Bio of Becker, John W. (b.1866) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Becker, John W. (page 665), a prominent representative of the agricultural
interests of Watopa Township, was born in the town of Belvidere, Buffalo
county, Wis., February 19, 1866, son of Henry and Mary (Moore) Becker. The
parents were natives of Germany, the father of Baden, and came to the
United States probably about 1860. After their marriage they settled in La
Crosse, Wis., where Henry Becker for two years kept a saloon. After that
he was engaged in farming in Buffalo County, Wis., until his death in
1872. In 1873 his widow married Charles Fetting and now lives at Bruce,
Wis. By her first marriage, with Henry Becker, she had three children:
John W., the subject of this sketch; and Frank and George, who reside in
Buffalo, Wis. Of her marriage with Mr. Fetting six children were born:
Charles, Mary, Kate, Emma, William and Raymond. John W. Becker was reared
in Houston county, Minnesota. He remained at home until 16 years old and
then began working out on farms, continuing as a farm laborer until he was
twenty-two. He then entered the employ of the Mississippi Logging Co., for
whom he worked 17 years as paymaster. At the end of that time he began
farming for himself, renting a farm for seven years in Wabasha county. In
1914 he bought his present farm of 320 acres in section 34, Watopa
Township, and 44 acres in Winona County directly south. Here he is
prosperously engaged in general farming and stock raising, giving his
particular attention to Durham cattle and Chester- White hogs. He is
connected fraternally with the Equitable Fraternal Union and the Modern
Woodmen of America, and religiously with the German Lutheran church. Mr.
Becker assumed the responsibilities of domestic life on September 2, 1891,
when he was united in marriage with Bertha Lawrence, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Ignatz Lawrence, her father being a native of Holland and her mother
of Pennsylvania. They came to America in 1872, settling in Buffalo City,
Wis., where Mr. Lawrence worked at the shoemaker's trade until 1881. After
that he followed farming until 1895, and then located in Weaver, Minn.,
working for one year as a railroad section hand. He died July 26, 1906. In
1913 his widow married William Achenbach and is still residing in Weaver.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence were Bertha, Alvina, Anna, Louis,
Charles, Addie, George and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Becker have been
the parents of five children: William J., born March 20, 1893; Alvin L.,
December 23, 1894; Mildred M., August 29, 1896; Gordon E., August 9, 1902;
and Ronald B., December 16, 1911. William J. is now a resident of
Minneapolis. Alvin L. resides in Winona, Minn. Mildred M. is the wife of
John Angelberg of Winona. The other two children are residing at home.