John Becraft and Almira / Elmira Jones
Husband John Becraft [2467] 1
Born: 27 Oct 1829 - Schoharie, Schoharie, New York, United States 1 2 Christened: 20 Dec 1829 - Schoharie, Schoharie, New York, United States 2 Died: Oct 1908 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United States 1 2 Cause of Death: Acute dil. of heart Buried: 2 Nov 1908 - Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, Oneida, New York, United States 3 FamilySearch ID: 27ZH-KXM Find A Grave ID: 194296041
Father: Peter Becraft [2407] (1799-1849) Mother: Elizabeth Miller [2408] (1802-1880)
Marriage: 1858 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United StatesEvents
• He was baptized on 20 Dec 1829 in Schoharie, Schoharie, New York, United States.
• He appeared on the Federal census in 1870 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. Ward 3
John Becraft, age 39, born 1830, in NY; Almira, age 39, born 1830, in NY; Mary E, age 11, born 1858, in NY; Harlon B, age 7, born 1862.• He appeared on the Federal census in 1880 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. John Becraft, age 49, born NY; wife Elmira age 49, born NY, son Harlan, age 17 born NY; Nettie age 21, born NY.
• He appeared on the Federal census in 1900 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. Ward 12
John Becraft, head, b Oct 1829, age 70y, married 45 years, born NY, Shipping Clerk; wife Elmira, b Apr 1831, age 69, (3 children, 2 living), born NY; dau H Abbie, b Apr 1873, age 27, single, born NY, bookeeper; Wheeler, Agnes E, boarder, b Jul 1883, age 16, single, born NY, at school.• His obituary was published in the Boonville Herald on 5 Nov 1908. John Becraft
From: Boonville Herald, Thursday, 5 Nov 1908
Death of John Becraft
Lived at Morehouseville and Russia Corners - Killed Panther at Age of 17
Following an illness of two weeks John Becraft died Friday at his home [175?] Tayler Ave., in Utica, aged 79 years. He had been in poor health for several months and about the middle of October he was seized by an attack that confined him to his bed. Surviving are a son and daughter, Harlin F. Becraft of Syracuse, Mrs. L. A. Biel of Utica; and two brothers, William Becraft of Syracuse and Freeman Becraft of Belleview, MI.
Mr. Becraft was of Dutch descent and was born at Schoharie Court House, Schoharie county, October 27, 1829. His grandfather who lived to be 100 and his great-grandfather, who lived 110 years, were both pensioners of the Revolutionary War. John Becraft lived at Schoharie Court House near the ruins of the old Revolutionary fort - ruins that still exist - where his grandfather and his great-grandfather had once been stationed, until he was 14[?] years old when his parents removed to Morehouseville in Hamilton county. Here his father, who was among the first settlers in that locality, cleared 16[?] acres of woodland and developed a very productive farm[?]. Bear, deer and panther were plentiful. At the age of 17, John killed a panther with a single charge from a shot gun after crawling into the entrance of a dark cave that was inhabited by the big cat.
At the age of 22 John Becraft went to Russia Corners, where he worked for four years on a farm. Then he went ot New Hartford and for the next five years was employed by Moses T. Meeker. Afterward he went to Utica and during several years was emplyed as a driver by the American Express Company.
Thirty-three years ago Mr. Becraft entered the employ of the wholesale clothing house of Cooper and Chamberlain, which afterward became Cooper & Company, and is now H. A. Cooper & Company. He remained there until four years ago, when he was forced to retire because of failing strength. Mr. Becraft was a Republican and while in New Hartford was a member of the Tent of [ ]. He was also a member of Olive Church of Utica. In Utica 51 years ago Mr. Becraft was united in marriage with Miss Almira [ ]. He was a man who was well known throughout the city and was esteemed by all his acquaintances.
Wife Almira / Elmira Jones [2780] 1
Born: Apr 1831 - New York, United States Christened: Died: 14 Oct 1902 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United States Cause of Death: Valv. dia. of heart Buried: 16 Oct 1902 - Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, Oneida, New York, United States 3 FamilySearch ID: LWGV-728 Find A Grave ID: 194295990
Father: Samuel Nicholas Jones [13568] (1805-1884) Mother: Hannah Taylor [13569] (1805-1891)
Events
• She appeared on the Federal census in 1870 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. Ward 3
John Becraft, age 39, born 1830, in NY; Almira, age 39, born 1830, in NY; Mary E, age 11, born 1858, in NY; Harlon B, age 7, born 1862.• She appeared on the Federal census in 1880 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. John Becraft, age 49, born NY; wife Elmira age 49, born NY, son Harlan, age 17 born NY; Nettie age 21, born NY.
• She appeared on the Federal census in 1900 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. Ward 12
John Becraft, head, b Oct 1829, age 70y, married 45 years, born NY, Shipping Clerk; wife Elmira, b Apr 1831, age 69, (3 children, 2 living), born NY; dau H Abbie, b Apr 1873, age 27, single, born NY, bookeeper; Wheeler, Agnes E, boarder, b Jul 1883, age 16, single, born NY, at school.
Children
1 F Nettie (Mary E.) Becraft [2781] 1
Born: 1859 - New York, United States 1 Christened: Died: Bef 1900 1 Buried: FamilySearch ID: LHS3-CPB
2 M Harlan Elsworth Becraft [2782] 1
Born: 8 Mar 1863 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United States 1 Christened: Died: 7 Aug 1955 - Peru, Miami, Indiana, USA 1 4 Buried: 10 Aug 1955 - Crown Point Cemetery, Kokomo, Howard Co, IN 3 4 FamilySearch ID: KP7J-JL4 Find A Grave ID: 45496869Spouse: Mary E. Gilbert 1 [2783] (1862-1910) Marr: 30 Mar 1886 - Stone Bridge, NYSpouse: Mary Cowger 1 [2784] (1872-1955) Marr: 8 Apr 1915 - Logansport, Cass, Indiana, United States
3 F Hannah Abigail "Abbie" Becraft [2789] 5
Born: 24 Apr 1873 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United States Christened: Died: 17 Dec 1949 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United States Buried: - Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, Oneida, New York, United States 3 FamilySearch ID: LHS3-C5ZSpouse: Louis Augusta Biel 6 [8223] (1877-1963) Marr: 24 Jun 1903 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United States
General Notes: Husband - John Becraft
IGI Hardcopy Ancestry.com, William Knox, wknox1@msn.com
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyhamilt/bios/Becraft2.html
He moved with his parents to Morehouse, Hamilton County in 1840 at the age of 11. In 1850, John was single and living in Morehouse with his sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and Adoniram Tucker. By 1860, he had married Almira and they were living in Wilmurt, Herkimer Co., NY where they were keepers of a boarding house. Most of their lodgers were employed cutting logs for Hinkley & Ballou. By 1870, John and Almira had moved to Utica, Oneida County, where they continued to live until at least 1900. John worked as a porter and as a shipping clerk. John's sister, Catherine, may have lived with them for a while after the death of her husband. Almira was a witness to Catherine's identity when Catherine applied for a widow's pension. The same address on Lansing Street, Utica, was given for both of them. 1
Burial Notes: Wife - Almira / Elmira Jones
22A, Lot 1131
1 Joanne Murray (lajkam@gmail.com), The Becraft Family of Morehouse (http://hamilton.nygenweb.net/bios/Becraft1.html).
2 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 8 Nov 2025), entry for John Becraft, person ID 27ZH-KXM.
3 Findagrave.com.
4 Crown Point Cemetery.
5 LDS, Hannah.
6
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 Nov 2025), entry for Louis A Biel, person ID G7NV-J4S.
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