Beecroft/Becraft Ancestors

William Emerson Becraft and Anna H. Purdy

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Husband William Emerson Becraft [2747] ¹

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           Born: 6 Nov 1878 - Morehouse, Hamilton, New York, United States 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 May 1959 - Utica, Oneida, New York, United States 1
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: L7FV-Z48

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         Father: Giles Becraft [2569] (1850-1893) 1
         Mother: Margaretha Theodore Hart [2608] (1849-1930) 1

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       Marriage: 4 Jan 1911 - Corry, Erie Pennsylvania, United States

Events

• He appeared on the Federal census in 1880 in Morehouse, Hamilton, New York, United States. Frederick Becraft, age 56, hotel keeping, born NY; Matildy, age 51, wife, keeping house, born NY; Betsey, age 80, mother, born NY.
Giles, age 28, son, farming, born NY; Margarite, wife; age 30, keeping house, born NY; William, age 1, son, born NY.
Catherine Tucker, age 60, sister, nursing, born NY.

• He appeared on the Federal census in 1900 in Morehouse, Hamilton, New York, United States. Maggie Becraft, head, age 52, born NY, Jan, 1847, widowed, married 23 years, 5 children, 5 living, farmer; son William E, born NY, Nov 1879, age 20; son Frederick G, born NY, Oct 1880, age 19; dau Elsie A. born NY, Sep 1882, age 17; son John F, born NY, Apr 1884, age 16, at school; dau Rebecca M, born NY, Oct 1887, age 12, at school.

• He appeared on the 1930 Census census in 1930 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. William E Becraft, age 51, born NY, head of household with wife Anna H Becraft age 51 and daughter Margaret E age 16.

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Wife Anna H. Purdy [2748] ¹

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           Born: 1878 - Palisade, Mesa, Colorado, United States 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: L75D-87J

Events

• She appeared on the 1930 Census census in 1930 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States. William E Becraft, age 51, born NY, head of household with wife Anna H Becraft age 51 and daughter Margaret E age 16.

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Children

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1 F Margaret E. Becraft [3146]

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           Born: 4 Mar 1914
     Christened: 
           Died: 3 Apr 2000
         Buried:  - Pioneer Cemetery, Forestville, Chautauqua Co, NY
FamilySearch ID: GM2W-Y46

         Spouse: Ansel Ray Hall [3364] (1909-1971)
           Marr: 1938 - New York, United States

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General Notes: Husband - William Emerson Becraft

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http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyhamilt/bios/Becraft1.html
Bill quit school (in Ilion) to return to the farm and help raise his four younger siblings when his father died. He farmed, cut trees in lumber camps and worked on the roads for ten years. For three seasons he carried the U.S. mail by foot over a 14 mile round trip circuit. In 1940 he left the farm to work as a log scaler for the Hinkley Fiber Company and moved up the company ladder, eventually becoming the general manager. After Hinkley Fiber Company folded, he worked for Vermont Products Company and later for the International Paper Company in which he also held various management positions. William and Anna (Purdy) Becraft had one child.

http://www.rootsweb.com/

From: "Morehouse Past and Present."

William was living with his Aunt Jane and attending Illion High school when the unexpected death of his father at age 43 meant that he had to give up school to help his mother bring up the four younger children. For 10 years, Bill farmed the family farm, cut trees in lumber camps and worked on the roads. For three "Spring to Fall" seasons, he carried the U.S. mail on foot from Morehouse to Wilmurt Lake. This was a 14-mile round-trip over mountain roads. At this time he was paid $95.00 for each 6 month term. For one summer, when he was 24, William worked with a U.S. geological survey unit.

In 1904, leaving his interest in the farm to his brothers and sisters, he joined the Hinkley Fiber Company forces as a log scaler, followed by steady advancement to head scaler, head accountant, purchacing agent, sales agent, secretary and treasurer, then general manager. The firm manufactured wood pulp, which was shipped to other mills for the manufacture of paper. This is where he would meet his future bride, Anna H. Purdy, who was working as a stenographer for the company. When the Hinkley Fiber Company was liquidated, William went to the Vermont Products Company, which was controlled by Utica interests, as a manager and sales agent. Before leaving the Vermont Co., William was already acting as pulpwood buyer and inspector for the International Paper Company which was in New York City. The 'man from the north country', in the next 20 years, was to become as familiar with Times Square as he was with Hinkley's Main Street.
For the International Paper Company, William toured paper mills in New York, Maine, New Hampshire and Quebec. In 1937 he was made manager of Woodlands, a department of IPC, which involved the supervision of about 1-1/2 million acres of woodland in New York state and New England.

William Becraft has been a director and vice president of the American Realty Co., as well as having held offices in the Miramichi Lumber Co. of New Brunswick. He has been director and president of the Menominee River Boom Co. of Wisconsin, the Phillips Brooks Improvement Co. of New Hampshire and the Van Buren Lumbering & Manufacturing Company of Maine. These were all subsidiaries of the International Paper Company.

The American Pulpwood Association made him a member of its board of directors and appointed him to its executive, advisor, public relations and legislation committees.

Mr. Becraft was a member and past master of the Remsen Lodge, F. & AM a member of Sprig Chapter, Newport, Mohawk Valley Consisory and Ziyara Temple of the Shrine. ¹

Sources

1 Joanne Murray (lajkam@gmail.com), The Becraft Family of Morehouse (http://hamilton.nygenweb.net/bios/Becraft1.html).