Joseph Becker trained for the masonary business at Bloomington Illinois.  After graduating Joe joined the union and worked as a mason.  Around 1949 Joe hired some brick layers and started building homes in Breese. Joseph Becker and Sons grew to include not only residential sites but also large scale buildings.

A more complete description of this business as well as other businesses and more can be found in the 2006 Breese Sesquicentennial Pictorial History Book.  Copies are available from the Breese Historical Society