BIOGRAPHY: Peter Beckerle; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

PETER BECKERLE is the efficient Superintendent of the Highland Furniture
Manufacturing Company, and one of the representative business men of Newburgh.
He was born in Fiflicheim, near Worms, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, August 9,
1849, and is a son of Frederick Beckerle, who was also born in the same
village. Both he and the grandfather followed farming, and were members of the
Lutheran Church. Frederick Beckerle married Magdelene Magenheim, who was born
in the same locality, and was a daughter of Peter Magenheim, a farmer and
miller, who served in public offices and was a leading citizen. His death
occurred at the age of eighty-two. The parents of our subject died in the
prime of life, leaving two children: Frederick, who is a cabinetmaker; and
Peter.

Our subject was reared in his native village, and, being left an orphan at an
early age, was reared by his maternal grandfather. He attended the common
schools until the age of fourteen, when he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker
in the city of Worms, serving for two and a-half years. At the end of that
time, on account of good behavior and good workmanship, his em-ployer gave him
a half-year's time. He then went to the factory where his brother was serving
as foreman, and worked as a journeyman.

At the age of seventeen Mr. Beckerle came to America from Hamburg on a steamer
which reached New York ten days later. He then went to Orange, N. J., where
lived his uncle, Henry Schoefer, who kept a hotel. After three months he
returned to New York, where he was employed as a cabinet-maker in a large
manufacturing establishment, and also attended night school. In the fall of
1867 he came to Newburgh, where he worked as a cabinet-maker for D. M. Selig.
There his splendid business qualifications and excellent workmanship won him
promotion, until he became foreman of the establishment, in which capacity he
served until 1892, when, in connection with Mr. Gilmore, he bought out his
employer, and continued the manufacture of chairs. In connection with John B.
Rogers a new firm was incorporated with a capital stock of $6,000, known as
the Highland Furniture Manufacturing Company, of which he was President for a
year. In the spring of 1894 a new corporation was formed, capitalized at
$18,000, but the old name was retained. Mr. Beckerle is a Director of the
company and is superintendent of the extensive factory. The plant comprises a
four-story building, 50x100 feet, with a wing 37x39 feet. It is fitted with
elevators and the machinery is run by steam, it having a twenty-horse-power
engine, and all kinds of fine chairs and mantels are. manufactured, and
interior wood-finishing is made to or-der. They manufacture rocking-chairs on
an extensive scale and ship to all parts of the country. Six salesmen are
employed, two agents are upon the road, and twenty-four first-class mechanics
are in the factory. Mr. Beckerle has entire charge of the business and designs
all the work.

Our subject was united in marriage with Ida Smith, and they became the parents
of eight children; Gussie, Ida, Walter, Henry and Clara, who are still living;
Frederick, who died at the age of nine months; Emma, who died at the age of
ten years; and Albert, who died at the age of four years.

Mr. Beckerle is a member of Newburgh Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M., of which he
formerly served as Senior Warden; and belongs to Bismarck Lodge No. 420, I. O.
O. F., of which he has been Treasurer for more than ten years; he was also
Past Grand, and delegate to the Grand Lodge. He has been President of the Turn
Verein, and holds membership with the Lutheran Church. His skill and ability
in the line of his business have brought him success, and he is an
enterprising and progressive man and public-spirited citizen, whom to know is
to respect.