William M. Beacher ^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13}

   Another name for William was William Bicher.

   FamilySearch ID: KZGT-7YT.

  Burial Notes:

Tombstone reads: William Beacher, Ptv. Co. C., 194th Regt., Pa. Inf. - C. W., b 1838, d. 1900

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁵ In 1850 living in the South Ward of Pottsville is Jacob Bieger. Obviously the census taker was confused by his German pronounciation of his surname! Jacob Bieger, tailer, age 36, is living with wife Angeline, 35; William, 12; Jacob, 11; Hiram, 8; Benjamin, 6; George, 3; and Nathan, 8 months old when the census was recorded on 29 Aug 1850. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1860 in New Castle Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁹ In 1860 living in the New Castle Township is Jacob Bucher, day laborer, age 48, living with wife Angeline, 45; William, day laborer, 21; Jacob, day laborer, 19; Hiram, day laborer, 17; B. Franklin, day laborer, 15; George, 12; and Nathan, 9; and Ann M., 7. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Broad Mountain.

3. Military from 19 Jun 1863 to 1 Aug 1863 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA: Civil War: Private in Company A 27th Infantry. Organized at Harrisburg June 22, 1868, to protect Pennsylvania against Lee's Invasion. Dept. Of the Susquehanna. Duty at Columbia and Wrightsville. ^{20 21 22}

4. He was discharged from the military on 31 Jul 1863 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. A copy of William's discharge certificate from the U.S. Army is in possession of Bruce Beacher. This certificate reads:

To all whom it may concern

Know ye, That William Beacher, Private, of Captain David A. Smith, Company A., 27th Regiment of Penna. Vol. Militia, who was enrolled on the Sixteenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three to serve for lasting emergency, is hereby Discharged from the service of the United States this thirty-first day of July, 1863, at Harrisburg, Penna. By reason of the expiration of his term of service. No objection to his being reenlisted is known to exist. Said William Beacher was born in Centre County, in the State of Pennsylvania, is twenty-four years of age, five feet 5 1/2 inches high, light complexion, grey eyes, light hair, and by occupation when enrolled, a Labourer. Given at Harrisburg this thirty-first day of July, 1863.

5. Military from 13 Jul 1864 to 6 Nov 1864 in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD: Civil War: Private, Company C, 194th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania (100 Days). Served at Baltimore, provost duty. ²³

6. Newspaper: Weekly Miner's Journal: The 194th Regt., P. V., 13 Aug 1864, Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁴ This Regiment was mustered in for one Hundred Days' service. Teh Coloniel is Jas. Nagle. The Major, O. D. Jenkins. Both belong to Schuylkill County. The Regiment is now stationed near Baltimore.
The muster rolls of Companies C and H from this Borough are as follows:
Captain -- Zacur C. Pott.
1st Lieut. -- John C. Guss.
<snip>
Privates.
<snip>
Beacher, Wm.
.

7. He was discharged from the military on 6 Nov 1864 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. A copy of William's discharge certificate from the U.S. Army in 1864 is in possession of Bruce Beacher. This certificate reads:

To all whom it may concern

Know ye, That William Beacher, Private, of Captain Zacur P. Potts, Company C., 194th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, who was enrolled on the 13th day of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four to serve 100 days or during the war, is hereby Discharged from the service of the United States this sixth day of November, 1864, at Harrisburg by reason of expiration of term of service. No objection to his being reenlisted is known to exist. Said William Beacher was born in Centre Co., in the State of Pennsylvania, is 25 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches high, light complexion, grey eyes, light hair, and by occupation when enrolled, a miner. Given at Harrisburg this sixth day of November, 1864.

8. Census in 1870 in New Castle Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ⁷ The 1870 census lists Jacob Beacher, the first census to spell his name this way. He is a laborer, age 57, living with wife, Angeline, 55; 3 sons who are all laborers: William, 31; George, 22; Nathan, 21; and daughter Mary, 18. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Broad Mountain.

9. Census in 1870 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁵ Angelina Becker [sic], 55, is listed as the head of the household. Living with her: William, 31; Heiram [sic], 28; Benjamin, 26; George, 24; Nathan, 20; and Mary, 18. The men are all employed as miners. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Shenandosh.
[Note: the family shows up twice in the 1870 census in both Shenandoah and Broad Mountain in New Castle Township. Some members are in both locations, so the family either had two homes operating, or, moved in 1870 and happened to be counted in each location.].

10. Census in 1880 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁴ The census listed at 126 Cherry Street: Jacob Beacher, laborer, 67, living with wife, Angeline, 65, and sons William, miner, 41, and Nathan, miner, 28. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. The census was recorded 8 Jun 1880.

11. Book: History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 1881. ⁵
Washington Camp, No. 112, Patriotic Order Sons of America was organized at Reagan's Hall, in Shenandoah, May 4th (CDL), 1869, with twelve charter members. The first elective officers were as follows: S.D. Hess, past president; J.S. Farringer, president; J.W. Deitrick, vice-president; J.R. Miller, M. of F. & C.; L.F. Raber, R.S.; Sylvester Yost, assistant secretary; James F. Jacoby, F.S.; George R. Shaeffer, treasurer; Jonathan Yost, Cond.; M.S. Shoemaker, I.G.; Lewis Widdenmoyer, O.G.; Charles M. Wasley, chaplain. This order is a beneficiary one, and applicants, to be eligible, must be not less than eighteen years of age and native-born Americans. The camp has nearly a hundred members. The presiding officers of this camp have been J.S. Farringer, John R. Miller, Charles M. Wasley, S.D. Hess, G.R. Shaeffer, J.C. Glover, Sylvester Yost, J.D. Moyer, J.M. Horman, W.M. Beacher, B.J. Yost, A.A. Greenawald, Robert Davenport, George G. Kurtz, H.W. Heiser, John P. Roehm, John G. Thomas, Frank Templin, B.F. Crawshaw, D.O. Thomas, J.W. Blaker, Myer Kolb, William R. Wilde, John W. Bartch and Thomas Tosh.

12. Book: History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 1881.
WILLIAM BEACHER, of German descent, was born in Center county, Pa., August 1st, 1838, and came with his father's family to Shenandoah in 1869, where he has followed mining. In the war of the Rebellion he served in the 27th and the 194th regiments of Pennsylvania.

13. Residence: in 1881 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁶ Beacher, Benjamin F., miner, h. W. Centre n Main
Beacher, George W., miner, h al r Oak n West
Beacher, Hiram, miner, h Oak bel West
Beacher, Jacob, h Oak bel West
Beacher, John J., miner, h. 323 W Coal
Beacher, Nathan, miner, h Oak bel West
Beacher, William, miner, h Oak bel West
Dirk, Priscilla, widow Jonathan, h 31 N Jardin
Jacobs, William, laborer, h Line c Main.

14. Pension on 3 Nov 1890 in , , PA. William made pension application 948025, certificate 825019 for an invalid pension.

15. Newspaper: The Evening Herald, 5 Mar 1892, Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁷ William Beacher, a former townsman, living at Gilberton, was in town yesterday. He will soon return to Shenandoah and take up his residence here.

16. Newspaper: Evening Herald: William Beacher, of Gilberton, formerly of town, has received notice that a pension has been granted himi., 6 Dec 1892, Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁸

17. Newspaper: Evening Herald: Personal. William Beacher, of St. Nicholas, has moved into the house on East Coal street, formerly occupied by the Ford family., 5 Oct 1893, Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁹

18. Newspaper: Pottsville Republilcan, 24 Dec 1897, Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ² NOTES about this newspaper article: A contest court in Pottsville investigated an election for Orphans Court Judge and called witnesses suspected of voting illegally, among them William Beacher, as recorded in the newspaper article as follows:

SHENANDOAH.

William Beecher, Fifth ward, moved into the ward in August of 1895; paid his taxes in September, '95; paid his '94 taxes in the other ward; he came from Boston Run in 1894; allowed to go.

19. Census in 1900 in Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ¹ The 1900 census recorded renting a home: William Beecher, day laborer, 54, born Aug 1846, living with wife Priscilla, 47, Jan 1853; son Nathan, day laborer, 14, Jul 1885; son John, 12, Jul 1888; son Alfred, 8, Jan 1892; and daughter Laura, 6, Aug 1894. William and Priscilla were married for 17 years and she had birthed 10 children, 8 still alive in 1900 (some of these were by her first marriage.) The parents could read but not write. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. Their census was recorded 8 Jun 1900.

20. Obituary: Republican Herald: obituary of William Beacher on 19 Oct 1900 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ³⁰ William Beacher died at his home at Yatesville at three o'clock this morning, after an illness of three weeks of cancer of the stomach. Deceased was aged 62 years and was a member of Watkin Waters Post No. 146, G. A. R. He is survived by a wife and eight children. The funeral will take place on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Services will be held in St. John's German Lutheran church on West Cherry street. Interment will be made in the Odd Fellows cemetery.

21. Obituary: Republican Herald: Funeral of William Beacher on 22 Oct 1900 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ³¹ The funeral of William Beacher took place yesterday afternoon from his home at Yatesville. The remains were brought to town and services were held in the Evangelical German Lutheran church on West Cherry street. They were conducted by Rev. G. M. Bock, pastor of the Christ German Lutheran church of Mahanoy City, who was assisted by Rev. John Gruhler. Watkin Waters Post No. 146, G. A. R., of which the decease was a member, attended the funeral in a body and a firing squad from Henry Horncastle Camp No. 49 Sons of Veterans, participated in the services at the cemetery.

22. Pension on 26 Oct 1900 in , , PA. Priscilla filed a widow pension application 728976 certificate 527997.

23. Pension: for the Civil War filed on 21 Oct 1901. ³² His wife Priscilla filed. The service records indication on the form are A 27th Pa Inf and C 194th Pa Inf.
.

24. Pension Civil War Pension, William Beacher. Pvt. Co. C. 194th Pa. Certificate 554899. $8 Month paid 26 Jan 1903 to 24 JUn 1903 to Joseph T Lyons guardian of minor Laura Beacher. She received $2/month 26 Jan 1903 to 22 Sep 1910. On 23 Jan 1903 in , , PA.

25. Pension on 26 Jan 1903 in , , PA. A minor pension for minor Joseph Derrick, widow Priscilla Beacher, was filed for William Beacher for his military service in Company A of the 27th Regiment and Company C of the 194th Pennsylvania Infantry.

26. Book: History of Schuylkill County, 1907. ²²
William is recorded in list of his Civil War regiment published in the history book:

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FOURTH
Of this regiment, which recruited for one hundred days, Companies A and F were raised in Schuylkill county. The regiment was organized July 22nd, 1864, and moved to Baltimore the same day. During its term of service it was engaged only in guard, provost and escort duty. This regiment included from Schuylkill county Colonel James Nagle, Major O.D. Jenkins, Adjutant John H. Schall and the following:

COMPANY C Officers.-Captain, Zacur C. Pott. First lieutenant, Thomas J. Foster; second, John C. Guss. Sergeants-Hudson C. Kind, Henry Walbridge, Daniel W. Filbert, Robert M. Palmer, Jacob Riegel. Corporals-Milton Williams, Henry Deibert, Byron O. Manville, William Helms, Amos Boyer, James Glover, Thomas Welsh, T.P. Gould. Musicians-Frederick Orrum, John Kohler. Privates.-David Anstock, John Burkhart, Henry Bauseman, John Bauseman, Jacob Bailer, Jacob Botts, Charles Brownmiller, Samuel Brown, Frank Bertram, Henry Beyerle, William Beacher, James Bathurst, Levi Conrate, Raphael Cake, George Collins, Jacob Chrisman, William Daubenspeck, Miles Doughman, Edward Eccard, E.W. Frehafer, Alonzo Fernsler, John J. Fernsler, George Forrer, John E. Fuchs, Joseph Gerz, Henry Gluntz, Daniel Ginter, William Hepler, J.A. Huntzinger, James N. Hodgson, George Hame, Isaac Hardy, Albert Hoffman, Herman Hoffman, Michael Jordan, John Johnson, George Kauffman, William Kalbach, Joshua Keller, William Klinger, George Laury, James Lynch, Patrick McGloan, Thomas Matthews, Andrew Morgan, Henry Nimelton, John Neff, John A. Nash, Thomas H. Phillips, William Queeny, Patrick Rhorig, George Rahn, John Roaney, Charles Shoener, John Schmelzer, Henry Strohmeier, George Skeen, Jonathan Sterner, Oliver Smith, William Shay, Eugene Sands, Andrew Steffee, Victor Setley, William Toohey, Franklin Trexler, Joseph Uble, Felix Weidel, Daniel Wiltrout, Richard Williams, John Walbridge, William Wortz.

27. Book: History of the Beacher Family, 1970. ³³
William Beacher, brother of B. F. Beacher Sr., was the oldest in the Beacher family. He had three sons, Albert, John and Nathan. His wife was Aunt Perhit. She married a Derrick first and had one son Wm. Derrick, who later married B. F. Beacher Sr.'s daughter Mamie. She was only 29 years of age when she died of T.B. She use to belong to the Salvation Army and sang a lot on street corners in all kinds of weather and it is believed she got T.B. from doing this.

William married Priscilla Brigitta Wary, daughter of Absalom Wary and Salome Mary Brosius, in 1883.¹ (Priscilla Brigitta Wary was born on 3 Mar 1853 in Barry Twp., Schuylkill, PA,^{34 35 36} died on 3 Jan 1903 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA ^{36 37 38 39} and was buried on 6 Jan 1903 in Shenandoah Heights: Odd Fellows Cemetery, Schuylkill, PA ^{36 39}.)