Henry Beecher
(from 1785/1794-1822)
Letty Cownover
(1792-1863)
William Beecher
(1816-1897)
Isabella Alexander
(Abt 1818-1894)
John Harvey Beecher
(1853-1914)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Frances Jenett Owston

2. Kate Viola Merriman

John Harvey Beecher 3 4

  • Born: Jan 1853, Manchester, Allegheny, PA 5 6 7 8
  • Marriage (1): Frances Jenett Owston on 13 Jan 1870 in , Allegheny, PA 1
  • Partnership (2): Kate Viola Merriman in 1879 in , Allegheny, PA 2
  • Died: 27 Oct 1914, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA at age 61 8 9
  • Buried: 30 Oct 1914, McKeesport: McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery, Allegheny, PA 8 9

   Other names for John were Harry Beecher 10 and Harvey John Beecher.6 8 9 11 12

   FamilySearch ID: L6KR-Y8M.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1860 in Manchester, Allegheny, PA. 6 William Beecher, master carpenter, 44, was living with wife Isabella, 42; Emma, 15; Mary, 12; and Harvey, 9. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. His real estate was worth $5,000. The post office was West Manchester.

2. Residence: 1869 Pittsburgh Directory: Beecher Harvey, machinist, Tremont, Allegheny City in 1869 in Allegheny City, Allegheny, PA. 13

3. Census in 1870 in McClure Twp., Allegheny, PA. 5 William Beacher, carpenter, 40, is living with wife Isabella, 40. William's real estate is worth $6,000 and possessions $500. The next household is Harvey Bucher (indexed wrong, should be Beecher), machinist, 19; and wife Fanny, 17. Harvey has nothing of value. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

4. Residence: 1876 Pittsburgh Directory: Beecher Harry, machinist, Charles, Allegheny in 1876 in Allegheny City, Allegheny, PA. 14 All Beechers in 1876 Directory:
Beecher Harry, machinist, Charles, Allegheny
Beecher J Henry, nailor, Morgan & Meadow
Beecher Jas R, carpenter, Hiland av & N Walnut 20th ward, East End
Beecher John, helper, 134 Eleventh, South Side
Beecher John, carpenter, Hiland av & N Walnut 20th ward, East End
Beecher William, carpenter, Charles, Allegheny.

5. Residence: 1879 Pittsburgh Directory: Beecher Harvey, machinist, 89 Charles, A in 1879 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 15 Beechers in 1879 Pittsburgh (A is abbrev. for Allegheny)
----
Beecher Geo R, nailer, Forbes, bt Van Braam and Marion
Beecher H J. of H J Beecher & Co, Pleasant Valley
Beecher H J & Co. eating saloon, 27 E Diamond, A
Beecher Harvey, machinist, 89 Charles, A
Beecher Henry J, machinist, 164 Chartiers, A
Beecher Jacob H, nailer, Morgan, n Centre
Beecher Jas R, carpenter, Penn av, opp station, 20th ward
Beecher John, capenter, Sheridan av, e e
Beecher John, helper, bds 216 Beaver av, A
Beecher Susannah, widow Thomas, 58 Lacock, A.

6. Census in 1880 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 2 The 1880 census recorded James Beecher, moulder, 29, living with wife Katie, 22. They and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

7. Residence: 1893 Pittsburgh Directory: Beecher, Harvey J., laborer, Boggs av, n Soffel in 1893 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 16

8. Census in 1900 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 7 The 1900 census recorded renting at 105 Boggs Avenue: Harvey Beecher, machinist, 47, born Jan 1853, married for 24 years to Kate V., 42, Jan 1858. The census recorded she had given birth to 1 child who was not alive in 1900. Harvey and Kate and her parents were born in Pennsylvania, and his parents in Ohio.

9. Newspaper: Pittsburgh Press: "Many Libels In Divorce Filed Today -- Francis Jenette Beecher says her husband, Harvey J. Beecher, is living openly with a woman named Kate Merriman. This couple was married January 13, 1870, and separated in August, 1879., 25 Jul 1908, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 17

10. Newspaper: Pittsburgh Press: Francis Jeannette Beecher Charges Husband, 11 Jan 1909, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 1 Charging her husband with wrongdoing, Mrs. Francis Jeannette Beecher stated she married Harvey Beecher in 1870 and lived with him for nine years. Since that time, Mrs. Beecher testified and was corroborated by a number of witnesses, that her husband has been living with another woman, whom he introduced to acquaintances as his wife.

11. Newspaper: Pittsburgh Press: Granted A Divorce After Many Years, 4 Feb 1909, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 18 A decree in divorce has been granted Frances J. Beecher from her husband, Harvey J. Beecher, by the judges of Court of Common Pleas No. 1. The couple had been married for nearly 39 years, though they have not lived together for over a quarter of a century.
A peculiar feature of the decree is a clause prohibiting Beecher from marrying Kate Merriman during the lifetime of the libellant. Beecher is said to reside on Mt. Washington.

12. Census in 1910 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 19 The 1910 census recorded at 709 Boggs Avenue: Harrey J. Beecher, machinist in machine shop, 55, living with wife Catherine, 50; and daughter Viola, 10. They were married for 33 years and Catherine had given birth to 1 child. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

13. Newspaper: Pittsburgh Daily Post: Listing of Property Tax Records in Nineteeth Ward: "Beecher, Harvey J. $91.31 2 Lots, Boggs ave., Nos. 15-16, 2 Dwellings, Nos. 711-709., 18 Feb 1914, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 20

14. Cause of Death: angina pectoris (heart neuralgia), 27 Oct 1914, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 8

15. Occupation: machinist on 27 Oct 1914 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 8

16. Residence: Harvey died at home at 709 Boggs Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. On 27 Oct 1914 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 8

17. He signed a will He wrote a will with no date on it. It was filed 5 Nov 1914. On 5 Nov 1914 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. 21 Last Will and Testament

I give and bequeath the sum of Five Dollars to my son Frank Alexander Beecher
I also give and bequeath the sum of Five Dollars to my daughter Martha French Beecher Alberts is paid as soon a conveniently may be after my decease after one year
I give and devise all my Real Estate situation on Boggs ave 19 Ward Pittsburg one frame house and lot no 709 Boggs ave one frame house and lot no 711 Boggs ave to my wife Kate Viola Marriman Beecher. She can either sell the property or do as she sees fit with it.
I also give and bequeath to her all my money and personal property I also give her all the household goods and every thing inside and out side of the house I give to her to do as she pleases with it.

H. Beecher (signature)

Petition for Probate filed
State of Pennsylvania
Allegheny County

Be it known that on the 5th day of November A.D. 1914 before me, William Conner, Register of Wills, etc., in and for the county aforesaid, came James H. Howarth and Charles U. Wilbert, and on their solemn oath did despose and say that they were acquainted with H. Beecher the testator to the foregoing instrument of writing purporting to be his last will and testament and familiar with his handwriting and signature, and that the signature of H. Beecher to the said writing is in his own proper handwriting, as they verily believe.

Sworn and subscribed before me the above date.

Jas. H. Howarth
Charles U. Wilbert

Wm. Conner
Register

Now Nov. 5th A. D. 1914, the testimony of the above named witnesses being sufficient, I do hereby admit the foregoing will to the Probate, and order the same to be recorded as such.
Given under my hand the above date.
Wm Conner
Register

Testator died Oct. 27 1914 at 4 P.M. affr.filed

January 4th, 1918, Letters of Administrators own testaments annexo granted unto Kate V. Field. Bond of Kate V. Field, with A. T. Rowe and Bert H. Pinyer, sureties, in the sum of One Hundred Dollars, filed.


John married Frances Jenett Owston, daughter of John Gillon Owston and Martha Newton French, on 13 Jan 1870 in , Allegheny, PA.1 The marriage ended in divorce on 4 Feb 1909. (Frances Jenett Owston was born on 13 Jul 1852 in Allegheny City, Allegheny, PA,5 22 23 24 died on 17 Dec 1943 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA 22 23 25 and was buried on 20 Dec 1943 in Pittsburgh: South Side Cemetery, Allegheny, PA 22 23.)


John had a relationship with Kate Viola Merriman, daughter of John Merriman and Sarah Ann Jones, in 1879 in , Allegheny, PA.2 (Kate Viola Merriman was born on 28 Jan 1858 in Allegheny City, Allegheny, PA,5 7 26 27 28 29 died on 28 Mar 1923 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA 11 26 27 28 30 and was buried on 31 Mar 1923 in McKeesport: McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery, Allegheny, PA 27 28.)


Sources


1 Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA), 11 Jan 1909, page 13.

2 1880 United States Census, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MW6N-22F James Beecher, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing sheet 3A, NARA microfilm publication T9.

3 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, Will of Isabella Beecher, No. 184, Vol. 53, page 304. Allegheny County, PA.

4 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, Allegheny > Will Packets, Vol 52-53, 1897, Online Image 1966. No. 184 Vol. 53 Page 304.

5 1870 United States Census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, McClure Township, Series: M593 Roll: 1294 Page: 129.

6 1860 United States Census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Manchester Boro, Series: M653 Roll: 1062 Page: 380.

7 1900 United States Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 32, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1364; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0315; FHL microfilm: 1241364.

8 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 (Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates. Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.), Certificate 102535. Harvey J. Beecher. Father Wm. Beecher, mother Elizabeth.

9 Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=30722584.

10 Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA), 26 Jul 1908, page 7. Divorce Court.

11 Pittsburgh Daily News (Pittsburgh, PA), 29 Mar 1923, obituary of Kate Beecher Fields.

12 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 (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 91585. Frank Beecher. Father Harry Beecher. Mother Frances Owston.

13 Ancestry.com, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 1869 Pittsburgh City Directory, online image 40.

14 Ancestry.com, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/169870967:2469 1876 Pittsburgh City Directory, printed page 77 online image 47.

15 Ancestry.com, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 1879 Pittsburgh City Directory, online image 54.

16 Ancestry.com, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 1893 J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory: Pittsburgh and Allegheny, PA. page 141, online image 68.

17 Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA), 25 Jul 1908, page 2. Many Libels In Divorce Filed Today.

18 Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA), 4 Feb 1909, page 4. Divorce Frances J. Beecher from Harvey J. Beecher.

19 1910 United States Census, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MGWY-9YX Viola Beecher in household of Harrey J Beecher, Pittsburgh Ward 19, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 529, sheet 19A, family 417.

20 Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, PA), 18 Feb 1914, page 20.

21 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, Will of H. Beecher, filed 7 Nov 2014, Will Book 130, page 93, No. 58. 1915.

22 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 (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 119866. Frances Beecher Smith. Father John Owston. Mother Martha French.

23 Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=133439430.

24 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, Births, 1852-1854 (Original data: Secretary of the Commonwealth. Series 26.28, Record and Indexes of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Microfilm, rolls 668-673. Records of the Department of State, Record Group 26. Pennsylvania State Archives,), Pennsylvania State Archives; Reel Number: 668. Frances Ownston, father John G. Ownston, mother Martha N. French.

25 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA), 18 Dec 1943, page 20, obituary of Frances Beecher Smith.

26 Records of Dr. James M. Owston (Grandson of John Merriman and Sarah Ann Jones.).

27 Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=30722583.

28 Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970 (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 27747. Kate Viola Beecher Field. Father John Merriman. Mother Sarah Ann Jones.

29 1860 United States Census, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXG1-VK1 : accessed 5 December 2014), Kate V Merriman in household of John Merriman, The 2d Ward Allegheny, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States.

30 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 .), http://www.health.state.pa.us/indices/indices%20-%20death/1923%20Death/D-23%20E-G.pdf, death certificate # 27747, Kate V. B. Field, died 28 Mar 1923 in Pittsburgh.



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