William Beecher ^{2 3 4}

   Other names for William were William Beechard,¹ William Beicher ⁶ and William Bücher.⁵

   FamilySearch ID: K89Q-ZYB.

  Christening Notes:

He was baptized as William Bücher. Sponsors were the parents.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1830 in Earl Twp., Lancaster, PA. ⁸ The 1830 census recorded William Becher [as recorded] with this household:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 son (William)
5-9 (1821-1825) = 1 son (Henry)
30-39 (1791-1800) = 1 father (William)
Females (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 daughter (Harriett)
5-9 (1821-1825) = 1 daughter (Mary Ann)
20-29 (1801-1810) = 1 mother (Julia Ann).

2. Census in 1840 in Jefferson Township, Franklin, Ohio, United States. ⁹ The 1840 census recorded William Giher [sic, as written by census taker] with this household:
Males (born)
10-14 (1826-1830) = 2 sons (Henry, William)
40-49 (1791-1800) = 1 father (William)
Females (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840) = 2 daughters (Julia Ann, Barbary)
5-9 (1831-1835) = 2 daughters (Almina, Matilda)
10-14 (1826-1830) = 1 daughter (Harriett)
30-39 (1801-1810) = 1 mother (Juliann)
Persons Employed in Agriculture = 3
William was living next door to his sister Barbara Beecher Neiswender's families and also next to the family headed by his cousin, John G. Bicher (1800-1851).

3. Residence: in 1848 in , Franklin, Ohio, United States. ¹⁰

4. Census in 1860 in Richland Twp., Miami, IN. ² Wm. Beecher, age 30, shoemaker, is found in the 1860 Census in Richland Township, Miami County, Indiana, having real estate valued at $50 and possessions worth $50. Living with him is Susan, 25; daughter Frances, 8 (should be a son nickname Frank); Sarah A., 4; and Mary A., 2. Both parents were born in Pennsylvania and all children in Ohio. The post office listed is Chili.

5. Census in 1870 in Mifflin Twp., Franklin, OH. ⁶ William Beicher, shoe maker, 42, was living with wife Susan, 41; Frances, 16; Medora, 14; Laura A., 12; Jeremiah, 7; and Reuben, 6. The parents were born in Pennsylvania, and the children in Ohio. The post office was Gahanna.

6. Census in 1880 in Silver Lake, Shawnee, KS. ¹¹ William Beecker [as indexed in census, handwriting looks like Beecher], farmer, 54, was living with wife Susan, 52; son Francis M., laborer on farm, 25; daughter Modora, 22; son Jeremiah, 18; Reuben A., 16; and William A., 5. The parents and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. Francis and Maderu were born in Ohio, the younger children in Indiana.

7. Residence: 1883 Radges Topeka Directory in 1883 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹² Beechard, Francis M., laborer, res. cor. Taylor and E streets.
Beechard, Jeremiah, painter, res. cor. Taylor and E streets.
Beechard, Reuben A., res. cor. Taylor and E streets.
Beechard, William, carpenter, res. cor. Taylor and E streets.

8. Kansas State Census census on 1 Mar 1885 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹³ The 1885 Kansas state census recorded Wm. Beechard, laborer, 60, living with wife Susanna, 57; Francis M., farmer, 30; Medora E., 28; Laura A., 25; Jeramiah, 23; Reuben A., 21; and Wm. Arthur, 10. Wm. Sr. was born in Pennsylvania, Jeramiah and Reuben in Indiana, and all others in Ohio. They moved to Kansas from Ohio.

9. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: William Beecher Injured, 21 Sep 1892, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁴ William Beecher, a carpenter employed on the new Page mill, while at work yesterday forenoon, missed his footing and fell a distance of about thirty feet, sustaining serious if not fatal injuries. Immediately after the accident he was taken to his home in the western part of the city. Dr. Raub attended the injured man.

10. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Press: William Beecher, the carpenter who fell from the Page mill Tuesday, is recovering satisfactorily from his bruises., 22 Sep 1892, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁵

11. Newspaper: Semi-Weekly Capital: Sheriff's Sale of Wm. Beechard's Home, 30 Mar 1893, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁶ Sheriff's Sale. In the District Court, Third Judicial District, Shawnee county, Kansas. Hunt & Evans, plaintiffs, vs. Wm. Beechard et al., defendants.
Case No. 14674.
BY VIRTUE of an order of sale issued
out of the district court, in the above
entitled case, to me directed and delivered, I will on Monday, the 3d day of April, 1893, at a sale to begin at 10 o'clock a. m. of said day, at the front door of the court house, in the city of Topeka, in Shawnee County, state of Kansas, offer for sale at pubilc auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand the following described real estate and appurtenances belonging thereto, to-wit:
Lot numbered 60 on Gordon street in Wat's subdivision to the city of Topeka, all in Shawnee county, Kansas.
Said real estate is taken as the property of sald defendants, and will be sold to satisfy said order of sale. The purchaser will be required to pay cash for the said property at the time of sale.
Given under my hand at my office in the city of Topeka, Shawnee county, Kansas, the 25th day of February, 1893. J. M. WILKERSON, Sheriff.

12. Kansas State Census census on 1 Mar 1895 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁷ The 1895 Kansas census recorded William Bucher [handwriting fuzzy Beecher], 70, living with wife Susanah, 69; Jerry, 34; Rubin, 30; William Jr., 20; Frank, 40; and Laura, 36. William Sr. and Susanah were born in Pennsylvania; Jerry and Rubin in Indiana, and the others in Ohio.

13. Census in 1900 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³ Jerry Beecher, carpenter, 28, born Jan 1872, was married for 2 years to wife Rose, 25, Sep 1874. She had birthed no children by 1900. Also with them is father William Beecher, widow, retired, 76, May 1824. William, his parents, and Jerry's parents were born in Pennsylvania. Jerry was born in Indiana. Rose was born in Kansas, her parents in Indiana. They were living at 1219 East 10th St.

14. Residence: Topeka City Directory: Beecher, William, laborer, 618 N. Kansas av. in 1902 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁸ Beecher, Jerry, carpenter, res. 1219 E. Tenth ave.
Beecher, Reuben, painter, res. 122 W. Curtis st.
Beecher, William, laborer, 618 N. Kansas av.

15. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: William Beecher, aged 80 years, who was overcome by heat while he was working on the Eighth street paving Friday, is recovering., 14 Jul 1903, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁹

16. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Herald: William Beecher, who makes his home with J. D. Rodgers, 813 Kansas ave., suffered a stroke of paralysis day before yesterday. He is able to walk about today., 24 Sep 1904, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁰

17. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: Mrs. Jerry Beecher's Statement About Her Father-in-Law., 8 Jun 1905, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²¹ DOESN'T NEED TO WORK.
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Mrs. Jerry Beecher's Statement About Her Father-in-Law.
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Mrs. Jerry Beecher, of 1219 East Tenth street, daughter-in-law of William Beecher, the old gentleman 81 years old who applied for work at the free employment agency yesterday, states that Mr. Beecher Is at present living with his son, her husband. She claims that he is old, and that on account of this he is childish and not satisfied with his home. Mrs. Beecher states his son does not ask his father to work, and that Mr. Beecher is glad to furnish a home for his aged father.

18. Obituary: Topeka State Journal: William Beecher Suicide on 29 Oct 1908 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁷ DRANK CARBOLIC ACID.
William Beecher, Aged 86 Years, Tires of Life.
William Beecher, 86 years of age, who lived with the family of R. Sankey of East Hill, south and east of Topeka cemetery, died at 11 o'clock today as the result of a large dose of carbolic acid, swallowed evidently with suicidal intent. Beecher, who was the father of Mrs. Sankey's first husband, came to live with the Sankeys not long ago, because, he said, his own children would not keep him. He was able to get around, although he had been complaining for three days, and seemed generally despondent. Several days ago he visited friends in Silver Lake, and his daughter-in-law believes that he secured the poison while on this trip. Today, about 11 o'clock, he went upstairs, and was followed a short time later by Mrs. Sankey, who had observed that he was not feeling well. She found him on his bed in a dying condition, and the empty poison bottle near at hand. Mrs. Sankey immediately called a physician, but the old man died before medical assistance arrived. Dr. H. H. Keith, coroner, was immediately notified. He stated this afternoon that from what he could hear, it was a clear case of suicide, and that no inquest would be held, but that he would investigate the case fully. Mrs. Sankey stated that Beecher has three sons living in Topeka.

William married Ann Susannah Spangler, daughter of John Spangler and Susanna Schmidt, on 25 Jun 1848 in , Franklin, Ohio, United States.¹ (Ann Susannah Spangler was born about 1828 in , , Pennsylvania, USA ^{2 6 17} and died between 1895 and 1900 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS.)