Biography of: Dr. Joseph W. Becker  McCracken County, Kentucky

Source; Biographical Sketches from, "Kentucky, History of the State"
Main Author; William Henry Perrin 1887
****************************************************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical
information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research
and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all
copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format
or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or
organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of
presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his
legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with
proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb
Archives to store the file permanently for free access.
http://www.usgwarchives.net.

Submitted by: Vera Burnham vburnham@metrocast.net
Date: April 13, 2002

****************************************************************************
Dr. Joseph W. Becker is among the oldest medical practitioners in the city
of Paducah, Ky., is the gentleman whose name heads this Sketch and whose
portrait is found elsewhere in this work. Dr Becker was born in Smithland,
Ky., in 1826, and is of German and French Ancestry. His father Joseph Becker
was a native of Quebec, Canada, removed to Kentucky in his early life and
was an early merchant in Paducah, in which city he died in June 1857. Dr.
Becker's mother, Catherine Becker, was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and is a
daughter of John Hagey, who fought in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Becker
is now a resident of Paducah and a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The subject of this sketch received his preparatory education in 
the schools of Paducah, attending later the St. Joseph's College at
Bardstown, Ky. He then decided to adopt the medical profession, and 
prosecuted the studies of the same under Drs. Phillips and Jones. In the
fall of 1847, he entered the medical department of the University of
Louisville, graduating in February,1849. After several years practice in 
Metropolis, Ill. he located in Paducah, Ky., where he has practiced ever
since. It is but just to accord to Dr. Becker the prestige of being not 
only a seccessful physician, but also one of the most highly respected
citizens of Paducah, being especially interested in efforts to promote
the cause of education as well as all enterprises tending to the best
interests of all people. He is a member of the Kentucky Medical Society ;
Southwestern Kentucky Medical Association; Paducah Medical Club; Masonic
order, and of the Episcopal Church. In 1852 he married Miss Katie Baker
daughter of John D. Baker of Louisville, Ky. She died in September, 1853.