Capt. Warren Beckwith, 1833-1905

BECKWITH

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 10/15/2006 at 15:55:36

BECKWITH’S FUNERAL.

Beloved Mt. Pleasant Citizen Laid at Rest.
ALL BUSINESS IS SUSPENDED.
Great Throng Follows noted Captain to His Grave - Hundreds of Messages Are Received.

[Mt. Pleasant, July 20.] - Today Mt. Pleasant paid its last sorrowing tribute to the remains of the late Captain Warren BECKWITH, one of our best known and public spirited citizens. The remains were viewed by hundreds this morning, and the afternoon trains brought in many more who called during the afternoon to take a last look at one so well known and beloved. The body lay as if asleep, and across the coffin was draped a handsome silk flag, emblematic of the great country Captain BECKWITH had served so faithfully and well in its hour of need. This afternoon the majority of business houses closed during the funeral as a mark of respect to the deceased, and business was quite generally suspended during that time. Many beautiful floral pieces were received from friends at a distance, the ones from the Western Wheeled Scraper Co. at Anamosa, and from the family of Captain Smith, a business associate of Captain BECKWITH in the company, being especially fine. Hundreds of messages have been received by the family in the past day or two, bearing words of sympathy and consolation from friends all over the country. Mrs. Warren W. BECKWITH was with her mother at Manchester, Vt., and could not come but sent a message of sympathy and one also came from Hon. and Mrs. Robert T. LINCOLN.

The funeral services were held this afternoon at 4 o’clock from the BECKWITH home on West Monroe street, and they were very largely attended. Only one other funeral in this city for years has made so marked an impression on the public, that being of the late Senator HARLAN. The services were in charge of Rector H. Clay EASTMAN, of the Episcopal church, of which Captain BECKWITH and family had been strong supporters for years. Judge BABB, an old friend of the deceased, and from McFarland post of the G. A. R., which attended the funeral in a body, made an address also. The Episcopal choir, consisting of the Misses Ida TWINTING, Myra and Birdie SCHNURR and Messrs. Harry EASTMAN and Fred Van HON, assisted by Mrs. PORTER, of Chicago, furnished the music. At the grave the ritual of the G. A. R. was given and the body laid away with full military honors.

The following members of the Fourth Iowa cavalry acted as pallbearers: Captain Lot ABRAHAM, Major C. F. SPEARMAN, W. P. YOUNG, C. W. LAIRD of Tama, Chas. RUKGAHN of Aurora, Captain WOODRUFF of Knoxville, and H. M. PICKELL of Des Moines. The following were honorary pallbearers: Congressman John A. T. HULL, of Des Moines; Department Commander S. H. HARPER, of Ottumwa, Hon. W. I. BABB, D. B. HUMMELL, Hon. John W. BLYTHE, of Burlington; Congressman HEDGE of Burlington; Judge WITHROW, W. B. SEELEY, Frank C. WORTHINGTON and William GEORGE, of Aurora, Dr. W. A. STERNBERG, Dr. O. A. GEISEKA, T. J. Van HON, R. S. GILLIS, Dr. J. P. BEAN of Fairfield, Captain Dan MATSON, of Mediapolis, Col. D. J. PALMER of Washington, Captain EVANS of Keokuk and Wm. BEATTY of Chicago.

Among those of the immediate family relatives the following were present at the funeral: Messrs. Everett and Warren BECKWITH of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. George BECKWITH of Creston, Mrs. William BECKWITH of Aurora, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. BECKWITH of Quincy, Mrs. SHATTOCK of Mt. Ayr and Geo. BECKWITH of Aurora.

The following were among those present from out of the city: Congressman HEDGE, Hon. J. W. BLYTHE, Mr. and Mrs. James MOIR and H. S. RAND, of Burlington; Congressman HULL and Hugh M. PICKEL, of Des Moines, Hon. H. O. WEAVER of Wapello, Wm. HAVEN of Chariton, Captain David MATSON of Mediapolis, Geo. STEWART of Ft. Madison, Col. T. B. BALDWIN, S. H. JOHNSON, Dr. SHAFFER, Postmaster BUCK, J. R. DIAMOND, Col. H. B. BLOOD, F. F. RICHARDS and D. B. HAMILL, all of Keokuk; Captain GANTZ of Fairfield, Department Commander S. A. HARPER of Ottumwa, Mathies PAXTON, Rome, Captain Chas. H. SMITH of Aurora, Frank WELCH, Chas. RUKGABER, Frank WORTHINGTON, of Aurora, Mr. MEHLER of New London, Wm. GEORGE of Aurora, W. F. BEATTY of Chicago, W. H. ASBURY of Ottumwa, Dr. J. V. BEAN, Fairfield, Col. D. J. PALMER of Washington and many others.

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Undated, unnamed newspaper obit, found in the scrapbooks of Mary [Blaut] Abraham, wife of Captain Lot Abraham; the scrapbooks are currently owned by their great-granddaughter, Martha [Wright] Allen, Mt. Pleasant, IA. [October 2006]