The Becker Family

The Becker Mill and Becker-Hemmerich Families

Ref: The Becker-Hemmerich Genealogy compiled by Arthur Schumann with information from
descendants Glenna Royer Dohner and Robert Hemmerich and published histories.
In 1815, John Becker of Bedford County, Pennsylvania brought his family to Randolph
Twp., Montgomery County, Ohio where he purchased section 4 which lies north of Union.
William Hart and his family accompanied the Becker’s and the Hart’s bought section 5 which lay
to the west. Son John married Rebecca Hart and took possession of 103 acres of the land
purchased by his father. Henry Becker, son of John and Rebecca was born in 1816 and
obtained his education in a subscription school in the area. After serving as a teacher himself
for a few years, he joined his father John in the sawmill business. The first mill had been built
by the Becker’s in 1816. Many board feet of black walnut were milled there in the early times
and the mill was highly successful.
In 1840, Henry Becker married Sarah Schiltz whose family resided in Darke County.
Upon his marriage, he began to operate a mill (on 24 acres given to him by his father) as his
full-time occupation. His hard work proved rewarding and in 1865 he built a new mill on Pigeye
Creek. He eventually expanded his land holdings to a total of 528 acres not only in Randolph
Twp., Montgomery Co. but also in Miami and Darke Counties. It is the later mill that is pictured
in Evert’s Atlas of Montgomery County, Ohio 1875. This line drawing has been adopted by
Clayton as part of the city seal. Henry Becker also may have made broom handles and operated
as grist mill on the site.
The original house (1853) and barn still remain on the site but the mill is long gone.
Recently, a large mill stone that may be from the Becker Mill site was saved by a member of the
historical society. Some of the timbers from the mill were used years ago to build a house near
the original mill site.
Through marriages, the Becker’s, Hart’s, Royer’s, Hemmerich’s and Baker’s form an
extended family. Details of the relationships between these families are available in the
compilation done by Art Schumann.