-64 Katie E. Luckenbill. Father Levi Beecher. Mother Ellen Lake. Spouse Isaac A. Luckenbill.

9 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA > Berks > Reading > Lutheran Circuit > Belleman's Church, online image 251 Baptism of Kate Emma Beechert. Father Levi R. Beecher. Mother Ellen Louisa.

10 Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=182960675.

11 1850 United States Census, Pennsylvania, Berks County, Lower Heidelberg Township, Series: M432 Roll: 753 Page: 456.

12 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Death Certificate 33111. Levi Beecher. Father Wm Beecher. Mother Sarah Reifsnyder.

13 Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 (http://www.Ancestry.com. Original from Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records.), http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=PAChurchTownRecords&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsln=beecher&msdpn__ftp=Berks+County%2c+Pennsylvania%2c+USA&msdpn=295&msdpn_PInfo=7-%7c0%7c1652393%7c0%7c2%7c3244%7c41%7c0%7c295%7c0%7c0%7c&msyp.

14 Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania, Death Indices (Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records, New Castle, PA, 16103. Online at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/public_records/20686 .), Beecher, Levi K. Certificate 33111. Died Wernersville 6 Mar 1929. http://www.health.state.pa.us/indices/indices%20-%20death/1929%20Death/D-29%20A-B.pdf.

15 Kershner, W. J. (William Jacob), 1852-1926; Lerch, Adam G., joint author, History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna (Reading, Pa., I. M. Beaver. 1916. Online at http://archive.org/details/historyofstjohns00ker .), 7 Sep 1867, page 246.

16 1870 United States Census, Pennsylvania, Berks County, South Heidelberg Township, Series: M593 Roll: 1306 Page: 423.

17 Kershner, W. J. (William Jacob), 1852-1926; Lerch, Adam G., joint author, History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna (Reading, Pa., I. M. Beaver. 1916. Online at http://archive.org/details/historyofstjohns00ker .), page 176.

18 1880 United States Census, Year: 1880; Census Place: Penn, Berks, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1100; Family History Film: 1255100; Page: 144C; Enumeration District: 035; Image: 0288.

19 Lebanon Evening Report (Lebanon, Lebanon, Pennsylvania), 27 Nov 1901, page 4.

20 Kershner, W. J. (William Jacob), 1852-1926; Lerch, Adam G., joint author, History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna (Reading, Pa., I. M. Beaver. 1916. Online at http://archive.org/details/historyofstjohns00ker .), Pages 474 and 477.

21 Montgomery, Morton L., Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1909. Online at: http://archive.org/details/cu31924097286300), Page 853.

22 1910 United States Census, Year: 1910; Census Place: Lower Heidelberg, Berks, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1313; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0031; FHL microfilm: 1375326.

23 Reading Times (Reading, PA) (Reading, Berks, Pernnsylvania.), 29 Jul 1915, page 5.

24 1920 United States Census, 920; Census Place: Lower Heidelberg, Berks, Pennsylvania. Wernersville borough.

25 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, PA > PHiladelphia > Episcopal > St James Church Ellen Louisa Lake bap. 24 Feb 1854 parents Isaac w & Ellen Lake.

26 Kershner, W. J. (William Jacob), 1852-1926; Lerch, Adam G., joint author, History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna (Reading, Pa., I. M. Beaver. 1916. Online at http://archive.org/details/historyofstjohns00ker .), Page 440.

27 St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Wernersville, Berks County, PA (Lower Heidelberg Township), http://archive.org/stream/historyofstjohns00kers/historyofstjohns00kers_djvu.txt.

28 Reading Eagle (Reading, PA) (Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.), 6 Nov 1915, obituary of Mrs. Levi R. Beecher nee Ellen Lake.

29 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Certificate 10766, Ellen Louisa Beecher, father Isaac Wilson Lake, mother Elinor Ross Luyens.

30 Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182960851.


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