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Franz Becherer was born in the Baden region of Germany in 1829, but the name of the town where he was born remains uncertain. He emigrated to America about 1858 and was naturalized a citizen of the United States in St. Louis on 28 February 1860. He enlisted to serve as a Private in Company K, 3rd Regiment of the Missouri Infantry during the Civil War. He was in action at the Battle of Wilson Creek, Missouri, on 10 August 1861, and was injured at that battle while lifting a cannon into place.
Priska Reich was the oldest of three sisters born in the village of Wallburg, Freiburg, Baden. Priska's younger sister, Magdalena, had become enamoured of a man named Charles Kelble at home. He came to America to join his brothers in Xenia, Ohio, and in 1861 he sent for his sweetheart, Magdalena. She came to America to join Charles, and her older sister, Priska, came with her. For some reason, Priska did not stay in Xenia but traveled on to St. Louis. Caroline, the youngest sister, came to Xenia in 1870.Franx Becherer and Priska Reich were married at St. Vincents Church in St. Louis on 10 November 1862. Franz found work as a laborer in one of the lead factories in town. Although they parented eleven children over the next 20 years, the marriage was a stormy one and they eventually filed for divorce, which was granted in December 1889. One affidavit in the divorce papers stated that the two "... always fought like two cats in a sack."
Following their divorce, Franz left St. Louis and lived for a while in Grand Bay, Alabama. When his health declined, he retired to the Veteran's Home in Danville, Illinois. He died there of pneumonia on 7 Jan 1916. Priska died in St. Louis on 1 August 1918 and is buried at New St. Marcus Cemetery.