Merrill Edgar Beecher ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10}

   FamilySearch ID: L61G-Q19.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1900 in Dinsdale, Tama, IA. ¹² John W. Beecher, blacksmith, 47, born Nov 1852, was living with his wife Hannah R., 39, born Sep 1860. They were married 22 years and she had given birth to 7 children, all still living in 1900. Living with them: Matilda J., 18, Aug 1882; Ira, 13, born Oct 1886; and Merle E., 8, born Mar 1892. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1910 in Grant Twp., Tama, IA. ¹³ The 1910 census recorded John Beecher, blacksmith, 56, living with wife Hanna, 48; Charles, salesman lumber yard, 28; Merell, railroad agent, 20; and Homer, 9. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania except Homer in Iowa.

3. Occupation: telegraph operator for Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad on 5 Jun 1917 in Dinsdale, Tama, IA. ¹⁴

4. He was described as Medium height, stout build, blue eyes, brown hair on 5 Jun 1917 in Dinsdale, Tama, IA. ¹⁴

5. Census in 1930 in Grant Twp., Tama, IA. ¹⁵ The 1930 census recorded Merrill Beecher, 39, living with wife Albina, 32; Wesley, 8; Claire, 7; and Richard, 2. Everyone was born in Iowa except Merrill in Pennsylvania.

6. Census in 1940 in Grant Twp., Tama, IA. ¹⁶ The 1940 census recorded Merrill E. Beecher, 49, living with wife Albina S., 42; Wesley M., truck driver, 18; Claire L., 17; and Richard, 12. Everyone was born in Iowa except Merrill in Pennsylvania.

7. Occupation: none on 27 Apr 1942 in Dinsdale, Tama, IA. ¹⁷

8. He was described as 5' 10" 135 lbs. blue eyes gray hair ruddy complexion, hernia operation scar on 27 Apr 1942 in Dinsdale, Tama, IA. ¹⁷

9. Residence: on 27 Apr 1942 in Dinsdale, Tama, IA. ¹⁷

10. Census in 1950 in Traer, Tama, IA. ¹⁸ The 1950 census recorded at 1 Woodlawn Street in Traer: Merrill Beecher, depot agent for railroad, 59, living with wife Albina, school cook, 52; son Richard, car salesman, 22; and mother-in-law Bessie Chizek, 77 whose name is crossed out. Merrill was born in Pennsylvania, Bessie in Czechoslovakia, and Albina and Richard in Iowa.

11. Residence: on 14 Jun 1957 in Traer, Tama, IA. ⁹

12. Newspaper: Des Moines Tribune: A Railroader for 56 Years, 29 Sep 1965, Des Moines, Polk, IA. ----- TRAER MAN A Railroader For 56 Years (photo) TRAER, IA. Many of today's Rock Island Lines railroaders were not born when Merrill E. Beecher became telegraph operator and assistant station agent here in 1909. Still working, Beecher now is nearing 75. The son of a blacksmith and wheelwright, Beecher was a schoolboy at Dinsdale, seven miles northwest of here, when he learned telegraphy by hanging around the Dinsdale depot. Beecher had worked here and had done some relief work along the line for a year before but at 20, he got "his own" station at Dinsdale, his home town. Gold Pass The Rock Island no longer maintains a station at Dinsdale, but Beecher looks back with pleasure on his 42 years as agent there. He came to Traer in 1952. Five years ago, Beecher was awarded a "gold pass," good for transportation for Mrs. Beecher and himself on any Rock Island train at any time. "Now that I can travel anyplace, there are fewer trains to travel on," said Beecher. Born in Pennsylvania, Beecher was 4 when his parents moved to Dinsdale. His wife is the former Albina Shizek of Traer. Through the years, Beecher's main hobby has been gardening. He is widely known for his excellent tomatoes, and attributes his success to two factors: The seeds, which he saves from one year's crop for the next, originally came from fruit brought here by a German immigrant, and he uses a special irrigation system with a half-buried tin-can "reservoir" for each plant, the water draining directly to the roots. "But I haven't needed much irrigation this fall," he said. Two Sons As long as the railroad permits him to stay on, Beecher has no intention of retiring. The Beechers have two sons, Wesley M. Beecher, a state conservation officer at Bellevue, and Richard W. Beecher, rural mail carrier here. There are six grandchildren.

13. Obituary: The Courier: Merrill Beecher on 28 Oct 1973 in Waterloo, Black Hawk, IA, USA. ¹⁹ TRAER - Services for Merrill Beecher, 83, who died yesterday morning at a Traer nursing home, are pending at the Erickson Funeral Home in Traer. Survivors include two sons, Wesley of Bellevue and Richard of Traer; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild; two brothers, Homer of Bremer, Wash., and William of Tempe, Ariz.

Merrill married Albina Stella Cizek, daughter of Michael "Mike" Cizek and Bessie Katherine Kopriva, on 24 Dec 1918 in Grundy Center, Grundy, IA, USA.¹ (Albina Stella Cizek was born on 5 Mar 1898 in Chelsea, Tama, IA, USA,^{20 21 22 23 24} died on 2 Aug 1970 in Traer, Tama, IA ^{21 22 23} and was buried in Reinbeck: Grant Twp. Cemetery, Tama, IA ^{21 22}.)