Emma Becher

   Cause of her death was Appendicitis.

  General Notes:

There is an Emma Henry Becker, daughter of John and Mary Henry Becker of Lancaster Co., Pa. born Sept. 11, 1852 listed in the IGI Individual Records at familysearch.org. The 1860 Federal Census for West Hempfield, Lancaster Co., PA records this family. This is very likely the Emma Becker that married Sylvester Rannels, however, more research is necessary. The 1860 Federal Census for West Hempfield, Lancaster County, PA, Mountville P. O. records Emma H. Becker with her parents John D. (45) and Mary H. (35) Becker with siblings Isaac H. (4) and Aaron H. (1). John is a farmer with real estate valued at $4,000 and a personal estate at $495. Also in the household are Christian Becker (69) and his wife Mary (68). They are both listed as retired and are most likely John's parents. The census is taken in June 1860 and records Emma's age as 8. I have found no further record of this Emma's parents or siblings.

The 1850 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Lancaster Co., Manor Township, page 147B records Christian Baker (59-Carpenter) with wife Mary (57) and children John D. Baker (32-wagon maker), Nicholas (26-school teacher), Catherine (22), and Elizabeth (20). It is noted that the 1860 Federal Census, Pennsylvania, Lancaster Co., Manor Township records Nicholas C. Baker (35) with wife Martha (28) and son Henry (5/12).

Emma and Sylvester were married in 1869. The marriage certificate indicates that Emma is living in Monterey, [Upper Leacock,] Lancaster Co. while Sylvester is living in New Holland just a few miles away. However, no 1870 census record for them has been found although there is a record of a Wesley (22) and Emma (20) Reynolds in West Earl Township which is near New Holland. Wesley is a Cigar maker and could be our Sylvester. No such Wesley and Emma have been found in the 1880 census record.

Recent (Oct 2008) research has suggested a different family than the above for Emma Becker and a probable surname spelling of Becher:
The 1870 Federal Census for Upper Leacock, Lancaster Co., PA, Leacock P. O., page 117 records Jacob (62) and Mary (55) Becher with daughter Amanda (12). Next door is William Reynolds (40) with his wife Eliza (41) and children Emma (14), George F. (10), Ella S. (7), and Ada S. (7). William has personal property valued at $400 and Jacob at $800. William is a carpenter while Jacob is a Shoemaker. ... this is likely the family of our Emma Becher, recently married to William Reynold's nephew, Sylvester Rannels. Note that this location is just a few miles from New Holland and that Jacob is a Shoemaker, the post civil war occupation of Sylvester Rannells. Also, William has twin daughters named Ella and Ada, the same names Sylvester and Emma select for their twins born 8 years hence in 1878.

Below are several census records for the Jacob Becher and family. Note that the spelling is consistently BECHER:
The 1860 Federal Census for Upper Leacock, Lancaster Co., PA, Bareville P. O., page 872 records Jacob (52 - PA) and Mary (44 - PA) Becher [indexed as Becker at ancestry.com] with children Sarah (20), Mary (15), Elias Yount (13), Julian (11), Emma (10), Jacob (7), Lydia (4), and Amanda (2). Jacob is a butcher and Sarah is a Seamstress. Jacob has personal property valued at $400. Bareville is just a mile north of Monterey and similarly distanced west from New Holland on current maps; however, an 1864 map indicates that "Jb Becher" is just outside the northern edge of Monterey.

The 1850 Federal Census for the 4th Election District of Earl Township, Lancaster Co., PA, page 206 records Jacob (42 - PA) and Mary (34 - PA) Becher with children Sarah A. (11), Margarett (9), Mary (6), Elias (4), and Julian (1). Jacob is a shoemaker and has personal property valued at $800. New Holland is located in the western part of Earl Township next to Upper Leacock.
This researcher feels that the circumstantial evidence points heavily toward this family as the parents of Sylvester Rannels' wife, Emma Becher. I will also go with the BECHER spelling of her surname.


The 1880 Lancaster City census taken in June records Emma Rannels' age as 29. This is consistent with the 1860 record above and could mean a Sept 1851 birth.

Emma Rannels' application for a widow's pension includes a marriage certificate indicating her name as Emma Becker and what looks to be Emma Becher. She reports to be from Monterey in Lancaster County ... that is in Upper Leacock Township. Notes from Mary Lou Hagen Taylor, her great grand daughter, indicate her name as Emma Bucher.

Emma is buried in Lancaster Cemetery in Lot 2185 next to her husband, Sylvester, and father-in-law, Levi. Her headstone records (transcribed) her name as Anna Rannels, died March 10, 1900 at age 47. (Burial records from: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/lancaster/cemet.htm)

Death date is on her headstone shown at www.findagrave.com ... the headstone reads:
Mother
Emma Rannels
Born May 3, 1851
Died Mar 10, 1900
Aged 48 yrs 9 mo & 8 ds

  Medical Notes:

According to Mary Louise Hagen Taylor, Emma died of acute Appendicitis in Philadelphia, PA 2 months after her husband.

Emma married Sylvester Rannels (Reynolds), son of Levi Rannels and Mary Ann Pierce, on 19 Apr 1869 in Lancaster Co., PA. (Sylvester Rannels (Reynolds) was born on 31 May 1848 in Lancaster Co., PA., christened on 22 Mar 1852 in Records Of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, Berks Co., PA, died on 9 Jan 1900 in Philadelphia, PA. and was buried on 13 Jan 1900 in Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, PA - Lot 2185.) The cause of his death was Heart Disease.