Madora E. Beecher ^{1 2 3}

   Other names for Madora were Mary Beecher, Medora E. Beecher ⁶ and Fredora Beicher.⁴

   FamilySearch ID: LD92-65B.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census in 1860 in Richland Twp., Miami, IN. ¹ Wm. Beecher, age 30, shoemaker, is found in the 1860 Census in Richland Township, Miami County, Indiana, having real estate valued at $50 and possessions worth $50. Living with him is Susan, 25; daughter Frances, 8 (should be a son nickname Frank); Sarah A., 4; and Mary A., 2 [she is named Madora in later records]. Both parents were born in Pennsylvania and all children in Ohio. The post office listed is Chili.

2. Census in 1870 in Mifflin Twp., Franklin, OH. ⁴ William Beicher, shoe maker, 42, was living with wife Susan, 41; Frances, 16; Medora, 14; Laura A., 12; Jeremiah, 7; and Reuben, 6. The parents were born in Pennsylvania, and the children in Ohio, so William moved there before 1854. The post office was Gahanna.

3. Census in 1880 in Silver Lake, Shawnee, KS. ⁷ William Beecker [as indexed in census, handwriting looks like Beecher], farmer, 54, was living with wife Susan, 52; son Francis M., laborer on farm, 25; daughter Modora, 22; son Jeremiah, 18; Reuben A., 16; and William A., 5. The parents and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. Francis and Maderu were born in Ohio, the younger children in Indiana.

4. Kansas State Census census on 1 Mar 1885 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁶ The 1885 Kansas state census recorded Wm. Beechard, laborer, 60, living with wife Susanna, 57; Francis M., farmer, 30; Medora E., 28; Laura A., 25; Jeramiah, 23; Reuben A., 21; and Wm. Arthur, 10. Wm. Sr. was born in Pennsylvania, Jeramiah and Reuben in Indiana, and all others in Ohio. They moved to Kansas from Ohio.

5. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: Madora E. Beecher's lawsuit against Tomas J. Ragland, 4 May 1889, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁸ Madora E. Beechard, a young unmarried woman, wants the district court to grant her $10,000 for personal damages and loss of character, caused by Thomas J. Ragland, under promise of marriage. The young woman lives with her parents in this city and is about 26 years of age, but unable to write her own name, and was compelled to attach "her mark" to the petition on file. She also made an affidavit of poverty as cause for not depositing the usual sum as security. The marriage was to have occurred on Thanksgiving day, but Ragland left the city and turned his $8,000 worth of property over to his friends.

6. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: $10,000 Wanted - Thomas Ragland Prosecuted for Seduction Under Promise of Marriage, 5 May 1889, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁹ $10,000 Wanted.
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Thomas Ragland Prosecuted for Seduction Under Promise of Marriage
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Madora E. Burchard instituted legal proceedings yesterday to recover $10,000 from Thomas J. Ragland, by whom, she alleges, under promise of marriage, she was seduced in April, 1888, and that the issue is a son, born in January last. The plaintiff alleges that prior to April, 1888, the defendant and herself had been friends for some time and that the defendant called as a suitor for her hand at the home of her parents in the city of Topeka. She further alleges that in December, 1888, the defendant turned his property amounting to $8,000 over to his relatives and then he left the city and his whereabouts to her have not since been known. She alleges the defendant agreed to marry her on Thanksgiving day, 1888, and that he failed to keep his promise. By failure and neglect of the defendant to perform his promise of marriage the plaintiff alleges that she is injured and damaged in loss of character and reputation.

7. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: Circuit Court Cases: Madora Beecher vs. Thos. J. England, 8 Apr 1891, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³

8. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: Court ties case of Madora Beechard against Thomas J. Ragland, 3 Jun 1891, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁰ The case of Madora Beechard against Thomas J. Ragland, a suit brought to recover $5,000 for breach of promise and seduction, is on trial before Judge Johnson in the circuit court. The defendant Ragland did not appear at the trial and his whereabouts are not known.

9. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: Medora Beechard awarded $2,500 by jury, 4 Jun 1891, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹¹ The jury in the case of Medora E. Beechard against Thomas J. Ragland, a suit brought in the district court to recover damages for breach of promise and seduction, returned a verdict last evening awarding damages to the plaintiff in the sum of $2,500. Ragland skipped several months ago, and did not appear at the trial of the case.

10. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: Medora Beechard foreclosure of Ragland property, 7 Jun 1892, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹² At last spring's term of the circuit court Medora Beechard of this city obtained at $2,500 judgement against Thomas J. Ragland for seduction. Before the trial Ragland conveyed his property over to his sister. Foreclosure proceedings have been commenced against the property, and Medora Beechard is now in court endeavoring to obtain her judgment out of the proceeds.

11. Kansas State Census census in 1905 in Douglas Township, Jackson, KS. ¹³ The 1905 Kansas State Census recorded George Greaser, farmer, 67, living with wife Dora, 47; daughter Leota B., 25; and son David, 23. George was born in Germany and came to Kansas from Ohio. Dora was born in Ohio and came from there. Leota and David were born in Sedgwick, Kansas.

12. Newspaper: Kansas Farmer & Mail: Mr. And Mrs. George Greaser have moved to Hoyt. They purchased property of F. H. Chase., 12 Dec 1908, Topeka, Shawnee, KS.

13. Newspaper: Holton Recorder: Louis Ragland, of Topeka, visited Saturday and Sunday with Mr. And Mrs. George Greaser, of Hoyt., 30 Sep 1909, Holton, Jackson, KS. ¹⁴

14. Census in 1910 in Hoyt, Jackson, KS. ¹⁵ The 1910 census recorded in Hoyt in Douglas Township: George Greaser, 74, living with wife Madora E., 54. The census recorded that they were married for 6 years, it was the 3rd marriage for each, and Madora had given birth to 1 child by 1910, and that child was still alive. George and his parents were born in Germany (Dutch) and he immigrated in 1845 and became a U.S. citizen. Medora was born in Ohio and her parents in Pennsylvania. George owned his home and his occupation was "own income."

15. Newspaper: Holton Recorder: Mr. And Mrs. Louis Ragland of Topeka spent last Saturday and Sunday in Hoyt with Mr. And Mrs. George Greaser., 29 May 1913, Holton, Jackson, KS. ¹⁶

16. Census in 1915 in Hoyt, Jackson, KS. ¹⁷ The 1915 Kansas State Census recorded Geo. Greser, 77, born in Germany, living with wife Madora, 59.

17. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: "Mr. And Mrs. George Greaser, of Hoyt, were in Topeka to visit a sick brother in one of the local hospitals, Saturday. They also visited the family of their daughter, Mr. And Mrs. Louis A. Rayland, 311 East Third street.", 25 Apr 1916, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁸

18. Residence: on 9 Sep 1916 in Hoyt, Jackson, KS. ¹⁹

19. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: "Hoyt: Mr. And Mrs. George Greaser and Mrs. Powers were Topeka visitors Wednesday.", 28 May 1922, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁰

20. Pension Civil War pension payable to widow of George Greaser, Madora Greaser, 427 Liberty St., Topeka, Kansas on 6 Feb 1925 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²¹

21. Residence: Topeka City Directory: Greaser, Madora (wid Geo) r311 Tyler St., Topeka, KS in 1927 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²²

22. Census in 1930 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²³ The 1930 census recorded at 220 Harrison St: Madora Greaser (indexed incorrectly as Greason), widowed, 74, living with her son Louis A. Ragland, hospital attendant, 40, and his wife Ada, 44. Louis was born in Kansas, his father in New York and mother in Ohio. Ada was born in Louisiana and her parents in France. Madora was born in Ohio and her parents in United States.

23. Census in 1940 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁴ The 1940 census recorded Medora Greaser, 85, widowed, as an inmate in the state hospital in Topeka. She was in the same place in 1935. Highest grade of school completed: 2. She was born in Ohio.

24. Tombstone: Siblings Medora, William and Reuben Beecher are buried at A-Acacia Lawn, Lot 288, sp. 1A, 8 Jan 1945, Topeka: Memorial Park Cemetery, Shawnee, KS.

Madora had a relationship with Thomas J. Ragland. (Thomas J. Ragland was born in , , OH.)

Madora next married George Greaser on 6 Aug 1904 in , , KS. (George Greaser was born on 7 Nov 1835 in Darmstadt, , Hessen, DEU and died on 6 Feb 1925 in Hoyt, Jackson, KS ²¹.)