Peter Becker, a native of Wisconsin, was born on Feb. 7, 1877, and is the son of George and Katherine (Mitchell) Becker, who immigrated to America from Germany in 1872. The family first located in Franklin, Sheboygan county, Wis., moving from there to Germantown, Milwaukee county, thence to Stockbridge and later to Sherwood, both in Calumet county. The last place was the residence of the parents at the time of the father's death, March 12, 1895, and there the mother, now fifty-eight years of age, still resides. Peter Becker remained with his parents until he was sixteen yeas of age when he went into a shop in Sherwood to learn the blacksmith's trade, remaining there three and one-half years. After working for a short time in a bicycle shop in North Milwaukee he went to the village of Fussville, Waukesha county, where he took up the trade of wagon-making, remaining there for two and one-half years. His next move was to the village of Brookfield where for the greater part of a year he was in the employ of Mr. Herman Schatz, then bought his employers's stock of goods and opened a shop of his own. Three years later he purchased two lots in the village, and erected a shop 22x60 feet, where he has installed all the necessary machinery and equipments for wagon-making, general repairing and horse-shoeing, making a special feature of the last mentioned line of business. He is agent also, for the celebrated Fairbanks engines, etc. Carriage painting is also done in the shop, a full line of paints and oils being carried. Mr. Becker is one of a family of four sons. Joseph the eldest, is a wagon-maker by trade and lives in Sherwood; Matthew, who combines the occupations of farmer and mason, resides in the same village; Peter, the subject of this sketch, is the third son; William, a molder by trade, is a resident of Milwaukee. Peter obtained his education in the village school at Sherwood. On Aug. 21, 1906, he married Miss Ida Bolster, born in Brookfield township, and the daughter of John and Emma Bolster.

Mr. Becker is a member of the Catholic church and of the Democratic party. He has never entered the field of practical politics, his time and attention being occupied with the concerns of the thriving business which he has built up, and by means of which he is able to supply his family with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.

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