Background
William Beecher was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the eldest son of the Calvinist preacher Lyman Beecher and Roxana Foote.
William Beecher was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the eldest son of the Calvinist preacher Lyman Beecher and Roxana Foote.
William Beecher married Katherine Edes on May 12, 1830 in New Haven Connecticut. Of his wedding he wrote:"Was married..No company, no cake, no cards-nothing pleasant about lieutenant" William and Katherine had 6 children: Agnes East. Beecher, Mary Ward Beecher, Lyman Beecher, Roxana Foote (Beecher) Prenzner, Robert East. Beecher, and Grace H. Beecher. As a child William had a difficult time learning and was not a very good student.
He apprenticed as a cabinet-maker and worked as a clerk in stores in Milford and Hartford, Connecticut, as well as New New York
He studied theology at Andover but finished his studies under the directions of his father, before being licensed as a minister. William served at Middletown, Connecticut.
Putnam, Ohio. Batavia, New New York Toledo and Euclid, Ohio.
And North Brookfield, Massachusetts.
He served as the minister of several churches, but each assignment was relatively short and typically ended with some type of discord over salary or a dislike from influential members of the congregation.