Levi Beecher ^{1 2}

  Burial Notes:

His tombstone reads: In memory of Levi Beecher, son of John and Susan Beecher, born September 18, 1836, died March 17, 1887, aged 50 years 6 mo less 1 day. During the rebellion he served as a member of Co. D 54 Regt. Pennsylvania Inf. from November 13 1863 to July 15 1865.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1840, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ³ John Bicher is listed in the 1840 census with this household:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840) = 1 son Levi
20-29 (1811-1820) = 1 father John
Females (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840) = 1 daughter Catherine
20-29 (1811-1820) = 1 wife Susan

• Census, 1850, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹ John Beecher, age 35, farmer, is living with his entire family in the household of Levi Douder, age 19 [could be his brother-in-law who inherited the property?] Also in John's family is Susannah, whose age has been overwritten so from the handwriting it could be 89, or a 29 overwritten to become 39. [His mother? His wife? We assume it is a 39-year old wife, since John and Susan [nee Smith] are mentioned as the parents of Catherine Beecher in the historical book quoted in her husband's record here, and also because the following children are present in this home indicating it is a family.]

The children are: Levi, 14; Catherine, 12; Reuben, 10; Rebecca, 9; Cornelius, 7; and Susannah, 2. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The elder Susannah cannot read or write, perhaps another indication she really is elderly. A check mark appears in the column for Catherine to indicate she was married within the year, but who is her husband? It could be Douder, but then we would expect she would be listed second under him, not within the children's list by age order. Further research on this group is obviously needed.

• Confirmation, 7 Apr 1860, Bern Township: Epler's Church, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁴

• Census, 1880, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁵ John Beecher, laborer, 61, is living with wife Susanna, 66; son Levi, laborer, 44; and son William, laborer, 28. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.