John S. Beecroft

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      Sex: M

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Individual Information

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          Birth: 1836 - Mercer Co, NJ
    Christening: 
          Death: 22 Jun 1898 1
         Burial: in De Soto Cemetery, De Soto, Johnson Co, KS 2
 Cause of Death: 
           AFN : 
                 

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Events

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• Biography

JOHN S. BEECROFT, Postmaster, De Soto, was born in Mercer County, N. J., in 1836, and reared on a farm, after which he resided for some time in Fulton county, Ill. He passed through Kansas in 1857, and located in Butler County, Neb., where he was engaged ranching for four years. Returning to Kansas in 1861, he settled at Leavenworth, and was for several years engaged in furniture business, and employed in various capacities in that neighbourhood, in all some nine years, after which he went to Butler County, Neb., and took up a homestead, residing on it for a year, then went to Kansas City, where he engaged in furniture business. In the spring of 1879, he came to De Soto, and at once engaged in general merchandise business, in which he has since continued. He was appointed Postmaster in September, 1880, and is Treasurer of District School Board. Mr. B. was married in Butler County, Neb., in the spring of 1861, to Elizabeth Wakefield. They have four children - Laura, George, Charles, and May.

• Event

A Historical View of DeSoto Kansas 1857-2000 has the following: John S. Beecroft was born in Mercer Co., N.J. in 1836, reared on a farm. Passed through Kansas in 1857 and located in Butler Co., Nebraska where he engaged in ranching for 4 years. Returned to Kansas in 1861. Settled in Leavenworth and was for 9 years in the furniture business. He went to Butler Co., Nebraska and homesteaded for one year, then to Kansas City where he engaged in the furniture business. In the spring of 1879, came to DeSoto, and engaged in general merchandise business. Appointed Postmaster September 1880 and was treasurer of the district school board. Married in 1861 Butler Co., Nebraska to Elizabeth Wakefield. Had children, Laura, George, Charles and May. He bought the Skinner and Barret store in 1880 and operated it until his death in 1898 when his son and partner Charles took it over. Another of his sons, George was a tank wagon gasoline salesman and later the town electrician. He and his son Lyle operated the first electric plant. Lyle maried Nina Watson and had 8 children. Daughter Lila Jeannie Beecroft married Eldean Schultz. They had five children, Jack, Donald, Patsy, Deanna,and Peggy.

• Census, Federal, 1870 in Kansas

Name: John Becroft
Estimated Birth Year: 1837
Gender: Male
Age in 1870: 33y
Color (white, black, mulatto, chinese, Indian): White
Birthplace: New Jersey
Home in 1870: Kansas, United States
HouseholdGenderAge
John Becroft M 33y
Elizabeth Becroft F 27y
Laura Becroft F 7y
George Becroft M 5y
John Becroft M 3y
Charles Becroft M 6m

• Census, Federal, 1880 in De Soto, Johnson Co, KS

John S Beecroft, age 44, born NJ, Dry Good and Groc, father born ENG, mother born NJ; Elisabeth, age 37, born IL, keeping house; Laura, dau, age 17, born KS, at home; George W., son, age 15, born KS, clerk in store; John, son, age 13, born KS, attending school; Charls S., son, age 10, born KS, at school; May dau, age 4, born MO.

• Event, 1880 in De Soto, Johnson Co, KS

Leota, lodyrose@prodigy.net writes...
I found this in the DeSoto History Book that went on sale in 2006.

1880 - John Beecroft bought a piece of land a block square (Peoria to Wea St.) North side. Beecroft's home sat on the corner of 83rd & Peoria-Dicken's house. John Beecroft's store was on the corner of 83 & Wea so he donated the land in between to build the Christian church. John died in 1898, his son Charles took over the store. John's sons Charles and George. Charles Children: Mae, Harry & Edith. George had a son Lyle (married Nanna Watson-had 8 kids.

In 1910 A change in the firm of E. Beecroft and Son after the first of Sept. the firm will be Beecroft and Freeman. They expect to enlarge stock their already large stock of mdse. Mr. E. E. Freeman to be general manager.

In 1910 an ad for Barefoot Sandals from E. Beecroft & Son, DeSoto.

John S. Beecroft was postmaster Sept. 30, 1880.

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Spouses and Children

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1. *Elisabeth Wakefield
       Marriage: 1861 - Butler Co, NE
         Status: 
       Children:
                1. Laura Beecroft
                2. George W. Beecroft
                3. John "Jonnie" Beecroft
                4. Charles S Beecroft
                5. May Beecroft

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Notes

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Burial Notes:

age: 62 yr 2 mo 16 da, s/w Elizabeth Beecroft, Sec. Original, Row-9, Lot #139

Sources

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1. Findagrave.com.

2. Findagrave.com. .... Cemetery Transcription Library, interment.net.

1 Findagrave.com.

2 Findagrave.com. .... Cemetery Transcription Library, interment.net.