William Benjamin Beecher ^{1 3 4 5}

   Another name for William was Benjamin William Beecher.⁸

   FamilySearch ID: LW3S-9S6.

  Christening Notes:

Sponsor was Emma Grant.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1880 in Sinking Spring, Berks, PA. ¹¹ The 1880 census recorded George Yocum, 76, living with his daughters, Amanda, 46, and Emma, 36, widowed, and Emma's son William Beecher, 4. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1900 in Reading, Berks, PA. ⁶ The 1900 census recorded William Beecher, single, hostler, living alone as a renter in a hotel. He was 24 years old, born Jan 1876 in Pennsylvania where his parents were also born.

3. Residence: on 26 Aug 1905 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹ On his marriage license William Beecher recorded he was living at the Farmers Hotel, 5th and Washington Streets, in Reading.

4. He was employed on 26 Aug 1905 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹ His occupation in 1905 was "hostler" on his marriage license.

5. Newspaper: 26 Aug 1905, Reading, Berks, PA. ¹² From the Reading Eagle newspaper:

Weddings.
Beecher - Griesemer.
William B. Beecher, of the Farmers' Hotel, Fifth and Washington, son of Reuben and Emma Beecher, and Miss Lizzie Griesemer, daughter of George Friesemer, Yellow House, were married at 4 p.m. at Friedensburg. The groom is a hostler employed at the Farmers' Hotel.

6. Newspaper: Reading Tiems: Marriage Licenses: William Benjamin Beecher, hostler, son of Reuben and Emma Beecher, Fifth and Washington streets, and Lizze Griesemer, daughter of George Griesemer, Yellow House.", 28 Aug 1905, Reading, Berks, PA. ¹³

7. Newspaper: Reading Times: article about Benjamin's dog catching rats, 27 Sep 1905, Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁴ Ratter With Record
Seventy-two rats in four hours is the record of the bull dog belonging to Benjamin Beecher, assistant stable boss at the Farmers Hotel.
The stalbes were infested with rodents when Mr. Beecher secured his present position. He immediately deteremined to get rid of them and brought his dog to the stable the other day with the above result. The dog is known by the name of Jack and is nine years old.
His master stated that he was far better at catching rats several years ago, but in a fight with several other dogs he lost an eye.

8. Residence: in 1909 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁵ The 1909 Reading City Directory recorded William B. Beecher, occupation coachman, living at 741 Pear.

9. Census in 1910 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁶ The 1910 census recorded William B. Beecher, 34, living with wife Lizzie, 30, and James C. Grisemer, 23. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

10. Newspaper: Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Stole Large Sum, 24 Aug 1910, Williamsport, Lycoming, PA. ¹⁷ Stole Large Sum -- The parable of the Good Samaritan proved the undoing of Benjamin Beecher, of Reading, and for following the Biblical injunction he is minus $340 with which the stranger made his disappearance.

11. He served in the military on 12 Sep 1918 in Reading, Berks, PA. ⁷ Indexed at Ancestry.com as Benman William Beecher, this certainly was William Beecher who registered and signed as Benman William Beecher, a twist of William Benjamin Beecher. He wrote his birth date as January 24, 1876. His address is on the registration as 712 ? in Reading, hard to read the street name on this scanned copy. His occupation was butcher. Nearest relative was George L. Beecher [which confirms his William is the son of Reuben Beecher and Emma Yocum.].

12. Census in 1920 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁸ The 1920 census recorded Benjamin Beecher, no occupation, 43, married but living without his wife as a boarder at 133 1/2 Cedar Street in Reading in the home of Anna McNutt, cigar maker, widowed, 42, and her brother, Edward Geiger, shipper in cigar factory, 33. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

13. Newspaper: Reading Times: Judges Fix Support Orders in Domestic Relations Court: In the case of Elizabeth G. Beecher against Benjamin Beecher, order reduced to $4 per week, 21 Dec 1925, Reading, Berks, PA. ²

14. Cause of Death: William died at the Homeophathic Hospital from cardiac decompensation due to portal cirrhosis., 22 Jun 1941, Reading, Berks, PA. ³

15. Occupation: laborer, George Dobbins Hotel on 22 Jun 1941 in Reading, Berks, PA. ³

16. Residence: 140 S. 6th Street, Reading, Pa. On 22 Jun 1941 in Reading, Berks, PA. ³

William married Lizzie Griesemer, daughter of William K. Griesemer and Agnes L. Drumheller, on 26 Aug 1905 in Oley, Berks, PA.^{1 2} The marriage ended in divorce. (Lizzie Griesemer was born on 4 Oct 1879 in Griesemersville, Lehigh, PA,^{1 19} died on 24 Apr 1929 in Reading, Berks, PA ¹⁹ and was buried on 27 Apr 1929 in Reading: Laureldale Cemetery, Berks, PA ^{19 20}.)