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Belgians in the Civil War

Emigrants arrival

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BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

John D. BECKER : was born in Belgium Jan. 13, 1827, and at an early age learned the trade of a carpenter and millwright, which business be followed in that country until 1855, then emigrated to the United States and located first in Virginia, but shortly afterward returned to New York City, where he spent two years working at the carpenter's trade, thence to Iowa City, where he remained until 1859, thence emigrated to Colorado: and was engaged in sawing lumber in the mountains, during the first year, after which he took up a ranch. of 160 acres, on South Boulder Creek, and has since devoted his attention principally to the dairy business. In 1865, in company with Judge P. M. Housel, he built the Butte flouring mill, and operated the same two years, then turned his attention to farming and dairying, remaining in that business up to the present time. He was married the second time in 1869 to Mary Dahen, and has a family of six children-one son and five daughters.
Source : History of Clear Creek and Boulder valleys, Colorado : containing a brief history of the state of Colorado from its earliest settlement to the present time, embracing its geological, physical and climatic features, its agricultural, stockgrowing, railroad and mining interests, an account of the Ute trouble, a history of Gilpin, Clear Creek, Boulder, and Jefferson Counties, and biographical sketches.; Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., 1880, 758 pgs.