Cornelius Beechert ^{3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17}

   Other names for Cornelius were Cornelius Beacher ¹⁹ and Cornelius Beecher.^{1 2 18 21 22 24 25 26 27 28}

   FamilySearch ID: KZW4-4WZ.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Alt. Name: A mystery is why Cornelius changed surname from Beecher to Beechert, as his tombstone bears. All other branches in this tree use surname Beecher.,,.

2. Census in 1850 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA. ²⁹ The 1850 census recorded the household of Levi Douder, farmer, 19, in which we find the family of John Beecher, farmer, 35; his wife Susannah, 39; Levi, 14; Catherine, 12; Reuben, 10; Rebecca, 9; Cornelius, 7; and Susannah, 2. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The mother could not read or write.

The neighbors on the previous census page are two Richenbeush [Richenbauch?] families: Solomon, 40, and Abraham, 45. In Solomon's household is listed a Catherine Beecher, 11. This is likely the daughter of John and Susan Beecher, listed again?.

3. Census in 1860 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA. ³⁰ Reuben Becher, age 20, and his brother Cornelius, 16, are farm hands living in the household of farmer Levi Good, 42, and his wife Sarah, 45. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. [Good was their father's neighbor in 1850.]

On the following page 21 is Godfrey Becher, and on page 22, the 72-year old elder John Becher [Beecher] who was born in 1789.

4. Military from Aug 1862 to Aug 1863 in Leesport, Berks, PA: Civil War: Co. E. 151st Pa Infantry. Wounded 1 Jul 1863 at Gettysburg. ¹

5. Military from Mar 1865 to Sep 1865 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA: Civil War: Co. E. 79th Pa Infantry. Sent to South Carolina under Gen. Sherman. ¹

6. Census in 1870 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA. ³¹ The 1870 census recorded Cornelius Beacher, daily laborer, 28, living with wife Sarah, 27; and daughter Katy, 5. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office was Rehrersburg.

7. Census in 1880 in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁹ Cornelius Beacher, farm laborer, 34, was living with wife Sarah, 35; Katie, 14; George, 7; Charles, 5; Sallie, 4; Clara, 2; and John, 8 months. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

8. Newspaper: Reading Times: Child Drowned In Wertz's Dam, 5 Aug 1884, Reading, Berks, PA. ³² Edward, a two year-old son of Cornelius Beechert, residing near Wertz's mill in Lower Heidelberg township, accidentally fell into the Tulpehocken creek at the mill and was drowned. Another son of Mr. Beechert's found the dead body about five minutes after the accident occurred. Several fishermen first saw the body floating on the water. They gave the alarm. The coroner's inquest rendered a verdict of death from accidental drowning.

9. Census in 1900 in Cumru Twp., Berks, PA. ²² The 1900 census recorded Cornelius Beecher, farmer, 56, born Jul 1844, living with wife Sarah, 56, Mar 1844; John, 20, Mar 1880; Irwin, 16, Feb 1884; Paul, 14, Feb 1886; and Gertrude, 12, Aug 1888. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

10. Newspaper: Reading Eagle: A Family Re-Union, 28 Dec 1902, Reading, Berks, PA. ³³ A Family Re-Union took place at the residence of Cornelius Beechert, at Shillington. The following children and grandchildren were present: George Beechert and wife; Charles Beechert and wife; Irvin Beechert and wife; Allen Bingaman and wife; John Beechert and wife; Luther Beechert, Edwin Beechert, Arthur Beechert, Paul Beechert, Gertie Beechert, Bert Glaze and Charles Glaze.

11. Census in 1910 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ³⁴ The 1910 census recorded Cornelius Buchert [indexed wrong, handwriting is Beechert], street laborer, 65, living with wife Sarah, 66. They were married for 41 years and she had birthed 12 children, 9 still alive in 1910. They and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

12. Residence: on 25 Apr 1912 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ¹⁴

13. Newspaper: Reading Times: Mr. And Mrs. Charles Beechert and son, Vernon, of Reading, and Mr. And Mrs. Cornelius Beechert, of Sihllington, in a Buick auto, visited Margaret Beechert., 12 Sep 1914, Reading, Berks, PA. ³⁵

14. Census in 1920 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ³⁶ The 1920 Census recorded Cornelius Beechert, 75, living with wife Sarah, 75.

15. Residence: 44 Miller Street, Shillington, Pa. In 1920 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ¹

16. Occupation: laborer on 12 Jan 1922 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ¹⁷

17. Residence: on 12 Jan 1922 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ¹⁷

18. Newspaper: Reading Eagle: Observes 80th Anniversary (Cornelius Beechert), 18 Jul 1924, Reading, Berks, PA. ³⁷ Shillington, July 18 (Special) -- A delightful evening was spent at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Beechert, Miller street, this place, in honor of Cornelius Beechert's 80th birthday anniversary. Mr. Beechert received a number of gifts. Music was furnished on a Victrola.

Among those present were as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Beechert, Mr. and Mrs. George Beechert and grandchildren, Kenneth and Emily Beechert, Hyde Park; Mrs. and Mrs. Charles Beechert and son, Vernon, Reading; Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Adams and grandson, Donald, Bingaman; Mrs. and Mrs. Irvin Beechert and sons, Leroy and Eugene, West Reading; Miss Rebecca Hinkle, Reading; Mrs. and Mrs. Paul Beechert, West Reading; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glase and son, Charles, Reading; Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Beechert and daughter, Helen, West Reading; Miss Pearl F. Mertz, and Henry F. Mertz, West Reading.

19. Book: Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania, a history: bio of Cornelius Beecher, 1925. ²
Cornelius Beecher --- A worthy citizen of Reading, always bearing a part in progressive endeavors of whatsoever nature, Cornelius Beecher is now one of the venerable figures of this city and one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil War. At eighty years of age however, he is still alert to the progress of the times and keenly interested in every phase of human endeavor, although since 1920, he has been retired from active public affairs. He has to his credit a long and useful life, during which -he has borne a worthy share in current progress. He is a son of John Beecher, who died at the age of seventy-six years, after an active lifetime in agricultural pursuits. His grandfather John Beecher, Sr., was also a prominent farmer of Bern Township and lived to the age of seventy-five years. He married ___ Brenheiser. John Beecher, Jr., married Susan Smith, who lived to the age of eighty-one years.
Cornelius Beecher, son of John, Jr., and Susan (Smith) Beecher, was born in Centre Township, Berks County, July 11, 1844. Receiving his education in the public schools of Bern Township, he was brought upon the farm and as a young man, aided his father in the activities on the home place. Mr. Beecher then struck out as a farmer in an independent way and for ten years was thus active in Bern and Spring townships. He was then active along the same general line, working by the day, after which he chame to Shillington and there for five years, was road master of the community, serving for one year in the same capacity in Cumru Township. Mr. Beecher continued to follow work of this general nature until 1920, when he retired from activity and now resides at No. 44 Miller Street, Shillington.
Mr. Beecher's military record begins with his enlistment in August of 1862, in Leesport, as a member of Company E., 151st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served as a private under General Hooker in the army of the Potomac, and was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg during the first day of the terrific fighting, on that memorable event. Mr. Beecher was wounded in the right hip and after four weeks in the hospital, returned to his command. He was action in Chancellorsville, and received his honorable discharge in August of 1863, at Harrisburg. Nevertheless, he re-enlisted, this time joining Company E., of the 79th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in March, 1865, and was sent to South Carolina under General Sherman. It was only shortly thereafter that the close of hostilities ended the bloody and exhausting war, and Mr. Beecher received his final discharge in September, 1865. Three brothers served in the same war, Reuben, Levi, and Cornelius, and Reuben met death in active at the Battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Beecher for many years has been a loyal supporter to the Republican Party but has held few affiliations with organized advance. He is a member of Emanuel Reformed Church , of Shillington.
Cornelius Beecher married in Reading, on May 16, 1868, Sarah Noll, daughter of John and Rebecca (Keller) Noll, of Muhlenberg and Alsace townships. Mr. and Mrs. Beecher are the parents of twelve children, of whom eight are now living: 1. Catherine. 2. George Henry (q.v.). 3. Charles Calvin. 4. Sarah Alice. 5. Clara Rebecca. 6. John Jacob. 7. Irvin Daniel. 8. Paul William.
.

20. Emanuel Reformed Church in 1928 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ¹

21. Cause of Death: apoplexy, 17 May 1928, Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁰

22. Residence: 715 Lincoln St., Reading, Pa. With his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Glase. On 17 May 1928 in Reading, Berks, PA. ^{1 10}

23. Obituary: Reading Eagle on 18 May 1928 in Reading, Berks, PA. ²³ Cornelius Beechert, a veteran of the Civil War, died of infirmities after a protracted illness at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Glase, 715 Lincoln street, aged 83 years. He was a retired farmer. He was a native of Centerport and had been making his home in Shillington until a year ago. Mr. Beechert served with the 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War. He was a member of Immanuel Reformed Church, Shillington. There remain his widow, Sarah (Noll) Beechert, at home, and the following children: Mrs. Glase, with whom deceased made his home; Mrs. Kate Palm, Mrs. Clara Adams, George, Charles, John, Irvin and Paul Beechert, this city.

24. Newspaper: Reading Eagle: Cornelius Beecher, 27 May 1928, Reading, Berks, PA. ³⁸ Cornelius Beecher

Veteran of the civil War: Was Active in Road Making Operations and Farming

Cornelius Beecher, 715 Lincoln street, who recently died of infirmities after a protracted illness, was one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil War. He was 83 years of age and was still alert to the progress of the times. He was the son of John Beecher, who died at the age of 76 years, and Susan (Smith) Beecher who lived to the age of 81 years. His grandfather, John Beecher, senior, was a prominent farmer of Bern township and attained the age of 75 years.


Cornelius Beecher was born in Center township July 11, 1844, and received his education in the public schools of Bern township. He was brought up on a farm. Mr. Beecher for 10 years was active in farming in Bern and Spring townships. He moved to Shillington later and for five years was roadmaster, serving for one year in the same capacity in Cumru township. In 1920, he retired, residing at 44 Miller street, Shillington, until recently.


Mr. Beecher's military record begins with his enlistment in August of 1862, in Leesport, as a member of Co. E., 151st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served as a private under Gen. Hooker in the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg during the first day of terrific fighting. Mr. Beecher was wounded in the right hip and after four weeks in a hospital returned to his company. He saw action in Chancellorsville, and received his honorable discharge in August of 1863, at Harrisburg. He re-enlisted, this time joining Co. E, 79th Regiment, in March, 1865, and was sent to South Carolina, under Gen. Sherman. Mr. Beecher received his final discharge in September, 1865. Three brothers served in the same war, Reuben, Levi, and Cornelius. Reuben met death in action at the Battle of Gettysburg.


Mr. Beecher was a member of Emanuel Reformed Church, Shillington. He married in Reading May 16, 1868, Sarah Noll, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Keller) Noll, of Muhlenberg and Alsace townships. Mr. and Mrs. Beecher were the parents of 12 children, of whom eight are living: Catherine, George, Charles, Sarah, Clara, John, Ervin and Paul.

25. Newspaper: Reading Times: Orphan's Court: Beechert. January 31, George H. Beechert, executor of Cornelius Beechert, deceased., 21 Feb 1929, Reading, Berks, PA. ³⁹

Cornelius married Sarah Alice Noll, daughter of Jacob Noll and Margaretha Rebecca Keller, on 16 May 1868 in Reading, Berks, PA.^{1 2} (Sarah Alice Noll was born on 25 Mar 1844 in , Berks, PA ^{19 20 21 23 40 41}, christened on 3 May 1846 in Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA, died on 18 Mar 1930 in Reading, Berks, PA ^{23 40 41 42} and was buried on 22 Mar 1930 in Shillington: Fairview Cemetery, Berks, PA ^{40 41 42}.)