Israel Laban Becraft and Mahala R. Heathman
Husband Israel Laban Becraft [260] 1
Born: 1 Sep 1818 - Mongtomery Co, MD 2 Christened: Died: 30 Apr 1888 - Bourbon, Kentucky, United States 3![]()
Buried: - Millersburg Cemetery, Millersburg, Bourbon Co, KY FamilySearch ID: 27SY-KKS Find A Grave ID: 40864396
Father: Aquila Becraft [124] (1797-1892) 4 Mother: Ann Maria Letton [258] (1798-1822)
Marriage: 17 Oct 1876 - Bourbon, Kentucky, United StatesEvents
• Biography: Perrin, p 504. I. L. BECRAFT,1 farmer; P. O. Millersburg; proprietor of Cedar Hill farm; is a son of Aquilla Becraft, who is a native of Montgomery County, Md., July 22, 1797, to Peter Becraft, born Nov. 5, 1740; his mother, Mary Nixon, born May 25, 1750, in Staffordshire, England; she a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Bently) Nixon, natives of Yorkshire; emigrated to America at a very early date, settling in the State of Maryland, near Washington City; Peter Becraft died in Maryland, upon his birthday, in 1806, having held a high position as a physician in that county; he is a son of Benjamin, a native of Maryland, where he died; Aquilla came to Milllersburg Precinct in 1817, where, on the 4th of September of the same year, he was married to Ann Maria Letton, and returned to his native county, where he remained until 1821, when he again came to Millersburg, bringing his mother and sister, Mary, who afterwards married Samuel Hitt, of Bourbon County. Mr. Becraft lived a prominent life in Bourbon County, adding to his possessions, until in 1833, when he removed to Diamond Grove farm, Morgan County, Ill., where he has since resided, and held a high social and official position among the citizens of that State. He was elected as County Judge for a term of four years, and was appointed by the Legislature, a Trustee of the State Insane Asylum. His first wife died in 1822, leaving two daughters and a son; Mary, the eldest daughter, now deceased, married John Goltra; left three children in Jacksonville, Ill.: Israel L., born Sept. 1, 1818, the only one now living, and subject of this sketch, returned to the old homestead, where he now resides, in 1841, from Illinois, whither he had gone with his parents; he was married Feb. 16, 1843. Priscilla Parker, daughter of Samuel and Lovina (Hill) Parker, who came from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Bourbon County, in 1805; by this marriage, there were seven children: Mary, the eldest, now deceased, became the wife of Nicholas Wood, left a family; a son died in young manhood. Those living are: James, married Prudence Letton, daughter of John W. Letton, now residing in Millersburg Precinct; William, married Sarah, a daughter of Ralph Reynolds, of Jacksonville, he now residing in Champaign County, Ill.; Maria, wife of William B. Smith, a lumber merchant of Paris; Charles and Walker, at home. The mother of this family died May 25, 1869. The father was re-married Oct. 17, 1877, to Mahala R. Heathman, a daughter of Eli Heathman. Mr. Becraft is one of the substantial men of Bourbon County, was Magistrate for it term of four years, and with his family are members of church. His father's second marriage was to Nancy Hitt, daughter of Jackey Hitt; she died March 31, 1880, after a married life of fifty-six years. Their children reside in Minnesota, Missouri and Illinois. Mr. Becraft is still a vigorous, bright and very intelligent old gentleman of eighty-five years, and a general favorite with all who come within the sphere of his acquaintance.
.• He appeared on the Federal census in 1860 in Bourbon, Kentucky, United States. 1860, KY, Bourbon, 674/436
BECRAFT, I. L., 41 m, MD, farmer, $21000/ $12500
Priscilla 37 f KY
James H. 17 m KY
William 15 m KY
Mary 12 f KY
Maria 10 f KY
Aquilla 8 m KY
Charles 5 m KY
Edwin 2 m KY
FITZPATRICK Julia 38 f KY
PARKER Luvina 72 f MD.• He appeared on the Federal census in 1870 in Millersburg, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States. I L Becraft, age 52, born KY; A Becraft, age 18 born KY; Aquilla age 17 born KY; Charley age 15, born KY; Maria age 20, born KY; Walker age 13, born KY; and Will age 25, born KY.
• He appeared on the Federal census in 1880 in Millersburg, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States. I.L. Becraft, age 61, farmer born in KY, listed with wife Mahala age 37, keeping house, born KY and sons Chas age 25 Farmer born KY and D.W. age 22 farmer born KY.
• His obituary was published in the Nashville Christian Advocate on 15 Sep 1888. (Page 90)
LABAN BECRAFT son of Aquila and Mariah Becraft born Md., Sept. 2, 1818; died April 30, 1888; married (1) Miss Parker; 5 sons, 2 daus.; (2) Mahala Heathman, Oct. 18, 1876.
Wife Mahala R. Heathman [394]
Born: 4 Sep 1843 - Nicholas, Kentucky, United States 5 Christened: Died: 14 Feb 1923 - Carlisle, Nicholas, Kentucky, United States 5 Buried: - Millersburg Cemetery, Millersburg, Bourbon Co, KY 6 FamilySearch ID: 27SY-K5Q Find A Grave ID: 172722598
Father: Eli Heathman [395] (1809-1857) Mother: Patsy Riggs [396] (1806-1846) 7
Events
• She appeared on the 1880 Census census in 1880 in Millersburg, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States. I.L. Becraft, age 61, farmer born in KY, listed with wife Mahala age 37, keeping house, born KY and sons Chas age 25 Farmer born KY and D.W. age 22 farmer born KY.
• Event: Bourbon News, 2 Sep 1921. Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Jefferson and mrs. Atta Young have returned from Carlisle, where they went to see Mrs. Mahala Becraft, who fell and fractured her hip. Mrs. Becraft was a former resident of Bourbon Co.
• Event: Bourbon News, 2 Sep 1921. Bourban Woman Injured
Mrs. Mahala Becraft, formerly of Paris, fell at her home on Sycamore street, in Carlisle, recently, fracturing her hip. On account of her advanced age, it is feared her condition is critical. She has suffered intensely from her injuries since the accident.Marriage Events
• Marriage: 17 Oct 1876, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States. Groom's Name:
Israel L. Becraft
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name:Mahaley Heathman
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date:17 Oct 1876
Marriage Place:Bourbon,Kentucky
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number:M51708-3
System Origin:Kentucky-ODM
Source Film Number:174937
Reference Number:.
Children
1 jmh533quin@yahoo.com, Laban, a biblical name.
2 jmh533quin@yahoo.com, birthplace.
3 THE NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, 1897-1899.
4 jmh533quin@yahoo.com, Aquila, Latin for eagle.
5 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2025), entry for Mahala R. Heathman, person ID 27SY-K5Q.
6 Findagrave.com.
7
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2025), entry for Unknown, person ID KC8F-783.
Table of Contents | Surnames | Name List
This website was created 2 Dec 2025 with Legacy 10.0, a division of MyHeritage.com; content copyrighted and maintained by castlewrks@aol.com