Transcribed by Mary Ann Kaylor

Page 1036:

BECKER, CHARLES D., who has been a resident of Springfield, since the fall of 1893, has been honorably and usefully connected with a number of the city's reputable business concerns, and since 1907 has been at the head of his own business, being proprietor of the shoe repair work with his business location on the corner of Sixth and Monroe Streets. He was born in Yorkridge, Dearborn County, Ind., April 2, 1866, a son of John P. and Mary E. (Chidester) Becker. They were natives of Germany, who lived for a number of years in Indiana, but in 1883 removed to Nebraska, settling at David City, where they still reside.

Charles D. Becker obtained his education in Indiana. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Nebraska and continued to reside with them there for seven years. When he finally left home he became an electrical engineer and for two years was employed as such at Clarinda, Page County, Iowa, then returned to David City for a short time. Deciding that business prospects were better farther east, he came to Springfield and entered the employ of the Springfield Consolidated Railway Company, with which he was connected to ten years. During this time he became well known to the people of Springfield and when he retired from railroad work he was appointed night watchman for the mercantile district of the city and after that was secured by the Boston Store as its electrical engineer. He remained with that mercantile house for two years, then had charge of the stove department of the Robinson-Henson Hardware Company for one year, after which he embarked in his present business, in which he has prospered, having very substantial patronage.

Mr. Becker was married at Fancy Prairie, Menard County, Ill, on May 22, 1892, to Miss Clara F. Fulkerson, a native of that county, and they have three children, namely: Abraham E., Helen L. and Mary. Mr. Becker is a member of several fraternal organizations including the Odd Fellows, the Court of Honor and the Modern Woodmen of America.

The most useful men in a community are not always, by any means, the professional men, the college-bred, or even the capitalists, for without the steady hand of the great body of the class of skilled workmen, to which Mr. Becker belongs and of which he is a worthy representative, little could be accomplished in the way of progress in any direction.