My Genealogy Hound

FERDINAND BECKER, a prominent merchant of Tell City, was born in Canton Glarus, Switzerland, June 22, 1827. He is the oldest and only surviving member of a family of four children born to the marriage of Fredrick Becker and Elizabeth Grubermann, who were also natives of Switzerland. He grew to manhood in his native country, receiving a collegiate education in German and French; He was engaged with his father in mercantile pursuits until 1854, when he came to the United States, and was employed as a salesman in stores in Cincinnati, and in Dubuque and Davenport, Iowa, until 1858. In that year he came to Tell City as a member of the Colonization Society, and has since been prominently identified with the business interests of the town, although for a time he was engaged in merchandising at Morganfield, Ky. and farming in Kansas. For four years he was one of the proprietors of the woolen mills, and is now doing a large business in general merchandise. During its existence he was president of the National Bank, and is now treasurer of the Tell City Fire Insurance Company. He is recognized throughout the town and county as one of the leading business men, and as an honorable, upright citizen. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Mary Gnau, a native of Cincinnati, but of German descent. They have seven children—five sons and two daughters. One of the daughters is deceased.