Benjamin Beecher ^{2 3 4 5 6 7}

   Another name for Benjamin was Benjamin Bicher.²

   FamilySearch ID: 9KP6-N73.

  Christening Notes:

He is baptized as Benjamin Bicher.

  Burial Notes:

Tombstone: "Father and Mother" "Benj., d. Sep 7, 1878, 76y-11m-3d
Margaret F., wife of B., d. May 17, 1886, 81y-9m-11d"

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1800 in Churchtown, Lancaster, PA. ¹⁰ A John Bicher is listed in Churchtown in the 1800 Census in Lancaster County in Caernarvon Township. The household included:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 3 sons (George, Jacob, William)
10-15 (1785-1790) = 2 sons (Samuel, John)
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 father (John)
Females (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 2 daughters (Catharine, Maria)
10-15 (1785-1790) = 2 daughters (Margaret, Magdalena "Polly")
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 mother (Mary Ann)

This is the only John found in the Census anywhere near New Holland where we know John Bucher/Bicher was attending church in 1803.

2. Census in 1810 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA. ¹¹ The household of John Beiher is listed in 1810 in Bern Township with:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 2 sons (William & Benjamin)
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 father ( John)
Females (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 1 daughter (Lydia)
16-25 (1785-1794) = 1 mother (Mary Ann)

Neighbors are surnames Witman/Wetman; Klein; Machemer. This Beiher is the only Beecher-like surname found in all of Bern Township after a page-by-page review.

3. Note: Not in Census: Bern Two Berks, Salisbury Twp Lancaster, Sadsbury Twp Chester, 1820. Went page by page through 1820 census and cannot find him. Likely he was living in someone else's household.

4. Newspaper: Lancaster Intelligencer: District Court. The following Causes are put down for trial at Lancaster: 13th Dec.: Leonard Ellmaker v. Benjamin Beecher & Benjamin Beecher v. Leonard Ellmaker, 3 Dec 1824, Lancaster, Lancaster, PA. ¹²

5. Benjamin were married on 13 Oct 1825 in Parkesburg, Chester, PA: Benjamin Beecher married Margaret Finney at the Upper Octara Presbyterian Church in Parkesburg. ¹³

6. Tax List: 1828 Chester County Tax Index, 1828, West Caln Twp., Chester, PA. ¹⁴

7. Census in 1830 in West Caln Twp., Chester, PA. ¹⁵ The 1830 census recorded Benjamin Becher with this household:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 2 sons (Cyrus, Samuel)
20-29 (1801-1810) = 1 father (Benjamin)
Females (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 daughter (Eliza Jane)
20-29 (1801-1810) = 1 mother (Margaret).

8. Newspaper: Lancaster Examiner: Public Sale: We learn where Benjamin lived when his neighbor Leonard Ellmaker died and his land in Waterloo sold at auction, 13 Dec 1832, Lancaster, Lancaster, PA. ¹⁶ PUBLIC SALE. Will be sold by order of the Orphans Court, on TUESDAY, the 18th of December next, at the public house of Michael Silknitter, Waterloo, Salisbury township, Lancaster county, the following Real Estate, late the property of Leonard Ellmaker, deed, viz : Plantation, Containing 100 acres of first-rate Limestone Land, situated in Salisbury township, Lancaster county adjoining lands of Isaac Haines, Benjamin Becher end others. The improvements thereon are an elegant two story Stone Dwelling House, with a stream of water in the cellar, a large sub-mantial Swisser Barn, Wagon Shed and Corn Crib, all in complete order, and an ORCHARD of thriving young choice Fruit Trees. About 35 acres of the above Farm is covered with excellent Timber. Persons disposed to view the property previous to the day of sale, will please call at the premises.
Sale to commence at 1 o'clock, P. M. when attendance will be given and terms of sale made known by GEORGE ELLMAKER, Admr. Nov. 12, 1832.

9. Census in 1840 in Sadsbury Twp., Chester, PA. ¹⁷ The 1840 census listed Benjamin Buker [handwriting looks like Benjamin Becher] with this household:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840) = 1 son (John)
5-9 (1831-1835) = 1 son (William)
10-14 (1826-1830) = 2 (Cyrus, Samuel)
30-39 (1801-1810) = 1 father (Benjamin)
Females (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840) = 1 daughter (Catherine)
10-14 (1826-1830) = 1 daughter (Eliza Jane)
30-39 (1801-1810) = 1 mother (Margaret)
Benajmin's neighbor was his father-in-law Samuel Finney.

10. Census in 1850 in West Brandywine Twp., Chester, PA. ¹⁸ Benjamin Beecher [handwriting looks like Bucher as the two e's could be a u], age 48, blacksmith, is living with wife Margaret, age 46; Cyrus, 24, laborer; William, 19, carpenter; Catherine, 14; John, 11; Margaret, 9; and Lydia, 7. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

11. Pension in 1854. ¹⁹ Following in a copy of a letter from U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, received by Mrs. Harry Kennett McAdams, 309 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY. [Ms. McAdams is a descendent.]

"I advise you that form the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension Claim, S.39982, it appears that John Beecher, or Becher, enlisted in Lebanon, in what was later Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, April, 1788, served as a Private in Captain Meng's Company, Colonel Benjamin Flowers Artillery Artificers Regiment and was discharged April 3, 1779.

"He was allowed a Pension on his application executed November 28, 1818, while a resident of Berne Township, Berks County, Pa., aged over fifty-six years. He died March 22, 1819.

"Soldier's wife, Mary Ann Beecher, died November 11, 1837. Her maiden name and date of marriage not stated.

"In 1854, Jacob Nyswender and Henry Carpenter stated in Columbus, Ohio, that the following were the children and only heirs of said John and Mary Ann Beecher:

"John Beecher, of Berks County, Pa.

"William Beecher and Barbara Nyswender, both of Franklin County, Ohio.

"Margaret Mulliner, of Philadelphia, Pa.

"Benjamin Beecher, Jacob Beecher, and Catherine Paxon, all of Chester Co., Pa.

"Samuel Beecher, of Lancaster Co., Pa.

"Lydia Cook, of Clark Co., Va.

"There is no record in this bureau of land having been granted by the United States, on account of the service of the above named Revolutionary War Soldier, John Beecher, or Becher.

"Respectfully,
Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Rev. and 1812 Wars Section."

12. Residence: in 1854 in , Chester, PA. ¹⁹

13. Residence: in 1856 in , Franklin, Ohio, United States. ¹

14. Census in 1860 in Jefferson Twp., Franklin, OH. ²⁰ William Beecher, 28, carpenter, is found in the 1860 Census in Jefferson Township in Franklin County living with his wife, Julian, age 24; Margaret, 6; Mary J., 2; and Elizah, 1 month old on the 25 of July, 1860 when the census was recorded. Everyone was born in Ohio, except William who was born in Pennsylvania. The value of his real estate and possessions is blank, indicating he was probably renting. The post office listed is Blacklick.

Living next door is his father, Benjamin Beecher, 57, blacksmith, with his wife Margaret, 54; John J., 21, carpenter; Margaret S., 19; and Lydia A., 16. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. He has no value on his real estate or possessions.

15. Residence: in 1861 in , Miami, IN, USA. ¹

16. Census in 1870 in Peru, Miami, IN. ²¹ William V. Beecher, 38, farmer, was living with wife Julia H., 34; Margaret J., 16; Mary J., 12; Elizabeth E., 11; George L., 7; Cyrus M., 5; William, 2; Benjamin, 68; and Margaret, 64. Benjamin, Margaret, and William V. were born in Pennsylvania. George, Cyrus, and young William in Indiana, and the others in Ohio. William's real estate was worth $3800, his personal estate $1240.

17. Book: History of Miami County, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc., 1887. ¹
William V. Beecher is a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, born December 4, 1831. His parents, Benjamin and Margaret (Finney) Beecher, were both natives of Pennsylvania. The former, Benjamin Beecher, was a son of John and Mary A. (Albert) Beecher, who were natives of Germany, and from thence emigrated to the United States in a very early day, settling in the State of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of fifteen children, viz: George, Samuel, Jacob, William, Benjamin, John, Catherine, Lydia, Barbra, Mary, Margaret, and four whose names have been forgotten.
Benjamin, the father of our subject, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1801. He was married in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1825, to the above Margaret Finney, who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1804, and a daughter of Samuel F. and Elizabeth Finney. After their marriage they settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and from thence moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania, and from there to Franklin County, Ohio, in the year 1856, and in 1861 moved to Miami County, Indiana, where they afterward resided until their respective deaths. They were the parents of the following nine children, namely: Cyrus F., Samuel F., Eliza J., William V., Mary A., Catherine M., John J., Margaret S., and Lydia.
William V., our subject, resided in Pennsylvania until 1852, when he went to Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in the carpenter trade, and was there married, April 3, 1853, to Julia A., daughter of William and Julia A. (Carpenter) Beecher. She was born in Franklin County, Ohio, October 4, 1835. In 1861, Mr. Beecher, removed to Miami County, Indiana, and first settled in Peru Township, where he purchased land and resided until February, 1872, at which time he purchased and settled up on the farm on which he now resides in section 35, Jefferson township. He owns at present 160 acres of fine and well improved land.
He has born to him nine children, viz: Margaret J. born April 7, 1854; Mary J., born January 31, 1858; Elizabeth E., born May 31, 1860; George L., born September 22, 1862; Cyrus M., born January 22, 1865; William C., born March 2, 1868; Ulysses G., born June 22, 1870; Charles W., born December 30, 1872; and Gracie P., born July 23, 1875. Mr. Beecher is an intelligent and enterprising man, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

18. Book: Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, 1929.
Benjamin married; lived Chester Co., Pa. Born 1797; had 6 children.

Benjamin married Margaret Finney, daughter of Samuel F. Finney and Elizabeth, on 13 Oct 1825 in Parkesburg, Chester, PA.¹ (Margaret Finney was born on 6 Aug 1804 in , Lancaster, PA,^{1 22 23} died on 17 May 1886 in Peru, Miami, IN ^{22 23} and was buried in Mexico: Old Mexico Cemetery, Miami, IN ^{22 23}.)