CIVIL WAR VETERAN. SERVED WITH 53RD PA INFANTRY
Samuel was the last surviving Civil War veteran in Berks County.
Son of Samuel R. and Hannah Becker
Note: The age given for John Wells Below is incorrect, he was 92 at that time. His obituary and death records were false.
Reading Eagle: Ron Devlin
The final resting place of Capt. Samuel B. Becker in Zion Church Cemetery, Strausstown. He enlisted in the Union forces of the Civil War at 14 and died at 95.
When Capt. Samuel B. Becker died on Christmas Eve 1942, he was the last Berks County resident who'd served in the Civil War.
Becker, who was 95 when he died, was 14 when he enlisted as a drummer boy in the Union Army in 1861, shortly after war broke out between the North and South.
Within a year of his enlistment, he was transferred to a combat group, Company B, 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. He served almost the entire war, being discharged in 1865.
During the Virginia campaign, Becker was wounded several times and once saved the regimental colors from capture. He also served at Devil's Den during the Battle of Gettysburg.
"Once, he carried a bullet in his leg for 15 days before reporting for treatment," said his obituary in the Reading Eagle.
Becker was born in Reading, but lived in Strausstown for more than 50 years.
He'd been a blacksmith and salesman of farm machinery, and taught school in Strausstown for 14 years. Later, he operated the Strausstown Hotel.
"He was known to just about every inhabitant of upper Berks," the Eagle reported. "Many recalled him for his annual birthday parade."
Every Sept. 5, Becker would don a high silk hat and parade along Strausstown's Main Street.
On Memorial Day 1931, Strausstown dedicated a Civil War cannon in a triangle at the east end of town.
"Capt. Becker obtained the cannon, but no one's quite sure where he got it," said Vera Breidigan, a Strausstown resident. "And, it's still there."
Becker was the honored guest at the dedication, attended by just about everybody who lived in Strausstown. He rode in an open car at the head of a parade down the town's main street.
Patriotic Order Sons of America Camp 664 of Strausstown organized the ceremony. A firing squad of Spanish-American War veterans performed the military ritual as Betty Helper, Becker's great-granddaughter, unveiled the cannon.
In 1904, Becker returned to Gettysburg to attend a reunion of the Blue and Gray, when Union and Confederate veterans met to honor their fallen comrades.
In 1937, when he was 90, Becker joined four other Civil War veterans for a Memorial Day service at Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. The others were Lewis Schartel, 89; Morris Boyer, 88; James Longacre, 91; and John Wells, 97.
Becker survived Boyer, the county's second-oldest surviving Civil War veteran, by more than a year.
"He recalled especially vivid memories of Devil's Den, where he participated in some of the most fierce fighting at Gettysburg," his obituary said. "He described how Union forces caused such heavy losses the site was sometimes called the 'Slaughter Pen.' "
The Eagle lamented the passing of Civil War veterans in an article on the Memorial Day observance in 1943.
"The once proud line of G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) veterans parading to the cemeteries to honor their dead comrades will be only a vision this year with not a veteran now alive in Reading or Berks County," it read. "These men participated in Memorial Day ceremonies almost up to the time of their deaths."
Ron Devlin's History Book is a weekly feature highlighting people, places and topics from Berks County's past. Is there something that you're curious about? Pose the question to Ron Devlin at 610-371-5030 or [email protected].
Samuel was the last surviving Civil War veteran in Berks County.
Son of Samuel R. and Hannah Becker
Note: The age given for John Wells Below is incorrect, he was 92 at that time. His obituary and death records were false.
Reading Eagle: Ron Devlin
The final resting place of Capt. Samuel B. Becker in Zion Church Cemetery, Strausstown. He enlisted in the Union forces of the Civil War at 14 and died at 95.
When Capt. Samuel B. Becker died on Christmas Eve 1942, he was the last Berks County resident who'd served in the Civil War.
Becker, who was 95 when he died, was 14 when he enlisted as a drummer boy in the Union Army in 1861, shortly after war broke out between the North and South.
Within a year of his enlistment, he was transferred to a combat group, Company B, 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. He served almost the entire war, being discharged in 1865.
During the Virginia campaign, Becker was wounded several times and once saved the regimental colors from capture. He also served at Devil's Den during the Battle of Gettysburg.
"Once, he carried a bullet in his leg for 15 days before reporting for treatment," said his obituary in the Reading Eagle.
Becker was born in Reading, but lived in Strausstown for more than 50 years.
He'd been a blacksmith and salesman of farm machinery, and taught school in Strausstown for 14 years. Later, he operated the Strausstown Hotel.
"He was known to just about every inhabitant of upper Berks," the Eagle reported. "Many recalled him for his annual birthday parade."
Every Sept. 5, Becker would don a high silk hat and parade along Strausstown's Main Street.
On Memorial Day 1931, Strausstown dedicated a Civil War cannon in a triangle at the east end of town.
"Capt. Becker obtained the cannon, but no one's quite sure where he got it," said Vera Breidigan, a Strausstown resident. "And, it's still there."
Becker was the honored guest at the dedication, attended by just about everybody who lived in Strausstown. He rode in an open car at the head of a parade down the town's main street.
Patriotic Order Sons of America Camp 664 of Strausstown organized the ceremony. A firing squad of Spanish-American War veterans performed the military ritual as Betty Helper, Becker's great-granddaughter, unveiled the cannon.
In 1904, Becker returned to Gettysburg to attend a reunion of the Blue and Gray, when Union and Confederate veterans met to honor their fallen comrades.
In 1937, when he was 90, Becker joined four other Civil War veterans for a Memorial Day service at Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. The others were Lewis Schartel, 89; Morris Boyer, 88; James Longacre, 91; and John Wells, 97.
Becker survived Boyer, the county's second-oldest surviving Civil War veteran, by more than a year.
"He recalled especially vivid memories of Devil's Den, where he participated in some of the most fierce fighting at Gettysburg," his obituary said. "He described how Union forces caused such heavy losses the site was sometimes called the 'Slaughter Pen.' "
The Eagle lamented the passing of Civil War veterans in an article on the Memorial Day observance in 1943.
"The once proud line of G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) veterans parading to the cemeteries to honor their dead comrades will be only a vision this year with not a veteran now alive in Reading or Berks County," it read. "These men participated in Memorial Day ceremonies almost up to the time of their deaths."
Ron Devlin's History Book is a weekly feature highlighting people, places and topics from Berks County's past. Is there something that you're curious about? Pose the question to Ron Devlin at 610-371-5030 or [email protected].
CIVIL WAR VETERAN. SERVED WITH 53RD PA INFANTRY
Samuel was the last surviving Civil War veteran in Berks County.
Son of Samuel R. and Hannah Becker
Note: The age given for John Wells Below is incorrect, he was 92 at that time. His obituary and death records were false.
Reading Eagle: Ron Devlin
The final resting place of Capt. Samuel B. Becker in Zion Church Cemetery, Strausstown. He enlisted in the Union forces of the Civil War at 14 and died at 95.
When Capt. Samuel B. Becker died on Christmas Eve 1942, he was the last Berks County resident who'd served in the Civil War.
Becker, who was 95 when he died, was 14 when he enlisted as a drummer boy in the Union Army in 1861, shortly after war broke out between the North and South.
Within a year of his enlistment, he was transferred to a combat group, Company B, 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. He served almost the entire war, being discharged in 1865.
During the Virginia campaign, Becker was wounded several times and once saved the regimental colors from capture. He also served at Devil's Den during the Battle of Gettysburg.
"Once, he carried a bullet in his leg for 15 days before reporting for treatment," said his obituary in the Reading Eagle.
Becker was born in Reading, but lived in Strausstown for more than 50 years.
He'd been a blacksmith and salesman of farm machinery, and taught school in Strausstown for 14 years. Later, he operated the Strausstown Hotel.
"He was known to just about every inhabitant of upper Berks," the Eagle reported. "Many recalled him for his annual birthday parade."
Every Sept. 5, Becker would don a high silk hat and parade along Strausstown's Main Street.
On Memorial Day 1931, Strausstown dedicated a Civil War cannon in a triangle at the east end of town.
"Capt. Becker obtained the cannon, but no one's quite sure where he got it," said Vera Breidigan, a Strausstown resident. "And, it's still there."
Becker was the honored guest at the dedication, attended by just about everybody who lived in Strausstown. He rode in an open car at the head of a parade down the town's main street.
Patriotic Order Sons of America Camp 664 of Strausstown organized the ceremony. A firing squad of Spanish-American War veterans performed the military ritual as Betty Helper, Becker's great-granddaughter, unveiled the cannon.
In 1904, Becker returned to Gettysburg to attend a reunion of the Blue and Gray, when Union and Confederate veterans met to honor their fallen comrades.
In 1937, when he was 90, Becker joined four other Civil War veterans for a Memorial Day service at Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. The others were Lewis Schartel, 89; Morris Boyer, 88; James Longacre, 91; and John Wells, 97.
Becker survived Boyer, the county's second-oldest surviving Civil War veteran, by more than a year.
"He recalled especially vivid memories of Devil's Den, where he participated in some of the most fierce fighting at Gettysburg," his obituary said. "He described how Union forces caused such heavy losses the site was sometimes called the 'Slaughter Pen.' "
The Eagle lamented the passing of Civil War veterans in an article on the Memorial Day observance in 1943.
"The once proud line of G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) veterans parading to the cemeteries to honor their dead comrades will be only a vision this year with not a veteran now alive in Reading or Berks County," it read. "These men participated in Memorial Day ceremonies almost up to the time of their deaths."
Ron Devlin's History Book is a weekly feature highlighting people, places and topics from Berks County's past. Is there something that you're curious about? Pose the question to Ron Devlin at 610-371-5030 or [email protected].
Samuel was the last surviving Civil War veteran in Berks County.
Son of Samuel R. and Hannah Becker
Note: The age given for John Wells Below is incorrect, he was 92 at that time. His obituary and death records were false.
Reading Eagle: Ron Devlin
The final resting place of Capt. Samuel B. Becker in Zion Church Cemetery, Strausstown. He enlisted in the Union forces of the Civil War at 14 and died at 95.
When Capt. Samuel B. Becker died on Christmas Eve 1942, he was the last Berks County resident who'd served in the Civil War.
Becker, who was 95 when he died, was 14 when he enlisted as a drummer boy in the Union Army in 1861, shortly after war broke out between the North and South.
Within a year of his enlistment, he was transferred to a combat group, Company B, 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. He served almost the entire war, being discharged in 1865.
During the Virginia campaign, Becker was wounded several times and once saved the regimental colors from capture. He also served at Devil's Den during the Battle of Gettysburg.
"Once, he carried a bullet in his leg for 15 days before reporting for treatment," said his obituary in the Reading Eagle.
Becker was born in Reading, but lived in Strausstown for more than 50 years.
He'd been a blacksmith and salesman of farm machinery, and taught school in Strausstown for 14 years. Later, he operated the Strausstown Hotel.
"He was known to just about every inhabitant of upper Berks," the Eagle reported. "Many recalled him for his annual birthday parade."
Every Sept. 5, Becker would don a high silk hat and parade along Strausstown's Main Street.
On Memorial Day 1931, Strausstown dedicated a Civil War cannon in a triangle at the east end of town.
"Capt. Becker obtained the cannon, but no one's quite sure where he got it," said Vera Breidigan, a Strausstown resident. "And, it's still there."
Becker was the honored guest at the dedication, attended by just about everybody who lived in Strausstown. He rode in an open car at the head of a parade down the town's main street.
Patriotic Order Sons of America Camp 664 of Strausstown organized the ceremony. A firing squad of Spanish-American War veterans performed the military ritual as Betty Helper, Becker's great-granddaughter, unveiled the cannon.
In 1904, Becker returned to Gettysburg to attend a reunion of the Blue and Gray, when Union and Confederate veterans met to honor their fallen comrades.
In 1937, when he was 90, Becker joined four other Civil War veterans for a Memorial Day service at Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. The others were Lewis Schartel, 89; Morris Boyer, 88; James Longacre, 91; and John Wells, 97.
Becker survived Boyer, the county's second-oldest surviving Civil War veteran, by more than a year.
"He recalled especially vivid memories of Devil's Den, where he participated in some of the most fierce fighting at Gettysburg," his obituary said. "He described how Union forces caused such heavy losses the site was sometimes called the 'Slaughter Pen.' "
The Eagle lamented the passing of Civil War veterans in an article on the Memorial Day observance in 1943.
"The once proud line of G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) veterans parading to the cemeteries to honor their dead comrades will be only a vision this year with not a veteran now alive in Reading or Berks County," it read. "These men participated in Memorial Day ceremonies almost up to the time of their deaths."
Ron Devlin's History Book is a weekly feature highlighting people, places and topics from Berks County's past. Is there something that you're curious about? Pose the question to Ron Devlin at 610-371-5030 or [email protected].
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