BECKER, John died 1873

BECKER

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 5/19/2022 at 12:00:51

Another Man Drowned - A Happy Home Made Desolate
The dark, turbulent and treacherous waters of the Mississippi have swallowed another human being and made a happy home desolate and distracted.

Last Saturday night about nine o'clock, John Becker, a married man, aged about 32 years, who since the year 1866 has been the principal clerk in Kerndt Brothers' store, accompanied several other gentlemen to the river for a bath. The place selected was at the ferry dock nearly in the rear of the Hays stone warehouse. Mr. Becker undressed and waded into the river at the upper end of the ferry dock where the water runs very swift.

He had scarcely got in and waded out a short distance, clinging to the dock before the strong current swept his feet from under him and bore him swiftly away out into the stream. So quickly was it done that there was no chance for alarm, nor did he make the least noise to attract the attention of his companions, but floated out a short distance, struggled a little and sank out of sight.

The poor man, when he found that he was going, clutched at Dr. Brockhausen, who happened to be near him and came very near pulling the Doctor under. The alarm was given immediately and the sad news spread rapidly throughout the city. A large crowd assembled at the fatal spot and search was instantly commenced for the recovery of the body and has been kept up ever since, but efforts to find it have this far failed.

Mr. Becker was one of our most highly esteemed citizens. His kind, courteous, upright and honorable bearing since he first became a resident of our city had drawn around him hundreds of warm and true friends whose hearts sorrow at his sudden and awful death.

He leaves a wife and three children of his own, and two step daughters, the latter grown up, children by his wife's former marriage. The poor, heart-broken wife has been confined to her bed since February last, much of the time lightly clinging to the barest thread of life, and had just got so as to be able to sit up a few moments at a time.

It was a trying task to break to her the sad fate of her husband and the tidings made her almost frantic, and may yet be the means of taking her poor, sorrow-stricken soul to meet that of her good kind and affectionate husband at an early day.

The family are highly respected by all who know them and they have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community.

The deceased was a prominent and consistent member of the Catholic Church in this city and had done much toward building up that church in the community. Let us hope that he has met the reward of all those who live a blameless and spotless life, and may God in his goodness and mercy comfort and protect the sorrow stricken family.

~North Iowa Journal, Tuesday, July 1, 1873; pg 3

--

Not True - A rumor was rife in our city a few days ago that the body of John Becker, of whose drowning we made mention, was found under a raft at Dubuque. The rumor proved to be untrue, however, as parties acquainted with Becker before death failed to identify the body. The body found was supposed to be that of a raftsman drowned while bathing at Reed's Landing.

~North Iowa Journal, Tuesday, July 15, 1873; pg 3