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Thomas Becher

Thomas Becher is an enterprising merchant of Westgate, having carried on business at that place for four years, during which time he has won the front rank among the leading business men in this part of the county. Of German birth, he was born near Hof, Bavaria, November 24, 1850, and is a son of J. N. and Mary (Wolfrum) Becher. His parents were also born in Bavaria, and came to America in 1853, locating near Chicago, Ill., where they spent ten years.  They then became residents of Oran Township, Fayette County, Iowa, where they now reside.  The family numbered two sons and four daughters, our subject being the eldest; Anna Barbara, the second, was twice married. Her first husband, Chris Maurer, died of lingering consumption, and later she became the wife of Jacob Herman, with whom she lived about one year, when she died of sympathetic consumption. She had three children by her first marriage and one by the last and one child, a daughter died in infancy: J.C. who was born in 1857, wedded Mary Rechkemmer and resides on the old homestead in this county; Catherine is the wife of Henry Meyer, a resident farmer of Harlan Township, and unto them have been born three children; Mary is the wife of F.C. Meyer and on their farm in Harlan Township they reside with their four children; Henrietta, who completes the family, is yet at home.

Our subject was but three years old when his parents emigrated to this country. He was educated in the public schools of Fayette County, and at Bayless Commercial College, of Keokuk, Iowa, from which institution he was graduated in 1877. Afterward he secured a position as book-keeper in the agricultural implement house of Curtis & Morey, of Waverly, Iowa, where he spent five years and obtained much practical business experience.  In 1887 he opened a store in Westgate, his stock consisting of groceries and general provisions, to which he has added dry goods, boots and shoes and crockery.  He now has a complete stock of general merchandise and his store was the first in the line of dry goods, boots and shoes established  in the thriving town of Westgate.  By industry, economy, good management and fair dealing he has established a fine trade which is constantly increasing. A German by birth and a fluent speaker of that language, he has a liberal patronage from the German population of Fremont Township, of which there are many.

On the 14th of April, 1885, a marriage ceremony was performed which united the destinies of Thomas Becher and Lena Hartman, daughter of G. Hartman, of Butler County, Iowa.  She was born February 24, 1866, and was one of four sons and three daughters.  By her marriage three children have been have been born - - Henrietta Mary, born February 12, 1886; Albert John, September 29, 1887; and Henry F., April 18, 1889.  Mr. Becher has been a busy man but has found time to devote to outside interests and has taken an active part in public affairs.  He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in Freemont Township, in 1889, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Spears, deceased, and in the autumn of 1890 was re-elected to that position by the unanimous vote of both parties, there being no opposing candidate.  He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church and have many warm friends and a large circle of acquaintances in this community.  In politics he is independent.