Max Joseph Becker

Max Joseph Becker was born at Coblenz Germany June 20, 1828 and was educated in the schools of Coblenz, and at the University of Bonn.[1]

After leaving the University he passed the requisite examinations for admission to service on the Government Railroad surveys and in 1848 began his professional career on the Cologne and Minden Railroad in the capacity of engineer's apprentice (rodman), with headquarters at Hamm in Westphalia.[1]

This work was interrupted by the Rebellion of 1848 and by reason of his connection therewith he was compelled to leave Germany along with such men as Frederick Hecker, Carl Schurz, Franz Sigel, August Willich and others whose enforced exile has been our country's gain.[1]

After a brief sojourn in Switzerland he came to the United States, landing in New York City in 1850. His first year's residence in this country was a struggle for a foothold, during which he tried various lines of employment, among others, making surveys in Connecticut for a map publishing house, as draftsman in an engraving establishment, and even tried his hand at journalism on the staff of the Abendzeitung.[1]

In December 1851 he entered the service of the Steubenville and Indiana Railroad at Steubenville, Ohio under Jacob Blickensderfer Jr, Mem. ASCE, Chief Engineer. His first service with this company was as a draftsman, but this was soon changed to transitman on location and then to Resident Engineer on construction in which capacity he continued until the completion of the road in 1854.[1]

From 1854 to 1856 he held no salaried position, doing such professional work as offered and occupying a part of his time in making and publishing a map of Coshocton County, Ohio. In 1856 he entered the service of the State of Ohio as Resident Engineer on the Ohio Canal and continued in that position until 1859. From 1859 to 1861 he was Resident Engineer on the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad, in charge of location and construction.[1]

During this time he also rebuilt a suspension bridge over the Scioto River at Portsmouth, Ohio which had been destroyed by the undermining of one tower during a flood. During the presidential campaign of 1860, Becker took a lively interest in the success of the Republican party and made numerous speeches in German in various towns and cities of Southern Ohio where the German element was strong. In appreciation of this Abraham Lincoln commissioned him Postmaster at Portsmouth, Ohio. But the drudgery and the red tape methods of that office were not suited to his taste and in 1862 he resigned the office and again took service under his former chief Jacob Blickensderfer Jr., at that time Chief Engineer of the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad. Becker was placed in charge of construction of the Steubenville Bridge and its approaches, one of the most important structures crossing the Ohio River and subsequently rebuilt by him.[1]

In 1863 he again went to the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad to take charge of the location and construction of its extension from Loveland, Ohio to Cincinnati. His connection with this railroad company continued until 1867 when he became Chief Engineer of the Steubenville and Indiana Railroad, which position he continued to fill in the various companies formed by its consolidation with other roads until he at length had charge of the entire system of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad. For nearly thirty years he not only discharged the responsible duties entrusted to him with rare fidelity and ability but won the confidence and affection of his associates. To the professional acquirements which made his judgment of such pronounced value he brought a long experience a well balanced mind and a fund of sound common sense which were of the greatest service in the solution of the many important problems that confronted him from time to time in his railway career.[1]

In January 1893 the Board of Directors sought to make his declining years easier and to that end relieved him of some of his duties and changed his title to "Consulting Engineer and Real Estate Agent." But the disease which finally carried him off had even then laid its hand upon him and he was not permitted to enjoy the rest from labor contemplated by this act. After a brave fight marked by his usual cheerful serenity, he succumbed on August 23, 1896 and the world lost a gallant honest gentleman who had reflected credit upon his profession and who left a name without a shadow of stain or reproach.[1]

The above record is sufficient to show the power and character of the man who coming to this country a political refugee almost unknown and nearly penniless at once went to work ardently at whatever his hand could find to do to make his own living and to be dependent upon no one. In social moments when led to speak of his early struggles his account was of great interest he threw into it a strain of humor which would have made it laughable if it had not been really pathetic. No attempt of ours to repeat his tale could do it justice because it would be impossible to reproduce his inimitable style it is sufficient to say that his marked success and steady rise from obscurity to the highest plane of his profession where he found himself at home should be an enduring encouragement to all struggling young men who may sometimes under pressure of a hard fight get the mistaken notion into their heads that the world is against them.[1]

Becker's professional and personal standing among engineers was of the highest; he was an honored and beloved member of the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania; he was a member of its Board of Direction for many years, President for 1893, and most useful in every way.[1][2]

Becker was elected a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on August 7, 1872 and was made its President in 1889. At the time of his election his personal acquaintance in the Society was not very large and some questions were asked; before his term had expired he had won all hearts, as he always did wherever he came into touch with people.[1]

Becker was more than an able engineer, he was a man of force a gentleman genial and witty kind and sympathetic, always ready to lend a helping hand. A man without malice or guile he had no time for animosities and his memory will ever remain in the minds of all who knew him.[1]

It must also be remembered that, while president in 1889, Max Becker served on the ASCE committee to examine the cause of the Johnstown, PA disaster. The breach of the South Fork Dam had killed over 2,200 people, most of whom were women and children.  The other three engineers on the committee included the well-known hydraulic engineers James B. Francis, William Ezra Worthen, and Alphonse Fteley. Although the report was completed by January 1890, it was immediately suppressed and not released to other ASCE members or the public until mid-1891, two years after the 1889 flood.[3]  James Francis presented the results of the investigation at the ASCE convention in Chattanooga, TN.  The other three committee members did not attend this long-awaited report.  Although Francis’ name headed the report, the de facto chairman of the committee was Becker, who had virtually no experience in dams or hydraulic engineering.  According to James Francis, it was Becker who delayed the release of the report.  The new ASCE president in 1890, William Shinn, had placed it in the hands of Becker to decide when to release it. Shinn was a close business associate of Andrew Carnegie, who had been a member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. That club had owned the failed South Fork dam. A detailed discussion of the South Fork investigation, the participating engineers, and the science behind the 1889 flood was published in 2018.[4]

 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.