Francis Leota Beecher ⁴

   Other names for Francis were Francis Leoda Beecher ^{1 2} and Leoda Beecher.⁵

   FamilySearch ID: L6KR-RGL.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census in 1900 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ⁵ The 1900 Census recorded at 6931 Frankstown Avenue in Pittsburgh: James Beecher, house carpenter, 50, born May 1850, living with wife Sarah, 35, Jun 1865. They were married for 16 years (1884) and she had birthed 5 children, 4 still alive in 1900: Catherine, 15, Sep 1885; Margrete, 8, Mar 1892; Ellen, 6, Oct 1894; and Leoda, 3, Mar 1897. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

2. Newspaper: Lebanon Semi-Weekly News: Two Soldier Took War Brides At Mt. Gretna, 7 Jul 1916, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ² Two soldiers claimed "war" brides at Mt. Gretna on Saturday, both ceremonies being performed by Rev. H. N. Bassler, of Harrisburg, chaplain of the Eighth regiment. The couples made hurried trips to this city and lifted licenses after the usual Saturday noon closing hour. They were George E. Snyder, tinner, son of George E. Snyder, and Miss Millie B. Boyles, daughter of David Boyles, both of Carlisle, and John D. O'Connell, son of Daniel O'Connell, of 26 Arbor street, and Miss Francis L. Beecher, daughter of James R. Beecher, of 1875 Lincoln avenue, both of Pittsburgh. Snyder is an Eighth regiment solider, while O'Connell belongs to the ambulance company.

3. Newspaper: Evening Public Ledger: Another Wedding at Gretna, 8 Jul 1916, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ⁶ Another Wedding At Gretna
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Fifty Men Clamor to Be Best Man for Pittsburgh Ambulance Sergeant
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MT. GRETNA, Pa., July 8. -- Hail to the latest war bride!
More than fifty men in the 1st Ambulance Corps here clamored for the honor of being best man at the wedding of Sergeant J. D. O'Connell and Miss Leota Beecher, both of Pittsburgh, who were married with military honors this afternoon.
Miss Beecher will be the last war bridge here, according to all predictions. Confetti, tin cans and old shoes were thrown at the bashful and youthful couple. The bridgegroom leaves for El Paso tomorrow.

4. Occupation: telephone operator on 8 Jul 1916 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ¹

5. Residence: 1875 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. on 8 Jul 1916 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ¹

6. Census in 1920 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ⁷ The 1920 census recorded renting at 7217 Frankestown Avenue: Stanley Poff, solicitor for life insurance, 24, living with wife Helen C., 3. Also in the home is Helen's sister, Francis L. O'Connell, telephone operator, 22. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

7. Census in 1940 in Upper Saint Clair Twp., Allegheny, PA. ⁸ The 1940 census recorded owning a $3000 home on McLaughlin Run Road, post office Bridgeville: Leota O'Connell, married, 42, living with her sister, Sarah Lochinger, single, 32, and a lodger: Joseph Kolessar, truck driver for wholesale beer distributor, 28. The ladies had no occupation. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

8. Cause of Death: carcinoma of stomach, 4 Mar 1942, Upper Saint Clair Twp., Allegheny, PA. ⁴

9. Residence: Brookside Farms, Bridgeville, Pa. on 4 Mar 1942 in Bridgeville, Allegheny, PA. ⁴

10. Obituary: Pittsburgh Press: O'CONNELL -- Wednesday, March 4, 1942, at 4:25 a. m. Leota Beecher O'Connell of Bridgeville, Pa. Friends received at the House of Dunn, 1928 Fifth Ave. Funeral Friday morning. High mass at St. Agnes Church at 10 o'clock. on 6 Mar 1942 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. ⁹

Francis married John Durwood O'Connell, son of Daniel O'Connell and Elizabeth Duncan, on 8 Jul 1916 in Mount Gretna, Lebanon, PA.^{1 2 3} The marriage ended in separation. (John Durwood O'Connell was born on 1 Sep 1893 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA,^{3 10} died on 4 Dec 1940 in O'Hara Township, Allegheny, PA ^{3 10} and was buried on 7 Dec 1940 in Sharpsburg: Greenwood Cemetery, Allegheny, PA, USA ^{3 10}.)