Moritz Becker
{{Short description|American produce dealer}}
{{infobox officeholder
|name = Moritz N. Becker
|state = Wisconsin
|state_assembly = Wisconsin
|district = Milwaukee 9th
| term_start = January 1, 1872
| term_end = January 5, 1874
| predecessor = Valentin Knœll
| successor = John L. Semmann
|party = Democratic
|birth_date = {{birth date|1827|2|2}}
|birth_place = Gaugrehweiler, Palatinate, {{nowrap|Kingdom of Bavaria}}
|death_date = {{death year and age|1906|1827}}
|death_place = Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, U.S.
|restingplace = Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee
|spouse = {{marriage|Mina Gutman|1863|1902|end=died}}
|children = 5 children
|allegiance = Kingdom of Bavaria
|branch = Bavarian Army
|rank = 1st Lieutenant
|serviceyears = 1848–1849
|battles = First Schleswig War
}}
Moritz Nathan Becker (February 2, 1827{{spaced ndash}}1906) was a German American immigrant, produce dealer, and politician. He self-identified as a "Progressive Democrat", then "Liberal Democrat", while serving two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1870s.[http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/ib/99ib1.pdf "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999 State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. Information Bulletin 99-1, September 1999. p. 27] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209014416/http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/ib/99ib1.pdf |date=2006-12-09 }}
Background
Becker was born in Gaugrehweiler, Kingdom of Bavaria on February 2, 1827. He received an academic education, and became a first lieutenant of cavalry in the Bavarian Army, and fought in Schleswig-Holstein during the First Schleswig War. He emigrated to the United States in 1850, lived in New York City for two years, then moved to Milwaukee in 1852.
In 1859, he became a member of the Milwaukee synagogue B'ne Jeshurun when his own Congregation Ansche Emmeth merged with it."History of B'ne Jeshurun's Seventy Years of Service for Judaism— 1856-1926" Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle February 26, 1926; p. 6, col. 3 He became an active member of the Democratic Party."Democratic Caucus of the Ninth Ward" Milwaukee News September 28, 1860; p. 1, col. 5 In 1863 he married Minnie Gutman (1840 - 1902), a native of Württemberg; by 1881, they would have five children.
Public office
For two years Becker was a police justice in Milwaukee. In 1871 he was elected unopposed to the Assembly's 9th Milwaukee County district (the 9th Ward of the City of Milwaukee) as a "Progressive Democrat", succeeding Democrat John L. Semmann. He was assigned to the standing committee on assessment and collection of taxes.[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1872 Turner, A. J., ed. The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin; comprising Jefferson's manual, rules, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference; Compiled under the direction of the Secretary of State, for 1872 Eleventh Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood & Culver, State Printers, Journal Block, 1872; pp. 383, 453, 463, 469]
In 1872 Becker was re-elected from the same district, which had added Milwaukee's new 10th Ward, this time as a "Liberal Democrat", with 1,006 votes to 518 for Republican George H. Walther. He was assigned to the committees on ways and means, and on state affairs.[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1873 Turner, A. J., ed. The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin: comprising the constitution of the United States and of the state of Wisconsin, Jefferson's manual, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference, etc. Twelfth Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1873; pp. 347, 449, 459, 465]
By September 1873, he was officially part of the Liberal Reform Party, a short-lived coalition of Democrats, reform and Liberal Republicans, and Grangers formed in 1873, which secured the election of a Governor of Wisconsin and a number of state legislators."The Delegates: List of the Delegates at the Reform and Liberal and Democratic Convention in Milwaukee, Sep. 23rd and 24th" Milwaukee News October 1, 1873; p. 2, col. 3"TO-DAY: It Will Settle the Great Question: Reform, or Misrule− Which Will it Be?" Milwaukee News November 3, 1874; p. 4, col. 2 He was not a candidate for re-election himself, and was succeeded by Semmann (who defeated a Reform candidate).
After the Assembly
From 1875 to 1877, Becker was a deputy sheriff for Milwaukee County. He later found employment at the Pleasant Valley Distillery in Milwaukee."Morris N. Becker", in History of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from pre-historic times to the present date, embracing a summary sketch of the native tribes, and an exhaustive record of men and events for the past century; describing, the city, its commercial, religious, educational and benevolent institutions, its government, courts, press, and public affairs; and including nearly four thousand biographical sketches of pioneers and citizens. Vol. 2. Chicago: The Western historical Co., 1881; p. 1474
In 1888, he was vice-president of a lodge of the Jewish fraternal order Kesher Shel Barzel."Hebrew Societies: Ke Sher: Daniel Lodge, No. 79", in Wright's Directory of Milwaukee for 1888 Volume 21. Milwaukee: Alfred G. Wright, 1888; p. 55 As of 1893, the Beckers were both still living in Milwaukee."Annual Purim Ball; Maskers Dance Away the Night and Disperse at Dawn" Milwaukee Sentinel March 19, 1893; pg. 3, col. 1"Whose Body is It?" Milwaukee Sentinel June 13, 1893; p. 3, col. 2
In 1899, he was elected Secretary of a local B'nai Brith chapter."B'ne Brith Notes: Gilead Lodge 41" The Menorah: A Monthly Magazine for the Jewish Home Volume 26, No. 2 (February 1899); p. 132
References
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Category:American food industry business executives
Category:Bavarian emigrants to the United States
Category:Businesspeople from Milwaukee
Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Category:Military personnel of Bavaria
Category:Politicians from Milwaukee
Category:People from the Palatinate (region)