Jacob Beacher ³

   Other names for Jacob were John Jacob Beacher, Johan Jacob Bicher, John Jacob Bicher, Jacob Biecher, John Jacob Biecher, Jacob Bieger and Jacob Bucher Jr.

  Christening Notes:

Sponsors were his grandparents, Jacob Bicher and wife Catherine. The church notes record the parents as Jacob Bicher and wife Mary (died).

  Burial Notes:

Source is Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary library according to Bruce Beacher.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1830, Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁹ Jacob Beicher is listed in Lebanon Borough on page 35 in the 1830 Census. Living in the household are:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 2 great grandsons ?
15-19 (1811-1815) = 1 grandson (William or Jacob?)
70-79 (1751-1760) = 1 Jacob
Females (born)
40-49 (1781-1790) = 1 ?? (Mary Michael?)
80-89 (1741-1750) = 1 wife Catherine

This appears to be the household of Jacob Bucher born 1758. His age would be 72 in 1830, and his wife Catherine 83, explaining the two elderly household heads perfectly.

Since his son, John Jacob (born 1782 who would be 48 in 1830) had died of an accident with a sickle, the 15-19 year old male could be either grandson Jacob (born 1812) or William (born 1811). Likely the older William age 19 was already off living on his own, as was Lydia age 21, and this is Jacob.

The female 40-49 could be Mary Bicher (nee Michael), wife of John Jacob (born 1782), since her husband died in 1812.

• Moved, Cir 1830, Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. ²

• Census, 1840, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹⁰ The handwriting is unclear on the census page and could be Mr. Beacher or Ms. Beacher or Wm. Beacher with this household:
Males (born)
15-19 (1821-1825) = 1
Females (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840)
5-9 (1831-1835) = 1
50-59 (1781-1790) = 1

The elder Beacher appears to be Mary Michal (1781-1861), wife of the deceased Jacob Bicher (1782-1812) taking care of two of her grandchildren.

• Census, 1850, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁷ In 1850 living in the South Ward of Pottsville is Jacob Bieger. Obviously the census taker was confused by his German pronounciation of his surname! Jacob Bieger, tailer, age 36, is living with wife Angeline, 35; William, 12; Jacob, 11; Hiram, 8; Benjamin, 6; George, 3; and Nathan, 8 months old when the census was recorded on 29 Aug 1850. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

• Census, 1860, New Castle Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁸ In 1860 living in the New Castle Township is Jacob Bucher, day laborer, age 48, living with wife Angeline, 45; William, day laborer, 21; Jacob, day laborer, 19; Hiram, day laborer, 17; B. Franklin, day laborer, 15; George, 12; and Nathan, 9; and Ann M., 7. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Broad Mountain.

• Census, 1870, New Castle Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. ³ The 1870 census lists Jacob Beacher, the first census to spell his name this way. He is a laborer, age 57, living with wife, Angeline, 55; 3 sons who are all laborers: William, 31; George, 22; Nathan, 21; and daughter Mary, 18. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Broad Mountain.

• Census, 1880, Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁴ He is listed as Jacob Beacher (age 67), the head of a household the included his wife, Angeline (65); sons William (41, occupation miner); and Nathan (28, occupation miner).

• Book: Beecher Family History: Jacob and Angeline, 1978. ¹¹
JACOB AND ANGELINE
Written in 1978 by our family genealogist, Bruce Franklin Beacher PhD (1919-2004)

BERNARD "BARNEY" EISENHUTH was well-known among Pennsylvania's backwoodsmen. Fair-haired and blue-eyed, he stood a full head above most of his short-statured contemporaries. His youthfulness was astonishing; he was destined to live longer than any other man in Pennsylvania--over ill years! Born in the Lebanon Valley and baptized a Lutheran on May 10, 1755 (probably by John Casper Stoever, the younger), he grew to six feet and assumed charge of the family when his father left to serve as Captain of Riflemen under General Anthony Wayne. Capt. EISENHUTH never returned, presumably killed in action.

In their youth, BARNEY EISENHUTH and JACOB BICHER were friends in the Lebanon community. But the EISENHUTHs left Lebanon for new lands opening in the mountain valleys after the war. BARNEY met and married a Philadelphia girl, CATHERINE SAYLOR, and tried farming in Pine Grove Township (then Berks County.) They had ten children before fire destroyed their home in 1806 and, with it, most of the family's keepsakes. Relatives and the demand for lumbermen to serve the rapidly growing iron industry of Centre County drew Barney and his family to that area where the EISENHUTH name became established in Penn Township.

When young JOHN JACOB BICHER reached manhood he left the Lebanon Valley seeking his independence and livelihood, as well as his hearts desire -- ANGELINE EISENHUTH. Nothing could have pleased his grandfather and BARNEY EISENHUTH more when the young couple married in 1837 and proceeded to bring a succession of sons into the world that welded the bond between the old friends for life.

The firstborn of JACOB and ANGELINE was named WILLIAM, honoring JACOB BICHER's brother and other family ancestors. His brothers arrived with regularity -- JOHN JACOB (1840), HIRAM (1842), BENJAMIN (1845), GEORGE (1849) and NATHAN (1851.) Meanwhile opportunity for lumbermen shifted eastward to Schuylkill County, the focus of the evolving hard coal mining industry. It was there where the first and only daughter, MARY, broke the male dynasty in 1853. The family moved to Pottsville before 1850 when the flurry of inventions for coal stoves, ovens and furnaces, the development of railroads, and the application of machinery to mining multiplied coal production 40 to 50 fold.

Lumbermen, miners, masons and other tradesmen were drawn as by a magnet to the center of action in Schuylkill County. The word "schuylkill" is Swedish, meaning "to hide." The county is named after the river. Picturesque mountains and valleys hid the great deposits of coal until anthracite became a prime fuel. Now the torn hillsides and great rounds of mine tailings are mute reminders of the historic, albeit frantic, mining period.

Sadly, BARNEY EISENHUTH lost his wife in 1848 when she was 95. He was still capable of a day's work, and already a legend in the State. He moved his home to Pottsville with son GEORGE EISENHUTH and nearby ANGELINE and her sons.

The 1850 United States Census records JACOB BIEGER, tailor, living in the South Ward, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, with his wife, ANGELINE, and six sons. The earliest settlers of the community were from Alsace-Lorraine and Switzerland, via the Schoharie Valley (New York) settlement and the Pennsylvania-German speaking JACOB and his family were at home among fellow "Germans." But Pottsville literally exploded with growth as mining developed and the railroad came to town. It became the seat of Schuylkill County in 1851 as well as the center of communications for rail and stagecoach travel and the news.

Life was rough by today's standards-mining, drinking and fighting became commonplace together and churches were few and sparsely attended. But the people were courageous and patriotic. Volunteers joined the campaign against Mexico under the leadership of Captain James Nagle and the young BIEGER boys followed the news with keen interest in the Freiheits Press and the Miners Journal. Emotions ran high with the outbreak of the War Between the States and when Lee threatened Pennsylvania at Gettysburg WILLIAM and JOHN enlisted.

Many families coming to America have experienced name changes. The BEACHERS are no exception and the enlistment of the Sons of JACOB and ANGELINE in the Union Army marked the introduction and permanent attachment of BEACHER to this branch of the original BUCHER line. Coincidentally in Lebanon, Pennsylvania at about the same time, the enlistment of WILLIAM BICHER, blood-relative of WILLIAM of Pottsville, introduced the name of BEICHER to that line of the family.

WILLIAM and JOHN BEACHER became privates in Company A of the 27th Pennsylvania Infantry on June 16, 1863. On June 24, the regiment, under Colonel Frick, was sent to Columbia on the Susquehanna River to prevent the enemy from crossing the bridge to Lancaster and Philadelphia. The troops took position upon the heights on the right bank, a half mile back from Wrightsville. On the evening of the 28th, the enemy attacked. Frick had no artillery, but held ground until outnumbered and outflanked. He ordered withdrawal across the bridge. A pre-set explosion failed to destroy the bridge and the men had to fire it. Nine were wounded. Then the rebels learned that the Army of the Potomac was on its flank and withdrew to Gettysburg. The rest of the story is world history. On July 31 WILLIAM and JOHN BEACHER were mustered out of the service and went home, unscathed. But Number Four son, BENJAMIN, was aching for action, too. On February 12, 1864, at the age of 20, standing "five feet three inches with brown hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion," he enrolled as a private in Company F, 80th Regiment, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry. His older brother, JOHN, re-enlisted with him, perhaps as protector. Their exploits with the 7th gave them enough to talk about at home with their cronies for the rest of their lives.

The Union Cavalry and the 7th in particular had a prior record of mixed successes and failures in combat against the skilled horsemen of the South, especially Morgan and his riders. BEN and JOHN BEACHER joined the 7th Cavalry unit when it was stationed at Huntsville, Alabama. The men received new Spencer carbines, sabers and fresh horses and, after drilling at Columbia set out with Sherman towards Atlanta, fighting at Rome, Dallas, Big Shanty, McAfee Cross Roads, Kennesaw Mountain, Covington, Flat Rock and, finally, Atlanta. Battles continued through August 23, when the campaign closed at Lead's Cross Roads. Losses were heavy and the 7th returned to Louisville for reorganization.

After the battle of Nashville, in which General Thomas defeated and put to rout the rebel army under Hood, the regiment was stationed at Gravelly Springs, Alabama, on the Tennessee River, where it was engaged in drilling and completing its organization and equipment for the spring campaign of 1865. On the 22nd of March it joined the command of General James H. Wilson, and with it set out on the expedition from Eastport, Mississippi across the Gulf States. On the 1st of April, it was engaged in the battle of Plantersville, Alabama, and on the following day, arrived in front of Selma. The position of the regiment in the line of march for that day was third, in the advance brigade of General Long's Division; but upon arriving near the city, it was ordered to the front to lead the assault upon the works.

"I directed General Long," said General Wilson in his report, "to assault the enemy's works by moving diagonally across the road upon which his troops were posted. . . Fearing that this affair (the coming up of the enemy on his rear) might compromise our assault upon the main position, General Long, with admirable judgment, determined to make the assault at once, and, without waiting the signal, gave the order to advance. The troops, dismounted, sprang forward with confident alacrity, and in less than fifteen minutes, without even stopping, wavering, or faltering, had swept over the works and driven the rebels in confusion towards the city. The distances which the troops charged, exposed to the enemy's fire of musketry and artillery, was six hundred yards.

Particular attention is invited to that part of General Long's report which described the assault. He states that the number actually engaged in the charge was one thousand five hundred and fifty, officers and men. The portion of the line assaulted was manned by Armstrong's Brigade, regarded as the best in Forest's corps, and reported by him at more than fifteen hundred men. The loss from Long's Division was forty killed, two hundred and sixty wounded, and seven missing. General Long was wounded in the head, Colonels Miller and McCormick in the leg, and Colonel Briggs in the breast. I doubt if the history of this, or any other war, will show another instance in which a line of works so strongly constructed, and as well defended as this, by musketry and artillery, has been stormed and carried by a single line of men without support."

The regiment was fearfully exposed, and lost heavily in killed and wounded. Lieutenant Jacob Sigmond was among the killed. Col. McCormick fell severely wounded at the foot of the works, as the regiment, in advance of all others, was about entering the fortifications. The command now devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Andress, and under him the regiment participated in the engagement near Columbus, on the 16th of April. On the 20th it arrived at Macon, Georgia, where, the war having substantially closed, it remained until the 13th of August, when it was mustered out of service.

JOHN and BENJAMIN BEACHER survived the campaign without injury and returned home to be mustered out of service on August 23, 1865. Brother WILLIAM also had re-enlisted as a private, this time in Company C, 194th Regiment Infantry, at Pottsville, on July 13, 1864. The regiment was sent to Baltimore for provost duty before returning to Harrisburg, where WILLIAM was mustered out of the service on November 6, 1864.

While the War was in progress, other events were shaping a future home for the BEACHERS in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. For a long time the site had been occupied only by an old tavern, the Kaley House. PETER KALEY (or KEHLEY) settled there to farm sometime after 1820. He found some coal which he carried to the blacksmith in Ringtown over the mountain. But the great seam of coal beneath him attracted the Philadelphia Land Company to purchase his right, allowing him to remain there until his death in 1860. Mining began in earnest in 1862. P. W. SHAEFER of Pottsville laid out "Shenandoah City," choosing an Indian name meaning "sprucy stream" (Or perhaps, "daughter of the stars.") The first building was a frame hotel, followed by houses on Cherry street, where JACOB and ANGELINE BEACHER and their family would settle.

When the War ended, marriages quickly followed. BENJAMIN married SARAH JANE JACOBS while his brother, JOHN, stood as a witness with his girl-friend, ANGELINE OCOM (or OKUM), whom he soon married. HIRAM BEACHER married HENRIETTA JACOBS and established his home in Mt. Carmel. GEORGE (not to be confused with GEORGE BEACHER of Tremont, contemporary, but non-relative) married LINDA BROCIUS, but no children resulted. The 1880 census indicates that GEORGE also may have married a MARY, with no issue.

JACOB and ANGELINE's little MARY, however, proved to be the most productive family member. She married THEODORE BRADY and they had fourteen children, only six of which survived infancy. The BRADYs operated a livery in St. Clair before moving to Philadelphia, MARY part of the time as a widow. WILLIAM and NATHAN continued to live with their parents in Shenandoah for some years before WILLIAM married a widow, PRISCILLA BRIGITTA DERRICK nee WEARY, known affectionately as "Aunt Perhit." Their union added five more to her four, for a total of nine! An active Salvation Army worker-, she reportedly succumbed to consumption after exposure on the streets during severe weather conditions.

NATHAN BEACHER continued as the only bachelor, becoming something of a family legend to the children. Never tied down by the military or marriage, he had contributed to the war effort by "procuring" horses for the 7th Cavalry, presumably for his brothers' benefit, and not necessarily by legal means. "UNCLE NATE" roamed westward, far and wide, periodically returning to his parents' home in Shenandoah to delight his nephews and nieces with tales of his adventures in far-away places. On his last visit he asked to see his brother, BENJAMIN, and was sent to the fire station where BEN was a charter member. He asked for his brother and when Ben appeared he said, "Well, you don't look like him!" Then he was off for northwestern Pennsylvania. Nate was finally buried with his brothers in Odd Fellows Cemetery above Shenandoah.

The Nation would never be the same after the War Between the States, nor would the BEACHER families ever again enjoy a role model like BARNEY EISENHUTH. At the age of 105 while clearing land, he fell and severely injured his hips. He was fastened to a plank by a physician for nine weeks and finally could remain no longer, although requested to do so. He was soon able to walk painfully, suffering from the effects thereafter. On June 22, 1866 at the age of 111 years, 3 months and 12 days, he departed this life. He was attended during his last illness by the Reverend U. Graves of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pottsville, who at his request gave him the Communion. During the service the patriarch was melted to tears, and partook as intelligently as ever of the sacred elements. He was laid to rest with other Eisenhuths and Eisenhowers in the beautiful setting of the Old White Church cemetery near Ringtown, the oldest church in Schuylkill County.

BARNEY EISENHUTH left five children, forty-one grandchildren and one hundred and sixteen living descendants. Probably as many more predeceased him. His impact on the BEACHERS was far more than genetic. He was always "early to bed and early to rise," being up at daylight every morning. He always ate plain food, and frequently lectured his descendants for using too much shortening, etc. in their food. He used liquor occasionally, but never to excess, and would taste only the best old-fashioned rye whiskey. Arriving in the world at the outset of the French and Indian War he had experienced the yoke of colonialism, watched his father go off in the struggle for independence without return, followed the Contention among the new States and finally the supreme struggle to maintain the Union. He voted for every President from George. Washington to Abraham Lincoln. He was eulogized in the Pottsville Standard as "one of a class that seem to be getting smaller yearly; to the class who do their duty to God and man, love their country for their country's sake, pay their debts and live honestly and frugally. He goes down to the grave respected and honored by all…one of the few living links between the by-gone past and present."

JACOB and ANGELINE BEACHER lived out the rest of their lives through the 1880's in Shenandoah, never forgetting the grand old man or failing to recount his life and character to their children and grandchildren. JACOB's own grandfather, the Elder of Lebanon, preceded BARNEY EISENHUTH in death by nearly a quarter of a century, and the families gradually lost contact. JACOB's brother, WILLIAM BICHER (BEICHER) died in 1880 and was interred in Mount Lebanon Cemetery by his son, WILLIAM, a veteran of Company K, 127th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, along with their mother MARY MICHAL BICHER and other relatives. The BIECHER name was carried into the 20th century in Lebanon by four sons and four daughters of the marriage of the veteran WILLIAM to LOUISA HARTMAN EMBICH.

It is one of life's fateful facts that bloodlines diverge and lose contact. What an event it would be if all were to be reunited at the feet of the patriarchs and grand dames to renew associations and exchange experiences! But especially to look for the familiar twinkle of an eye, dimpled smile, or gesture that one could identify at once with an ancestor and relative. There is no doubt that some might be called "Little Barney" or "Little Jacob" or "Little Angeline" if this were to happen. And the honored elders would, no doubt, beam their approval.

Jacob married Angeline Eisenhuth, daughter of Bernard Eisenhuth and Catherine Saylor, in 1837 in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA.^{1 2} (Angeline Eisenhuth was born on 2 Sep 1815 in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA,^{1 4} died on 2 Feb 1885 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA ¹ and was buried in Ringtown, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA ².)