Lydia Beecher ²

   Other names for Lydia were Lydia Bicher and Lydia Bucher.

  Noted events in her life were:

• Alt Birth, 10 Jun 1805, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ^{1 2 3}

• Pension, 1854. ⁵ Following in a copy of a letter from U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, received by Mrs. Harry Kennett McAdams, 309 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY. [Ms. McAdams is a descendent.]

"I advise you that form the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension Claim, S.39982, it appears that John Beecher, or Becher, enlisted in Lebanon, in what was later Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, April, 1788, served as a Private in Captain Meng's Company, Colonel Benjamin Flowers Artillery Artificers Regiment and was discharged April 3, 1779.

"He was allowed a Pension on his application executed November 28, 1818, while a resident of Berne Township, Berks County, Pa., aged over fifty-six years. He died March 22, 1819.

"Soldier's wife, Mary Ann Beecher, died November 11, 1837. Her maiden name and date of marriage not stated.

"In 1854, Jacob Nyswender and Henry Carpenter stated in Columbus, Ohio, that the following were the children and only heirs of said John and Mary Ann Beecher:

"John Beecher, of Berks County, Pa.

"William Beecher and Barbara Nyswender, both of Franklin County, Ohio.

"Margaret Mulliner, of Philadelphia, Pa.

"Benjamin Beecher, Jacob Beecher, and Catherine Paxon, all of Chester Co., Pa.

"Samuel Beecher, of Lancaster Co., Pa.

"Lydia Cook, of Clark Co., Va.

"There is no record in this bureau of land having been granted by the United States, on account of the service of the above named Revolutionary War Soldier, John Beecher, or Becher.

"Respectfully,
Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Rev. and 1812 Wars Section."

• Residence, 1854, , Clarke County, Virginia, USA. ⁵

• Book: History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, 1882. ² Jacob A. Wolford, liquor dealer and distiller; P.O. Cynthiana. Among the enterprising young men of Cynthiana, there are few who surpass the subject of this sketch, J. A. Wolford, son of Peter and Mary A. Carl Wolford; was born in Pennsylvania on December 3, 1841. His parents were both natives of Pa., but now live at Minneapolis, Minn., where his father, Peter Wolford, is successfully engaged as Broker and Banker. Out of a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, Jacob A. is the elder son. His younger brother was named William L. and his sisters were: Sarah, Henrietta and Jennie. Our subject was educated at Tuscarora, Pa. After leaving school he accepted a position as clerk in his father's bank. He next went to Memphis, Tenn., where he engaged in the mercantile business for a few years. In 1863, he came to Cynthiana and commenced the manufacture of woolen goods. In addition to this in 1864, he began running a distillery, and in 1865 he discontinued the manufacturing business altogether and devoted his entire attention to his distillery, which business he has followed very successfully ever since. He was married in Harrison County, Ky., on Nov. 14, 1867 to Miss Josephine Cook, who was born in Pa., June 9, 1845. Her father, Stephen B. Cook, was also a native of Pa., and was born March 1, 1797 and died in Kentucky on March 10, 1874. His widow, Lydia Beecher Cook, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., June 10, 1805 and now lives quietly in the city of Cynthiana near her children. Mr. Wolford's marriage has been blessed with one son, Louie C., and two daughters, Mary L. and J. Albertie. Mrs. Wolford is a member of the Episcopal Church. Our subject has no political aspirations, but always acts with the Democratic party. He is also a member of the Order K.H. By his close attention to business, he has accumulated sufficient means to enjoy any reasonable luxury that himself or family should desire.

• Book: Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, 1929. ¹ Lydia married Stephen Cook; born 1805; died, aged 80, in 1885. Had 12 children. She was not 17 years old when married, and was born in her mother's 50th year, and Benjamin was 8 years old. Married in New Holland, Lancaster Co., Pa., by Rev. Peter Philbert. Both buried in Cynthiana, Ky.

• Book: Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, 1929. ³ Lydia Beecher (16th child of John and Mary Ann Albert Beecher, daughter of George and Mary) - Born June 10, 1805, Reading, Pa.; died July 31, 1885, Cynthiana, Ky. Married Mch. 19, 1822, Stephen Beecher Cook, in New Holland, Lancaster County, Pa., by Rev. Peter Philbert.

Stephen was born Mch. 1, 1798; died Mch. 10, 1874, Cynthiana, Ky. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1872. Both are buried at Battle Grove, Cynthiana, Ky. When Lydia died, aged 80, there were living five of her 12 children, 26 grand-children, and 24 great-grand-children.

Stephen took the name of "Beecher" for a middle name, because when he married there was another Stephen Cook in the same town. Stephen B. Cook was the son of Stephen Cook and Miss _____ Ayers of Staten Island (where Mrs. Stephen, Sr., is buried.).

Stephen Cook, Sr., came over from England in a military band, during the Revolution, when he found what the Americans were fighting for, he deserted the English and joined the Americans, "Washington's forces"; no record of his services have been found, so he may have fought under another name.

His brother, Dr. ___ Cook, visited him later and some of the family settled in Ohio. The wife of President Hayes was a descendant of this Cook family. Mrs. Stephen Ayers Cook (Sr.) was a daughter of Captain ___ Ayers, of the "India Tea Co.," and during the "Embargo" was not allowed to land his "tea" in Philadelphia, Pa., (see Abagail Adam's diary) from his ship, "Polly," Dec. 28, 1773. Several histories made mention of him.

Miss Ayers was educated in a convent in Madrid, Spain and when her mother died, she came of her father's ship, and was married in America. They (Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Cook, Sr.) had 6 children, birth dates not known. Three daughters: Polly married ____ Thurman (they had son, Edward, and 2 dau.); Margaret Cook married ____ Scott (he was a Mason, and was killed by a falling scaffold), they had 5 children, the oldest son was a potter in Lancaster Co., Pa.; Eliza Cook married _____ Disbell, and lived in Lancaster Co., Pa.; the three sons were James, Jacob and Stephen "Beecher" Cook, who married Miss Ayres. (Stephen Sr., married the second time and had a family.)

Lydia married Stephen Beecher Cook, son of Stephen Cook Sr. and Ayers, on 19 Mar 1822 in New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA.¹ (Stephen Beecher Cook was born on 1 Mar 1797 in , , New Jersey, USA,² died on 10 Mar 1874 in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, USA ^{3 4} and was buried in Cynthiana: Battle Grove Cemetery, Harrison County, Kentucky, USA ³.)

  Marriage Notes:

They were married by Rev. Peter Philbert when she was 16 years old. ¹