BECKMAN, Emma J. 1865-1911

BECKMAN, WILSON, KEITH, SMALLEY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:16

Death Calls Mrs. H. S. Beckman

Funeral Largest In City's History

All of the Grand Officers of the I.O.E.S. Assist at Funeral Service

Mrs. H. S. Beckman died at the hospital at Rochester at 9:30 last Thursday night following an operation made at the hospital a week before. The remains reached here on the motor Friday night and were taken to the home. Funeral service were held at the Presbyterian church at 2:30 Sunday afternoon following which interment was made in the Beckman cemetery.

From the time of the operation, the hundreds of friends who took a keen and personal interest in Mrs. Beckman's case had but a faint hope of her ultimate recovery after having been advised of the seriousness of her condition. Nevertheless when the final summons came announcing that all was over, grief and sympathy at every hand were expressed anew. Evidences of condolence were not confined to this community alone. Aside from these letters and telegrams of sympathy were sent the family from every section in Iowa. Mrs. Beckman was not only well known and beloved by her neighbors and friends in this city. During her many years of prominent connection with the Iowa Grand Chapter of Eastern Star her reputation and acquaintance became statewide, and such was the strength of her personality that she won the lasting friendship and admiration of all with whom she came in contact.

Mrs. Beckman began to take an active interest in Eastern Star work nine years ago. She was attracted to the impressive work of this order and she determined to become a master of every department in detail. So thoroughly did she accomplish her purpose that during the past nine years she filled every one of the Grand Chapter offices from the lowest rung in the ladder to the highest. At the annual meeting of Iowa Eastern Stars held at Boone last October, Mrs. Beckman was chosen Worthy Grand Matron. She filled this exalted office with dignity and ability unsurpassed by the many of her most worthy predecessors. Of the many Worthy Grand Matrons this order has had, Mrs. Beckman was the first to die while an incumbent of this office.

Aside from her extensive Chapter work, Mrs. Beckman was devoted to her home, to her local social duties and to her friends. With her unusual vitality and ability she was able to respond to the many duties that she chose to assume.

In a measure at least, the esteem in which Mrs. Beckman was held, found expression in the floral contributions that came from upwards of a hundred personal friends and chapters from all sections of Iowa. Conspicuous among the magnificent collection was the beautiful bouquet of roses given as a token of love by Mrs. Beckman's home Chapter and the elaborate floral star presented by the Grand Chapter.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. L. P. Krome, assisted by Rev. J. C. Curry, pastor of the Baptist church. An hour before the service was to open every seat in the large building excepting those reserved for chapter members and relatives was occupied and scores were unable to find standing room in the building. In addition to special music by the local quartet, Mr. Paul Davis of Waterloo, in answer to a request from the grand chapter sang two selections.

At the close of the regular church service the officers of the Grand Chapter all of whom were present, took charge of the obsequies. The ritualistic service of the Grand Chapter is most impressive. Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart of Cedar Rapids, Past Worthy Matron said in part,
We have gathered at this solemn hour to perform those rites which affection has prescribed for our departed sister. She who was with us but yesterday has been summoned hence by a messenger who cometh, sooner or later to us all.

Our sister has finished her allotted task in the conflict of life, the chapter of her earthly sojourn is closed but her many virtues shall not go unrecorded.

As she was faithful to her convictions of right, as she was obedient to the demands of honor and justice in her station; as she loved kindred and friends and in affliction evinced a trustful faith; and as she lived in the spirit of charity and the love of truth, so shall be her reward.

Remembering her many virtues, we are indeed mourners at her grave, and in the house of sorrow we would drop the tear of affectionate sympathy.

How brief and full of mystery is human life! Who can fathom its purpose or disclose its issues. We entered life, as it were but yesterday; today we perform our allotted task, and tomorrow we go--who knoweth whither?

Standing beside the broken column, we may, with Martha's trustful faith, look beyond the shore of time, and know that our sister, though lost to mortal vision is only waiting beyond the river to welcome us to our eternal home.

J. L. Rose, Acting Grand Patron of Waterloo said,
Sisters and brothers, within the city of the dead, we consign to the bosom of mother earth all that was mortal of our departed sister. The body we leave in the grave is but the casket which held the precious jewel of life. We bear it tenderly to its resting place, because it is the form by which we knew her in our Chapter. Peacefully let it rest in the hallowed ground where we place it. Upon her grave flowerets will bloom amid all the countless activities of nature.

Over her the fleeting shadows will pass. The rising sun will scatter over the chambers of the dead his gladsome rays, and tint the western sky with the glories of departing day. In the hush of night the feeble rays of countless stars, traveling centuries on their journeys here, will finally est upon her grave.

Following are the names of the Grand Chapter officers present at the service:
Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart, P.W.G. Matron, Cedar Rapids.
J. L. Rose, Acting Grand Patron, Waterloo.
Mrs. Josephine Hobson, Asso. Gr. W. Matron. Mrs. Hobson will take Mrs. Beckman's place in the Grand Chapter.
Mrs. Maria Jackson, Gr. Sec. Council Bluffs.
Mrs. Ida A. Webster, G. T., Waucoma.
Mrs. Alta Sullivan, G. C., Fairfield.
Mrs. Luella Crooks, Asso. G. C., Boone.
Mrs. Cecelia Small, Gr. Adah, Des Moines.
Mrs. Hazel L. Dietrick, Gr. Ruth, Waterloo.
Mrs. Mathilda Kulp, Gr. Esther, West Bend.
Mrs. Luella Crooks, Acting Gr. Martha, Boone.
Mrs. Alta Sullivan, Acting Gr. Electa, Fairfield.
Mrs. Maud Keyser, Acting Gr. Warden, Marion.
Mrs. Bruce Moore, Gr. Sentinel, Iowa City.
Mrs. Jennie Whedon, Gr. Chaplain, Winterset.
Mrs. Grace Scott, Gr. Marshal, Grundy Center.
Mrs. Maud Lynn, Gr. Organist, Grundy Center.
Mrs. Alma D. Ward, P. G. M. and acting as Grand Conductress, Eldora.
Mr. Fred Oppenheimer, P. G. M. and acting Asso. Gr. Conductor, Webster City.
Mr. W. H. Norris, P. M. W. G. Patron and Mrs. Norris, P. G. M., Manchester.
P. J. Martin, P. G. Patron and Mrs. Martin, Waterloo.
Mrs. Grace Sprecher, Deputy, G. M., Dennison.

Out of town relatives were; Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Smalley of Winterset; Mrs. Smalley and son T. and J. Wilson from Marshalltown; Frank Smalley from Cleveland, Ohio; Dr. E. H. Beckman and wife from Rochester; Dr. Frank Butler and wife from Whitten; Mrs. T. F. Wilson and daughter, Marlys from Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Will Lillibridge from Gladbrook; Mrs. John Meissner and two daughters and Will Meissner and wife from Reinbeck; and W. F. Diebner from Eldora.

Obituary
The following obituary of Mrs. Beckman was read by Rev. Krome from the pulpit:
Emma Jane Wilson was born April 8, 1865, at Albion, Marshall county, Iowa. Her father was Thomas J. Wilson, an attorney and Representative from Marshall county, 1866. He was also the first editor in Marshall county, publishing the Lafayette Journal. Her mother's maiden name was Mary C. Keith. From this union there were three other children, Myra Lillibridge of Grundy Center, Iowa, James J. Wilson of Marshalltown, Iowa and T. F. Wilson of Minneapolis, Minn. After her father's death in 1868, her mother was united in marriage to James W. Smalley of Marshalltown, Iowa, from which union there were three children, W. L. Smalley of Winterset, Iowa, Tuey Smalley of Marshalltown, Iowa and Frank Smalley of Cleveland, Ohio. With the exception of the father, this is the first death to occur in the family. She was united in marriage January 17, 1889 to Herbert S. Beckman of Grundy Center, Iowa, and to them was born on son, Carl Wilson Beckman on November 7, 1889. The husband and son survive her.

The wide relations that Mrs. Beckman sustained in the course of the years are well known to all who are here today. The recognition she received from her associates in the administration of the affairs of a widely extended organization, is a mark of the worth that she exhibited and the esteem in which she was held. She was of an attractive and winning personality, a genuine friend and the recipient in turn of many evidences of sincere friendship on the part of those with whom she came in contact in her own immediate community and abroad.

Mrs. Beckman received the Lord Jesus Christ by profession of faith, publicly accepting Him as a personal Savior February 26, 1892, and joining in the fellowship of this church at the same time, and with which church she continued her affiliations until the time of her death. She will be greatly missed by all who have had the pleasure of her acquaintance.

--Grundy County Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 May 1911, pg 1, 8