The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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263 tions to which his bus l'f 11 - large .place in the mgmdrif Cgf eliiishlaieliiiivej 3 acquaintances. He was born in Locke Cayuga COUHW' N- Y-2 February 4, 1829. His father Vilas Hiram Becker and his mother Sophia Millard t e latter being of H t ,qs Beckers had settled in ltI1gvE1re1I!9orkWSCint'. The th seventeenth century, the first ancestgirbzinlg Jag juriensen B k - - ec er, of Amsterdam, the immigrant of 165 5 or 1656. The earliest home of the family was Albany or New York, from which the family moved to Schoharie about 1733. General Backers, early school days began in his native town and continued at Moravia, from which at the age of twelve he was sent to Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio. The family then removed to Auburn, N. Y., where he finished his preparation for college. In 1841 the home was again changed to Ann Arbor, and he became a student at the University of Michigan, graduating in 1846 at the age of seventeen, the youngest member of a large class. Having selected the law as .his career, he began to study in the office of George Sedgwick, at Ann Arbor. In Gctober, 1849, heremoved to Minnesota, and in 1850 he was admitted to the bar, although less than twenty-one years 'of age. He formed a partnership with Edmund R106 Hfld Ellis G. Whitall, which was early successful, and with slight changes the firm continued until 18 56, when it was dissolved. General Becker about this time had concluded to abandon the praotlfge Of the law. In 1862 he became Irand Comm1SS1OHC1' of the St. Paul Sc Pacific Railroad, and inf was elected president of the first division do T72- road, holding the position twelve Years indcllzlnd ing as hard as any emlQ10Yee-, Th? known? 'Umm a eXPerienC6 gained dufmg th-15 Pei?-'id mils Ware- valuable member of the State Rai way . , . - ' 5 13 13 house Commission and dictated T115 appgm me? t l t t He took an active lftterest in O 3 arge GX en - ' f his residence in local affairs from the beglnlilng 0 D

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Q . c,.o . -,I .iraq fu , 'Vg v A . - . K ,wi .f- Eg. , -'Iv - . '.-,,.1 3.1. A-1 - -V? Q 4 . 1' .- Ng ,,:,, 'v Q.. ,Q 57 r 1 Q'-:.F 5 .1 ., . .4 ' , V X I . 1 -. 4. V -. 'we 262 d men enjoyed such a reputation for honor, integ- rity and probity, his friends .and acquaintances placing implicit confidence in him, which, through- out his career, was never violated. He was a public-spirited citizen, always interested in the welfare and progress of Newburgh and contributed generously to projects which promised well for its advancement, yet he never sought public office or cared to appear prominently in public. His in- creasing business prevented him from entering politics., although he was a member of the Board of Health from 188 5 to 1888, in which he rendered conscientious service. He was one of the organ- izers of the old Newburgh Board of Trade and of its successor, the Newburgh Business Men's Asso- ciation, of which his son was president. For thirty-seven years he was a trustee of the New- burgh Savings Bank and for a number of years its second vice-president. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he was active and efficient, serving for many terms as trustee and elder. He was also deeply interested in the Bethel Mission and Chapel, serving as Superin- tendent of the Chapel while health permitted. The funeral was held at Mr. Schoonmaker's late residence, on Monday, January 4th, and the in- terment was made at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Mr. Schoonmaker was elected to membership in the 1 .Holland Society March 27, ISQO. In April, 1898, he was elected Vice-President for Orange County at the annual meeting. He leaves three chil- dren, his son and partner, Samuel V. Schoon- maker, Mrs. W. Clement Scott, and Miss Elizabeth Schoonmaker. Gen. Georges Loo1v11s BECKER was elected to membership in the Holland Society June 12, 1902, and died january 6, IQO4. He had been for half a century sa prominent figure in the state of Minne- sota,. and, with his wide public experience, his public and private activity in the various posi-

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264 St. Paul. At the first municipal election. in 1854 he was elected an alderman, which position he held for two years, after which he was elected Mayor. In 1857 he was a delegate from Ramsey County to the famous Constitutional Convention, going with the Democratic wing on the division. In October, before the state was formally admitted, he was elected a member of Congress with two others, since it was supposed that the state would be entitled to three members. The determination being that the state should have but two repre- sentatives, Gen. Becker drew the blank. In 18 59 he was nominated for governor by the Demo- crats, but was defeated, although he made a not- able canvass. In 1860 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Charleston, S. C., and supported the Breckenridge ticket. In 1867 he was elected to the state senate, and re-elected in 1869, his service being of distinguished ability. In I872 he was nominated for Congress, but was unsuccessful. In March, 1885, he was appointed upon the State Board of Railway and Warehouse Commissioners, being re-appointed by three following administrations and serving until IQOI. In 1894 he was again the Demo- cratic candidate for governor. In 1873 he was president of the Old Settlers' Association and the following year president of the State His- torical Society. I-Ie was twice married, his first wife living but a few months, his second wife being Susanna Ismond, whom he married in 1855. He left four sons, Edwin, Charles, George, and William. . 9 . The funeral was held at the family residence, -601. Summit Avenue, St. Paul, the services being conducted by Rev. W. C. Pope, of the Church of the Good Shepherd, the interment being at Oak- land Cemetery. In an editorial ofthe St. Paul Despatch, attention is called to his candidacy for governor and the self-denial which induced him to make the run, as well as the party treachery