W. L. Becker, farmer, section 8, Grant Township, is among the enterprising and successful citizens of his township, with which he has been identified since 1872. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, born February 1, 1836, a son of John and Anna (Boucker) Becker. His father died on shipboard in 1867 when on his way to America. His family consisted of four children—W. L., Arnold, Theodore and Ida. Arnold was a sailor, and was captured by the Confederates during the war of the Rebellion and pressed into their service, and died before the close of the war. W. L. Becker attended school in his native land until fourteen years of age. When fifteen years old he shipped on board a sailing vessel, and followed a seafaring life thirteen years, and two years sailed on the lakes. In 1872 he moved from Ogle County, Illinois, to Carroll County, Iowa, and located in Grant Township. He first bought eighty acres of wild land on section 6, which he improved and lived on until 1877, when he sold it and bought the farm where he now resides, which contains 120 acres of Carroll County’s best land under a high state of cultivation. His residence is a good one and a half story frame, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, and his farm buildings are comfortable and convenient. He has a good native grove of forest trees covering three acres, and also has a fine orchard of bearing trees. Mr. Becker was married in 1865 to Miss Gebhardine Hesslingh, a native of Germany, and daughter of George and Catherine (Okken) Hesslingh. They are members of the Evangelical Association. In politics Mr. Becker is a Democrat. He has always taken an interest in the cause of education, and has served several terms as a member of the school board. By his honorable dealing and genial manners he has gained the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and fellow-citizens, and is classed among the first men of his township.

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