Beck, Sarah E. (Evans) (1792 -1877)

BECK, EVANS

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 1/31/2005 at 21:19:44

The Fairfield Ledger
Aug. 15, 1877
Page 3, col. 8.

DIED, in Fairfield, Iowa, at the residence of her son, J. SHRIVER BECK, on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1877, MRS. SARAH E. BECK, in the 86th year of her age. Born in Lancaster County, Penn., June 24, 1792; her maiden name was SARAH EVANS, and she was married to JAMES BECK in the county of her birth. They first moved to Uniontown, Penn., and in 1828 to Wheeling, Va., and kept what was there known as the United States hotel on Main Street in that city. Mr. BECK died at Wheeling of yellow fever in the summer of 1829. He was a contractor for the stone work of the bridges on the national road from Wheeling to Cumberland, a road which at that time had national importance, and the work on it was one of the wonders of the times.....The name of JAMES BECK as architect, may yet be found on some of the bridges.....Soon after the death of her husband, MRS. BECK left Wheeling and for a time kept hotel at a point about 12 miles east of Wheeling, which was a favorite stopping place for the immense stage travel at that day.....She removed to Washington, Pa., in 1836, then kept the hotel then known as the “Green House”.....about 1842 she removed to Tazewell County, Ill., where her sons Wm. and SHRIVER were then residing....In 1843 went to Springfield, Ill., and kept the “Globe Hotel.” Among her boarders there was a young man in Springfield, who has since become immortal in history - - ABRAHAM LINCOLN. He had been recently married, and his eldest son, ROBERT, was born in her house. In 1845 MRS. BECK removed to Iowa and in 1846 came to Fairfield, and she is affectionately remembered by “the boys” who partook of the good cheer of her table at the old “Eagle” and “National” hotels in Fairfield. The later years of her life she spent among her children, part of the time in Kentucky with her son RICHARD and part in Fairfield with WILLIAM and SHRIVER.....Episcopal church.

(See Lot #175, Old Cemetery, for DAVID J. EVANS, brother of MRS. SARAH (EVANS) BECK.)

This data has been transcribed for genealogical purposes; I am not related to the subject.