Sarah E. Beckwith, d. Dec. 1935

BECKWITH, GARNER PORTER, SMITH, VAN NORTWICK

Posted By: Pat White (email)
Date: 1/20/2008 at 08:50:44

MRS. BECKWITH DIES AT HOME IN CALIFORNIA

Widow of One of Founders of the Western Wheeled Scraper Company.

Mrs. Sarah E. Beckwith, 90, widow of the late Capt. Warren Beckwith, civil war leader and co-founder with the late Capt. C. H. Smith of the Western Wheeled Scraper company, now the Western-Austin, died yesterday at her home in LaJolla, Cal. Until three years ago Mrs. Beckwith made her home in Palace street in this city. She retained her Aurora residence until death.

Mrs. Beckwith, who moved to Aurora from Mt. Pleasant, Ia., in 1909 after the death of her husband was one of the larger stockholders and a former member of the board of directors of the Western-Austin company. She achieved fame in the middle west as a business woman and philanthropist. She gave her Mt. Pleasant residence as an old people's home when she moved here.

SURVIVING RELATIVES.

Surviving her are Mrs. Emily B. Garner, a daughter, with whom Mrs. Beckwith made her home in LaJolla, Warren Beckwith, a son, now living on a ranch near Albuquerque, N. M., three grandchildren, James Beckwith, Mrs. Sue Van Nortwick and Phillip Beckwith, and one great grandchild, John Van Nortwick Jr.

Everett Beckwith, father of James and Mrs. Van Nortwick, died several years ago while on a world cruise. Orville, another son, also preceded his mother in death.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow at LaJolla. The body will be kept in a mausoleum until spring when it will be taken to Mt. Pleasant for burial.

Source: Clipping from the 'Aurora Beacon News', with handwritten date of 12/18/1935. Obtained from the Aurora, ILL public library.

[NOTE: Capt. Beckwith was first married to Luzenia W. Porter. After Luzenia's death, Capt. Beckwith married her sister, Miss Sarah E. Porter. The children mentioned in this obituary are actually Sarah E. Porter Beckwith's niece and nephews.]