Part 1 of 2
Francis Becraft was born 12 June 1760 in Hudson, Columbia Co., NY and died
2 Nov. 1852 in Schoharie Co., NY. He married 29 Mar. 1784 (Schoharie Reformed Church,
Schoharie Co., NY) Catherine Dietz. She was born 3 Oct. 1761 in Schoharie co.,
NY to John Heinrick and Catherine Elizabeth (Houck) Dietz. She died between 1840 and
1850 in probably, Schoharie Co., NY.
Francis was a resident of Rensselaerville, Albany Co., NY when he enlisted
for service in the Revolutionary War in August of 1778. He served through November
of that year at the fort at Beaver dam, Albany County, NY in Capt. William Dietz’s
company, in Colonel Peter Vrooman’s regiment. The company was at that time commanded
by Lieutenant Mattice Shultes, “Captain Dietz having been a few days before taken
prisoner by the Indians, and his father, mother, wife and all his children murdered
and scalped by the Indians, and he taken to Canada where he died as was reported.”
Francis served from April to November in each of the next four years in the same
regiment. For the first two years he served at the “old” fort and was mainly employed
building the “new” fort, called Switz Kill Fort, a few miles from the old fort in
Beaver dam. The next two years were served at the new fort, where Francis was employed
standing guard and scouting. Again, in the spring of 1783, Francis reported for duty.
After one month he was discharged.
The Following spring, Francis and Catherine were married. They resided in
Bern, Albany Co., NY until about 1810, when they moved to Schoharie, Schoharie Co.,
NY where they resided until their deaths. Francis is listed on the 1840 Schoharie
census as a pensioner living with his son, Jacob. In 1850, Francis was still living
with Jacob, near Fox Creek Bridge, in Schoharie. According to the 1850 census,
Francis was aged 100 and his occupation was listed as farmer.
Children of Francis and Catherine (Dietz) Becraft:
i. William Becraft, b. 19 June 1786
ii. Elizabeth Becraft, b. 30 March 1789; baptized 6 June 1789 Schoharie
iii. Margaretha Becraft, b. 2 February 1794; married Elias Rickard
iv. Anna Becraft, b. 1796
v. Peter Becraft, b. 1798 **
vi. Jacob Becraft, b. 14 July 1799; married 6 April 1837 Rebecca Rickard
vii. Sarah Becraft, b. 1806; baptized 5 October 1806 Schoharie
v. Peter Becraft was born 1798 in Bern, Albany Co., NY to Francis and
Catherine (Dietz) Becraft and died 17 February 1849 in Morehouseville, Hamilton
Co., NY. He married about 1819, in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Schoharie Co., NY,
Elizabeth Miller. She was born 1803 in New York and died after 1880.
Peter and Elizabeth lived in Schoharie, where all their children were born,
until about 1840. On 24 November 1840 Peter bought property in Morehouseville from
Andrew K. Morehouse and moved his family there. On 26 February 1842, Peter sold his
property to two of his sons, Jacob Henry and Frederick, reserving the right to
continue to occupy the house where he and his family lived. Seven years later, Peter,
aged 50, died of Diabetes. He was laid to rest in Mountain Home Road Cemetery in
Morehouseville. His widow, Elizabeth, continued to live in Morehouse until at least
1880.
Children of Peter and Elizabeth (Miller) Becraft:
1) Catherine Maria Becraft, b. 6 May 1820
2) Jacob Henry Becraft, b. 10 October 1821
3) Frederick Becraft, b. 27 February 1824
4) Francis Freeman Becraft, b. 30 September 1825
5) Nancy Becraft, b. 22 January 1828
6) John Becraft, b. 27 October 1829
7) Peter H. Becraft, b. 23 March 1832
8) William Becraft, b. 23 December 1833
1) Catherine Maria Becraft, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Miller) Becraft was
born 6 May 1820 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. She was baptized 11 June 1820 in
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church; sponsor was Francis Begraff. She died 16 May 1906.
Catherine married Adoniram Judson Tucker 1 September 1841 in Morehouse, Hamilton
Co., NY. Rev. William Thurston performed the ceremony. Adoniram, son of Henry and
Hannah Tucker, was born 1821 in New York and died 2 May 1870 in Utica, Oneida Co.,
NY.
Adoniram and Catherine lived in Morehouse until sometime between 1850 and 1860,
when they moved to Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY, as did Adoniram’s brothers and their
families. While living in Brooklyn, Adoniram and Catherine’s eldest, and only living
son, Henry Mortimer Tucker, enlisted for service in the Civil War. He was “killed
in the service of his Country”, July 1863. That December, Adoniram enlisted as
private in Co. G, 84th NY Vol. Infantry. He was transferred to Co. K, 5th NY Vols.
And then mustered out with his company 21 August 1865. After his discharge, the
family moved to Utica, Oneida Co., NY where, five years later, Adoniram died of
“disease contracted while in the service.” Catherine remained with her children
in Utica, collecting a widow’s pension. She was listed on the 1880 Morehouse census
as an 80 year-old widow with nursing as her occupation, residing in the home of her
brother, Frederick. However, according to her pension papers, she was living on
Lansing St. in Utica in that year.
Children of Adoniram Judson and Catherine Marie (Becraft) Tucker:
1.1 Henry Mortimer Tucker, b. 3 January 1843 in <Morehouse, Hamilton Co.>
NY and died July 1863 “in the service of his Country”
1.2 Nancy Elizabeth Tucker, b. 13 January 1845 <Morehouse, Hamilton Co> NY
1.3 Josephine B. Tucker, b. 23 May 1845 in <Morehouse, Hamilton Co> NY and
died 19 May 1847 in
1.4 Helen E. Tucker, b. 14 April 1848 in <Morehouse, Hamilton Co.> NY and
died 27 June 1860 in <Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY>
1.5 Caroline Theodosia Tucker, b. 19 October 1849 in Morehouse, Hamilton
Co., NY
1.6 Minetta Aura Tucker, b. 8 March 1851 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY
1.7 Josephine Tucker, b. 28 December 1852 in NY
1.8 Elma Tucker, b. 6 November 1854 in NY
1.9 Ada Tucker, b. 12 August 1856 in NY (note: Ada, aged 37 and single,
was living with her mother in Utica in 1900. A boarder named Frederick
G. Walters, age 28 and single lived with them. In 1910, Ada and the
same Fred Walters, both still single, were living in German Flatts,
Herkimer Co., NY)
1.10 Lewis Judson Tucker, b. 7 May 1859 in <Brooklyn, NY> and died 27
May 1859 in <Brooklyn, NY>
1.11 Emily Tucker, b. 5 February 1861 in Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY
2) Jacob Henry Becraft, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Miller) Becraft was born 10
October 1821 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY and died 20 June 1902 in Wisconsin.
He married 1st, about 1844 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY, Serena Rickard. She was
born 1828 in Schoharie Co., NY to Elias and Margaret (Becraft) Rickard. She was
christened 1 June 1828 in the Schoharie Reformed Church. He married 2nd, 1865 in
Tioga Co, PA, Hannah Alford. She was born about 1842 in Pennsylvania to Andrew and
Hannah (Carr) Alford. She died 19 June 1897 in Wisconsin.
Jacob was christened 2 December 1821 in St. Paul’s Church in Schoharie Co.,
NY. Elias and Margaret Eckiert were sponsors. About 1840, he moved to Morehouse,
Hamilton Co., NY with his parents. Two years later, his father sold part of his
property to Jacob and shortly after, Jacob and Serena were married. They resided
in Morehouse and had 6 children together before their marriage ended in divorce.
According to The History of Hamilton County, in 1853, Jacob was driving his team
across one of the bridges in town when it collapsed. The electors decided it was
only just that he be paid $10.00 for damages. On 1 January 1856 Jacob and Serena
sold his interest in the Morehouse property to his brother, Frederick. Jacob
traveled to Green Lake, Wisconsin for the summer and fall of 1856 and 1857 to work
as a farm hand for Samuel W. Smith before he moved there permanently, just after
the birth of his youngest son, Jacob.
About a year later, Serena married Hobert Osborn. They were living in Morehouse
in 1860 and had a 1-year-old daughter. By 1865 they had moved to New Hartford,
Oneida Co., NY and in 1868 Serena purchased land in Clay, Onondaga Co., NY, where
they were living in 1870. Serena’s youngest son with Jacob, as well as her 3 children
with Hobert were living with them. By 1880 they had moved to Paris, Oneida Co., NY.
In 1858, Jacob moved permanently to Green Lake, Green Lake Co., Wisconsin.
He worked as a farm hand and lived at the home of J.P.W. Severson until he entered
the service. Jacob enrolled 19 April 1861 at Fox Lake and was mustered into service
11 June 1861 at Madison, WI. That October, Jacob’s eldest son, Elias, enlisted in NY
and died in Washington, D.C. the following year. Jacob’s physical description at the
time of his enlistment was 5’ 6 ½” tall, dark complexion, black hair and hazel eyes.
He served in Co. A, 2nd WI Vol. Infantry, which left the state June 20th. Jacob’s
unit was part of the famous “Iron Brigade”. He took part in the Battle of Bull Run
and was injured and separated from his company during the retreat toward Washington.
Although the doctor who saw him advised that he should be sent home, he was not
granted a discharge. Rather, while his unit was encamped at Arlington Heights, he
was assigned picket and guard duty. When his superiors discovered he could ride a
horse, he was detailed to cattle guard for the brigade, as he could no longer
perform regular picket duty. Jacob suffered with Typhoid fever, Rheumatism and a
rupture and was hospitalized many times during his service. In February 1864 he
re-enlisted in Co. A, at Culpepper, VA. In June 1864 he was transferred to Co. B.
In November, he was transferred to Co. H, 6th Wisconsin Vols. And was mustered out
with that company 14 July 1865 at Jeffersonville, Indiana.
The year of his discharge, Jacob married Hannah Alford in Tioga Co.,
Pennsylvania. They lived there for about 2 years and then moved to Green Lake,
Green Lake Co., Wisconsin where they had at least 3 children. Jacob applied for
an invalid pension in 1872 to help support his family because he could no longer
do the work he had done before his military service. The family was still living
in Green Lake in 1880 but may have moved to Montello, Marquette Co., WI by 1890.
Hannah died in 1897 and Jacob died 10 years later, in 1907.
Children of Jacob Henry and Serena (Rickard) Becraft:
2.1 Elias Becraft, b. abt. 1845 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY and died
of Typhoid Fever 4 December 1862 in Washington, D.C. He enlisted as
a private 26 October 1861 at Morehouse in Co. E, 97th NY Infantry.
The 97th, called the Conkling Rifles, was mustered into service at
Boonville, 19 Feb. 1862 and left for Washington on March 12th. Elias’s
unit was engaged in battle in June 1862 at Catlett’s Station, VA; Aug.
1862 at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, VA; and Sept. 1862 at South Mountain
and Antietam, MD. He died a week before his unit fought at Fredericksburg.
2.2 Sarah M. (Priscilla Marie) Becraft, b. 10 February 1846 in Morehouseville,
Hamilton Co., NY and d. 30 January 1933 in Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY.
She married 10 June 1866 in Clay, Onondaga Co., NY, Henry Leonard
Carter. Henry was born 30 October 1843 in Clay, the son of Elijah
and Louisa Marie (Warner) Carter. He died 17 December 1917 in Syracuse,
Onondaga Co., NY. Henry and Priscilla (Becraft) Carter had 6 children
together.
2.3 Peter Henry Becraft, b. 6 May 1849 in Morehouse, Hamilton County and
died 17 June 1851 (cause unknown) in Morehouse.
2.4 Nathaniel Becraft, b. 7 January 1851 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY
and died 5 April 1942 in Oakland, Alameda Co., California. He married,
about 1875, Isadora. She was born December 1856 in New York. Nathaniel
and Isadora were living in Utica, Oneida Co., NY in 1888, where he was
employed as a carpenter. About 1890, the family moved to Ogden, Weber,
Utah where they were still living in 1900. By 1910 they had all moved
to Turlock, Stanislaus Co., California. Nathaniel and Isadora seem to
have separated but not divorced.
Children of Nathaniel and Isadora Becraft:
2.4.a Unknown, b. in NY and d. after 1900
2.4.b Harry D. Becraft, b. 25 August 1881 in NY and died
6 November 1973 in Paradise, Butte Co., California.
He married in 1901, Nellie. She was born 21 January
1881 and died 15 January 1970 in Butte Co., CA.
Harry and Nellie had 3 children.
2.4.c Belle Becraft, b. July 1889 in NY
2.4.d Rena Becraft, b. March 1889 in NY
2.4.e Alva H. Becraft, b. 1 November 1894 in Utah and died
15 May 1972 in Oakland, Alameda Co., California. He
married, in 1921, Anna May Riechers. She was born
11 February 1904 in California and died 17 July 1987
in Oakland, Alameda Co., California. Alva and Anna
had at least 5 children.
2.4.f Marie H. Becraft, b. 1902 in Utah
2.5 Angeline Becraft, b. 1853 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY
2.6 Jacob H. Becraft, b. October 1857 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY and
died after 1920. He married in 1896, Ella B. (poss. Nickette or Knapp).
She was born July 1877 in NY. Jacob lived with his mother in Clay,
Onondaga Co. and moved with her family to Paris, Oneida Co., NY. From
1887 to 1890, Jacob was living in Syracuse and was employed as a shipper.
In 1900 he and Ella were living in Salina, Onondaga Co. and had a son.
Sometime between 1900 and 1910 Jacob and Ella divorced. She and her
son were living in Syracuse with her brother, W.A. Knapp, in 1910.
Ella re-married and moved with their son to Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.
Jacob seems to have moved to Niagara Co., NY where he worked as a hired
man on a farm.
Child of Jacob H. and Ella (Nickette or Knapp) Becraft:
2.6.a Robert Becraft, b. 6 May 1898 in NY and d. Nov. 1963.
Children of Jacob H. and Hannah (Alford) Becraft:
2.7 George W. Becraft, b. September 1867 in <Green Lake Co.> Wisconsin.
He married after 1900, Ida. She was born about 1888 in Wisconsin.
George and Ida remained in Wisconsin and had 12 children.
2.8 Andrew Becraft, b. 1871 in <Green Lake CO.> Wisconsin
2.9 Grant Becraft, B. 1872 in <Green Lake Co.> Wisconsin
3) Frederick Becraft, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Miller) Becraft was born 27
February 1824 in Schoharie County, NY and baptized 27 June 1824 in the Schoharie
Reformed Church. He died 25 May 1893 in Morehouse, Hamilton County, New York. About
1847, in Morehouse, Frederick married Mathilda Rickard, daughter of Elias and
Margarett (Becraft) Rickard. She was born 20 March 1827 in Schoharie County, New
York and died 27 August 1901.
Frederick moved from Schoharie County New York to Morehouseville with his
family when he was bout 16 years old. Two years later, he and his brother, Jacob,
bought their father’s property. When he was 23, he married 16-year-old Mathilda.
About three years later, and for the next 30 years, they ran a hotel called
“Becraft’s Place”, located on the West Canada Creek on Mountain Home Road in
Morehouse. In 1881, they sold the hotel to Orsamus Benajah Matteson, an attorney
from Utica. Matteson added a tower on one end of the building and furnished it
like a first class hotel. From then on, it was known as “Mountain Home”. Ironically,
Frederick claimed farming as his occupation until a year before he sold the hotel,
when he listed his occupation as ‘hotel keeping’.
In 1856, Frederick’s brother, Jacob, sold his interest in the Morehouse
property they had acquired from their father to Frederick. Four years later,
Frederick served as Morehouse Town Clerk. By 1870, Frederick, Matilda and their
descendants were the only Becrafts remaining in the town. Once a thriving community,
the population of Morehouse steadily declined until only 36 families remained,
making a total population of 105, in 1953. Some of Frederick’s descendants remained
in the town and were living there when Morehouse became the last town in New York
State to receive electric power from a utility in December 1953.
Frederick died in 1893 and was laid to rest in Mountain Home Road Cemetery.
Matilda seems to have gone to live with her daughter, Jennie, in Ilion, Herkimer
Co. after his death and died 8 years later. “The funeral was held at the home of
her daughter-in-law, Maggie Becraft, the Rev. Fulton officiating. Burial was in
Spruce Hill Cemetery.”
Children of Frederick and Mathilda (Rickard) Becraft:
3.1 Giles Becraft, b. 12 November 1850 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY
and died 24 November 1893 in Morehouse. Burial was in the Mountain
Home Road Cemetery in Morehouse. He married 20 September 1877 in
Morehouse, Margaretha Theodore Hart. She was born 10 January 1849
in Morehouse, daughter of William and Antoinette Olivia (Herbst)
Hart. She died 4 January 1930 and was buried in the Hart Family C
emetery on the old Boh farm in Morehouse. In the 1880’s, Giles moved
his family to Wisconsin where he invested all he had in a land scheme
which fell through. Two years later, they returned to Morehouse.
Giles was best known as an Adirondack guide. Of his 180-acre property,
which made up the Becraft homestead, only 20 acres were cleared for
farming. The rest of the land was forest. From his obituary: “Mr. Giles
Becraft of Morehouseville, Hamilton County, and Supervisor from that
town, was found dead in the road near Piseco on Saturday morning. Mr.
Becraft had been attending the meeting of the Board of Supervisors and
was returning to his home. He had been suffering with heart trouble
for many years, which was the cause of his sudden demise. He leaves a
widow, five children and a mother to mourn his death. His father died
a year ago*. His mother is a resident of Ilion, Herkimer County. Mr.
Becraft had been for many years a guide, and was considered by all to
have a better knowledge of the woods than any man who undertook the
profession. He will be greatly missed by visitors to the Adirondacks,
and mourned by a large circle of friends.” *Note: His father died in
May of the same year, not a year ago as claimed in the obit.
Children of Giles and Margaretha (Hart) Becraft:
3.1.a William Emerson Becraft, b. 6 November 1878 in Morehouse,
Hamilton Co., NY and died 1959. He married in 1907 Anna
H. Purdy. She was born 1878 in Pennsylvania. Bill quit
school (in Ilion) to return to the farm and help raise
his four younger siblings when his father died. He
farmed, cut trees in lumber camps and worked on the
roads for ten years. For three seasons he carried the
U.S. mail by foot over a 14 mile round trip circuit.
In 1940 he left the farm to work as a log scaler for
the Hinkley Fiber Company and moved up the company
ladder, eventually becoming the general manager. After
Hinkley Fiber Company folded, he worked for Vermont
Products Company and later for the International Paper
Company in which he also held various management
positions. William and Anna (Purdy) Becraft had one
child.
3.1.b Frederick Garfield Becraft, b. 5 October 1880 in
Morehouse. He married 1st, in 1913 Unknown. He married
2nd, in 1919, Elizabeth. She was born in 1887 in NY.
In 1930 they were living in Lowville, Lewis Co., NY
where Frederick was employed as a cabinetmaker. Frederick
had at least 5 children with 4 reaching adulthood.
3.1.c Elsie Antoinette Becraft, b. 30 September 1882 in NY
and died in 1961.
3.1.d John Freeman Becraft, b. 26 April 1885 and died 14
October 1952. He is buried in Hurricane Cemetery in
Norway, Herkimer Co., NY. He married Mary Allie Sperl.
She was born 1895 and died 1958. John and Mary had 5
children.
3.1.e Rebecca Mathilda Becraft, b. 31 October 1887 and died
1958.
3.2 Idora Becraft, b. 27 April 1859 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY and
died 6 June 1926 in Morehouse. She was married, 6 March 1877 in
Morehouse, by Rev. Chas. E. Babcock, to Theodore Charles Remonda. He
was born 18 September 1842 in Morehouse, son of Fredrick and Sophia
(Marache) Reymonda. He died 11 June 1915 in Morehouse. They are both
buried in the Mountain Home Road Cemetery in the section known as
the Remonda Cemetery. Idora was Theodore’s second wife. He had three
children with his first wife, who died in 1876. Idora had one child
before her marriage to Theodore and then together, they had 9 more.
Theodore and Idora (Becraft) Remonda resided in Morehouse.
3.3 Emma Jane (Jennie E.) Becraft was born 5 August 1861 in Morehouse,
Hamilton Co., NY and died 9 August 1948 in German Flatts, Herkimer
Co., NY. She married, 22 November 1890 in Columbia, Herkimer Co., NY,
James Jacob Ackler. James was born 25 December 1864 in Columbia, Herkimer
Co., NY to Nicholas and Sophronia (Edick) Ackler. He died 28 April 1950
in Mohawk, Herkimer Co., NY. They are both buried in North Columbia,
Herkimer Co., NY. James and “Jennie” (Becraft) Ackler lived most of
their lives in Ilion, Herkimer Co., NY and had no children.
4. Francis Freeman Becraft, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Miller) Becraft was born
30 September 1825 in Schoharie County, New York and died 23 January 1911 in Bellevue,
Eaton Co., Michigan. He married first, 1 March 1851 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co.,
NY Elizabeth Rickard. She was born abt. 1834 in, probably, Morehouse, Hamilton Co.,
NY to Elias and Margarett (Becraft) Rickard and died 20 December 1872 in <Bellevue,
Eaton Co.> Michigan. Francis married second, between 1873 and 1878, in <Bellevue,
Eaton Co., Michigan>, Eunice Caroline (Unknown) June. She was born 1847 in New York
and died 2 January 1885 in Bellevue, Eaton Co., Michigan.
Francis’s parents acted as sponsors for his baptism on 30 April 1826 at St.
Paul’s Lutheran Church in Schoharie, NY. He was about fourteen years old when he
moved with his parents from Schoharie County to Morehouseville. At the age of
twenty-five, he was married in Morehouseville, by George H. Durand to Elizabeth.
The following year, their only child, a son, was born.
23 October 1861, at the age of 35, Francis enlisted at Morehouse in Co. C,
81st NY Volunteer Infantry for Civil War service. His physical description at the
time of his enlistment was 5 feet, 7 inches tall, dark complexion, dark hair and
grey eyes. His occupation was farming. On 5 March 1862, the regiment left the state
for Washington and in May, fought at the Battle of Seven Pines in Virginia. After
this battle, Francis developed a severe fever and was hospitalized at the Armory
Hospital in Philadelphia for 2 months. The regiment embarked for North Carolina
in December of 1862 and was stationed at Morehead. Francis was again listed as
“absent, sick in hospital”. In October of 1863, the regiment returned to Newport
News and performed outpost duty along the Dismal Swamp canal. Francis was honorably
discharged on 31 December 1862 at Northwest Landing, Virginia, but re-enlisted in
the same company, as a veteran volunteer for another three years. After their return
from a short furlough, the regiment fought at Swift creek, Drewry’s bluff and Cold
Harbor. In the two assaults on Cold Harbor, the regiment took a prominent part and
suffered the heaviest loss in its history. For the rest of the summer, the regiment
fought at Petersburg, VA. In September and October, as his regiment was engaged in
many other battle, Francis was sick at the Base Hospital; Point of Rocks, Virginia.
He was back with his regiment from November of 1864 until 31 August 1865 when they
were mustered out at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
After returning home, Francis and his family lived in Oneida County, New
York for about 6 months, before moving to Eaton County, Michigan. They settled in
Bellevue, where Francis engaged in farming. After only 7 years, Elizabeth died at
the age of about 38. After her death, Francis married Eunice Caroline, the widow
of Alvin June, bringing her son, Charles June with her. In 1878 Francis and Eunice
had a son and in 1881, their second son was born. Four years later, Eunice died at
the age of 38.
Francis, at the age of 60, once again widowed, was left with the task of
raising two young boys, aged 7 and 4. His health was failing due to the effect of
the fevers he had suffered during his military service. The following year, in
October of 1886, he applied for an invalid pension. Francis and his sons remained
in Bellevue on their farm. In his last year of life, Francis needed a constant
nurse. Since his sons couldn’t afford to hire one, his youngest son, Claude and
his wife, took care of him. Francis died at Claude’s home at the age of 86 on 23
January 1911 and was buried in Bellevue.
Children of Francis Freeman and Elizabeth (Rickard) Becraft:
4.1 Elijah Becraft, b. June 1852 in Morehouse, Hamilton Co., NY and died
between 1900 and 1909. He married in 1876 Flora Miranda Smith. She
was born June 1862 in Michigan to William H. and Almira (Snover) Smith.
After Elijah’s death, Flora married 17 November 1909 in Marshall Co.,
Indiana, James Stoup. Elijah most likely moved with his parents to
Michigan at the age of 14, but was not living with them by the time
he was 18. At the age of 24, he married Flora, who was 14 years old
and living with her parents in Vermontville, Michigan. The following
year, their first child was born there. In 1885, they were living in
Kentucky and by 1891 had moved to Wisconsin. On both the 1880 and
1900 censuses, Elijah’s occupation was listed as farmer, but he may
have worked for a railroad company as family tradition says that he
died in Indiana while working for the railroad.
Children of Elijah and Flora Miranda (Smith) Becraft:
4.1.a Eva Augusta Becraft, b. 22 November 1877 in
Vermontville, Eaton, Michigan and died 7 March 1936
in Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois. She married 1st,
14 March 1895 in Phillips, Price, WI, Hans Earnest
Gustav Berhenke. He was born 27 May 1859 in Germany
to Johann Frederick and Carolina Elizabeth (Crimedius)
Berhenke. “Earnest” died 16 April 1906 in Georgetown,
Price, WI. Earnest and Eva had 5 children together.
Eva married 2nd, 12 August 1906 in Georgetown, Price,
WI, Thomas Cork. He was born May 1855 in England and
died 2 February 1907 in Catawba, WI. Thomas and Eva
had one child together. Eva married 3rd, about 1908
in Price Co., WI, Charles Franklin Vant. He was born
12 October 1861 in Walworth Co., WI and died 27 October
1912 in Kennan, Price, WI. Charles and Eva had one
child together. Eva married 4th, before 1920, Mr.
Fortney. Eva married 5th, 3 July 1927 in Rock Island,
Rock Co., Illinois, John Franklin Dennison. He was
born in Rushville, Ill. And died 21 August 1933 in
Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois.
4.1.b George H. Becraft, b. July 1879 in Michigan and died
before 1900.
4.1.c James W. Becraft, b. December 1885 in Kentucky. Living
in Lake, Price Co., Wisconsin in 1910.
4.1.d Lora Ella Becraft, b. 16 September 1891 in Wisconsin.
She married 1st, 16 July 1906 in Georgetown, Price Co.,
WI, Wallace Bass Foust. He was born 2 October 1882 in
Boydtown, Crawford Co., WI to John Tyler and Margaret
Louisa (Wayne) Foust and died 26 September 1915 in
Boydtown, Crawford, WI. She married 2nd, 27 June 1916
in Galena, Jo Daviess Co., Illinois, (Brother of Wallace)
Chester Zephaniah Faust. He was born 21 July 1889 in
Boydtown, Crawford, WI. Chester and Lora Ella had 7
children together.
4.1.e John Franklin Becraft, b. August 1893 in Wisconsin
and died 1961 in Eagle River, Wisconsin. He married
1st, 2 January 1918 in Marshall Co. Indiana, Anna Peirce.
She was born 1872 in Indiana. He married 2nd, 1927 Fay
E. (Unknown). She was born 1911 in Missouri. John and
Fay had at least one child together. He married 3rd,
between 1930 and 1934, Beulah Temple. He married 4th,
20 May 1935 in Eagle River, WI, Catherine Stevens.
She was born 11 February 1906 in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
and died 9 October 1987 in Eagle River, Wisconsin.
John And Catherine had 6 children together. Descendants
of John say that he fought in WW I and that afterward,
suffered from shellshock. When he moved to Eagle River,
Wisconsin, he worked at a sawmill. When the mill closed
down, he went to the woods and worked as a lumberjack.
Eventually, he bought some lots of timber and started
his own sawmill behind his house. John was also skilled
at carving. Some of his carved pieces were in King’s
Gateway, a large ski lodge in Land O Lakes, Wisconsin.
When the place was sold the pieces were auctioned off
for quite a bit of money. One of John’s carvings is
at a museum in Eagle River; it was a piece he had traded
for a jersey cow. Another carving rests on the fireplace
mantle of the Murphy Mansion in Eagle River, the location
for the ice skating scenes for the movie, “Damien Omen II.”
4.1.f Mary Agnes Becraft, b. September 1898 in Wisconsin. She
married 1st, 23 June 1913 in Marshall Co., Indiana,
Jessie A. Frymier. He was born 1883 in Indiana to
Samuel H. and Nancy (Berkey) Frymier. She married 2nd,
Daniel Burns.
Children of Francis Freeman and Eunice Caroline (Unknown) June:
4.2 William F. Becraft, b. 30 September 1878 in Bellevue, Eaton, Michigan
and died 1919 in Bellevue, Eaton, MI. He married 1910 in Bellevue,
Bertha E. (Unknown). She was born 1890 in Michigan. She married second,
abt. 1921, William D. Cheeseman. William and Bertha Becraft had 3
children together.
4.3 Claude Becraft, b. 5 August 1881 in Bellevue, Eaton, Michigan. He
married in 1910, Edna M. Corning. She was born 6 August 1887 in
Michigan, daughter of Frank Corning. She died 12 September 1977.
Claude and Edna had 2 children together.
Last Updated: Sunday, 27-Sep-2009 18:44:35 PDT
Copyright © 2003: Joanne Murray