Eighth Generation

56. George Wilson BELCHER was born on 28 March 1869 in Dorset Corners, Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,31,38 (His middle name was listed as "William" in his obituary.)

. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Germantown Township, Juneau County, WI.¹⁷ He appeared in the census in 1880 in Necedah, Juneau County, WI.¹⁸ George appeared in the census in 1900 in Orange Township, Juneau County, WI.¹⁹ His occupation was "Farm Labor." He appeared in the census in 1905 in Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.^21,39 His occupation was "Farmer."

Living in his household were his wife, Carrie; two of his children from his first marriage--Clifford and Alice; his step-daughter, Emma (listed incorrectly as Anne) Chambers and her 5 children--Myrtle, Bernice, and Mabel Chambers, and Allington and Orvid Straight (listed incorrectly as Chambers); and his step-children, Lillian and John Dahnert. Also living there were his brother, Eugene, and two Boarders, Emil Crandall and Elmer Johnson.

From the research of his granddaughter Lois (James) Bartels at the Monroe County Register of Deeds office: "George Belcher bought a 160-acre farm in Byron Township, Monroe Co., on Sept 12, 1903, from Seymore Wright (?) (Volume 22-Deeds- pg 365). He sold the farm in 1915 to James Acker (father of Grace Acker). Description of the acreage was: Section 36, Township 18, Range 1E.

George Belcher bought a house at 503 Glendale in Tomah, Wisconsin on June 6, 1913. He then sold it to his sister, Bertha McLeod on Dec. 6, 1915. At that time, George bought the farm in Tomah Township from Bertha.

The story that George told Lois was that Bertha could not care for her children, her younger mentally-handicapped brother, Rufus, and the farm by herself, so she and George traded properties, with the agreement that Rufus stayed with whoever was on the farm.

The rest of this story is that, 20 years after getting the farm near Tomah and selling the farm in Byron Twp. to James Acker, Grandpa, having lost his 2nd wife, married Grace Acker and moved back to that farm. It is no longer the entire 160 acres and the Ackers had built a new house on the "back 40" from where the buildings had been when he lived there 30 years prior. He did, though, still have all of his old friends and neighbors that he'd had the first 35 years of his life. This farm was just a mile east and just across the Monroe Co., Juneau Co. line, from the original Orren Belcher farm. It was a happy ending for his story because he was back by his Lemonwier River, where he could fish to his heart's content. After he was done fishing during the day, he could go coon hunting at night. When he got so that his ankles wouldn't carry him anymore, he had his pinochle-playing friends living close by."

. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Lodi, Columbia County, WI.⁴⁰ His occupation was "Laborer, Cement Factory."

. George appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶ His occupation was "Farmer, Dairy."

. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶ His occupation was "Farmer, General Farm."

. He died on 7 September 1957 at the age of 88 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,38

Obituary Notes: "George William Belcher, son of Orin H. and Caroline Jennings Belcher, was born at Dorset Corners, Monroe County, Wis., on March 28, 1869, and passed away on Sept. 7, 1957, at the Sparta hospital at the age of 88 years, five months and 10 days.

He was one of eight children, all of whom, except Herbert, of Dallas, Tex., have preceded him in death. At the age of 12 he moved with his parents to the Town of Cutler, where he grew to manhood.

In January of 1898 he was united in marriage with Miss Luella Reynolds of Osseo. To this union two children were born: Clifford Belcher of Minneapolis, and Mrs. Philip (Alice) James of Rt. 3, Tomah.

In February of 1902 Mrs. Belcher passed away, leaving him to care for their two small children. He later married Mrs. Caroline Dohnert, who cared for the children until they grew to adulthood. She (Caroline) passed away in May of 1931. They were privileged to share life for 29 years.

Later, Mr. Belcher was married to Mrs. Grace Ackers, who passed away in March of 1953. Almost all of Mr. Belcher's life was spent in Juneau and Monroe counties. For the past four and one half years he made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Philip James.

Besides his son, Clifford, of Minneapolis and Alice of Tomah, and his brother, Herbert, of Dallas, Tex., he is survived by 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

Mr. Belcher's disposition was friendly. His fine-spirited, optimistic, honest and devout character made him many friends. He was a faithful adherent and regular attendant with his family of the Lutheran church. Later in life, in another community, he became a faithful adherent to the Baptist church.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 1:45 p.m. at the White Funeral Home in Tomah, with the Rev. Arthur Boettcher officiating. Burial took place in the Camp Douglas cemetery.

Among those from out of town who attended the funeral of George Belcher were Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Belcher and two sons of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Eggleson, Mr. and Mrs. Cleary Treat, Robert Eggleson and Miss Lois James of Milwaukee, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Harrison, Mrs. Frank Harrison of Endeavor, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur McLeod of Madison, Mrs. Earl Biesang of Ft. Atkinson, Hubert Larson, Mrs. Neil Patton and Mrs. Martin Johnson of Rockford, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Harry Belcher of Camp Douglas and Mrs. Sophie Belcher of Wilton."

. George was buried on 10 September 1957 in Camp Douglas, Cutler Township, Juneau County, WI.¹ in the Camp Douglas Cemetery.

George Wilson BELCHER and Luella Mae REYNOLDS were married on 31 January 1898 in Cutler, Juneau County, WI.¹

. Luella Mae REYNOLDS, daughter of William Wallace REYNOLDS and Susan Ann RING, was born on 5 July 1879 in Wood County, WI.^1,41 She appeared in the census in 1880 in Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴² She appeared in the census in 1900 in Orange Township, Juneau County, WI.¹⁹ Luella died on 24 February 1902 at the age of 22 in Orange Township, Juneau County, WI.¹ She was buried in Camp Douglas, Cutler Township, Juneau County, WI.¹ in the Camp Douglas Cemetery.

George Wilson BELCHER and Luella Mae REYNOLDS had the following children:

George Wilson BELCHER and Clara Caroline "Carrie" GOEKE were married on 25 February 1903 in Monroe County, WI.^{1,10,38,40,43} According to their marriage registration record, at the time of their marriage he was a farmer and lived in Butler Township in Juneau County and she lived in Byron Township in Monroe County. Their witnesses were George Dehnert (relationship unknown) and Miss Bertha Belcher, one of his sisters.

According to the 1910 Census, they had 7 children, of whom 6 were living at the time. They were from all of their marriages.

. Clara Caroline "Carrie" GOEKE, daughter of Friedrich GOEKE and Wilhelmina VIERKANT, was born on 20 April 1854 in Wurttemberg Province, Preussen (Prussia).³⁸ According to her obituary, she had 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

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She emigrated in 1856 from Wurttemberg Province, Preussen (Prussia).^26,38,44,45

. She appeared in the census in 1860 in Watertown Township, Jefferson County, WI.⁴⁶

. Carrie appeared in the census in 1870 in Watertown Township, Jefferson County, WI.^44,46

. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Richmond Township, Walworth County, WI.⁴⁷ She was living with her 2nd husband and their children, Albert, Lillie and John. None of her children from her 1st marriage were living with them.

. She appeared in the census in 1905 in Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁸

. Carrie appeared in the census in 1910 in Lodi, Columbia County, WI.⁴⁰

. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶

. She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁶

. Carrie died on 12 May 1931 at the age of 77 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^6,38

Obituary Notes: "Clara Caroline Goeke was born April 20, 1854 in Wuerttemberg, Germany. At the age of one and one-half years, she came with her parents to the United States, the parents locating in Watertown, where Caroline grew to womanhood.

At the age of twenty, she became the wife of Wm. Grance. She entered into her second marriage with Fred Dehnert in 1884. Mr. Dehnert died in 1901 in Shennington after an accident. On the 25th of February, 1903, she was united in marriage with George Belcher, whose two young children she mothered lovingly so that they are numbered among her mourning children.

Mrs. Belcher has been in poor health for months, passing away peacefully on May 12 at her home in the Town of Tomah at the age of 77 years and 22 days. She leaves besides her husband, her children, Emma Stanhope of Sparta, Anna Humphrey of Oconomowoc, Wm. Grance, Wauconda, Ill., Albert Dehnert, Pampa, Texas; Clifford Belcher and Alice James of Tomah; 35 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, three brothers and three sisters.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Rev. J. G. Glaeser officiating. Interment will be made in Camp Douglas."

. She was buried in Camp Douglas, Cutler Township, Juneau County, WI.⁹

George Wilson BELCHER and Grace ACKER were married in 1935.¹

. Grace ACKER died in March 1953.¹ She was buried in March 1953 in Camp Douglas, Cutler Township, Juneau County, WI.¹ in the Camp Douglas Cemetery.