George Henry Becker, a Kansas pioneer now living retired at Harper, Kans., was born on a farm in Berrien county, Michigan, April 4, 1849. He is a son of George and Lucinda (Faulkner) Becker, both natives of New York, who removed to Michigan at a very early day. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity. The parents spent their lives on their Michigan farm, and are both now deceased. George H. Becker was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools. He remained at home until 1878, when he came to Kansas, locating on government land in Harper county, and was one of the first settlers in that locality. He experienced all the privations and hardships of pioneer life. His first home on the prairie was a sod house, which was a mere matter of course, in those days. When he came to Harper county, he drove an ox team from Wichita, which was the nearest railroad station. His homestead was located about two miles north of the present town of Danville, and here he made his home until 1908, when he retired and removed to Harper, and is now spending his life in ease and comport. Mr. Becker is a quiet unassuming man, and has never aspired to political office. However, he has served in different township offices at times. He served as township clerk of Chicaskia township for ten years, and was one of the township trustees for four years. He was united in marriage April 26, 1876 to Miss Marion Salina, daughter of Francis and Harriet (Southerland) Johnson. Mrs. Becker was born in Berrien county, Michigan, July 23, 1848, and her parents were natives of Broome county, New York. The mother died in Michigan, July 22, 1863, and the father came to Kansas with Mr. Becker in 1878, and took up government land in Harper county, where he followed farming until his death, April 19, 1887.

Mr. and Mrs. Becker have no children, although they have raised two adopted children: Guy Mericle, who was born in Harper county, November 18, 1888, married Lulu Hodges in 1908. They have one child, Loren, born May 8, 1912. Guy now operates the home farm. Beva, the youngest adopted child was born in Oklahoma, February 11, 1896, Mr. Becker and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they are active in church work, and prominent in the social affairs of their home town.