WABASHA COUNTY, MINNESOTA ***************************************************************************** Biography transcribed & donated to Wabasha County, MN Bios by Barbara Koska Timm. For more information, please check out her site "Biographies and Historical Sketches of Wabasha County, Minnesota" at . ***************************************************************************** "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY MINNESOTA" COMPILED BY FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE AND OTHERS ILLUSTRATED WINONA, MINN. H. C. COOPER, JR., & CO. 1920 Becker, John W. (page 665), a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of Watopa Township, was born in the town of Belvidere, Buffalo county, Wis., February 19, 1866, son of Henry and Mary (Moore) Becker. The parents were natives of Germany, the father of Baden, and came to the United States probably about 1860. After their marriage they settled in La Crosse, Wis., where Henry Becker for two years kept a saloon. After that he was engaged in farming in Buffalo County, Wis., until his death in 1872. In 1873 his widow married Charles Fetting and now lives at Bruce, Wis. By her first marriage, with Henry Becker, she had three children: John W., the subject of this sketch; and Frank and George, who reside in Buffalo, Wis. Of her marriage with Mr. Fetting six children were born: Charles, Mary, Kate, Emma, William and Raymond. John W. Becker was reared in Houston county, Minnesota. He remained at home until 16 years old and then began working out on farms, continuing as a farm laborer until he was twenty-two. He then entered the employ of the Mississippi Logging Co., for whom he worked 17 years as paymaster. At the end of that time he began farming for himself, renting a farm for seven years in Wabasha county. In 1914 he bought his present farm of 320 acres in section 34, Watopa Township, and 44 acres in Winona County directly south. Here he is prosperously engaged in general farming and stock raising, giving his particular attention to Durham cattle and Chester- White hogs. He is connected fraternally with the Equitable Fraternal Union and the Modern Woodmen of America, and religiously with the German Lutheran church. Mr. Becker assumed the responsibilities of domestic life on September 2, 1891, when he was united in marriage with Bertha Lawrence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ignatz Lawrence, her father being a native of Holland and her mother of Pennsylvania. They came to America in 1872, settling in Buffalo City, Wis., where Mr. Lawrence worked at the shoemaker's trade until 1881. After that he followed farming until 1895, and then located in Weaver, Minn., working for one year as a railroad section hand. He died July 26, 1906. In 1913 his widow married William Achenbach and is still residing in Weaver. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence were Bertha, Alvina, Anna, Louis, Charles, Addie, George and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Becker have been the parents of five children: William J., born March 20, 1893; Alvin L., December 23, 1894; Mildred M., August 29, 1896; Gordon E., August 9, 1902; and Ronald B., December 16, 1911. William J. is now a resident of Minneapolis. Alvin L. resides in Winona, Minn. Mildred M. is the wife of John Angelberg of Winona. The other two children are residing at home.