BECK, James Shriver 1821 - 1891

BECK, JUNKIN, ATKINSON, SHEARER

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 2/1/2005 at 12:09:10

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, March 4, 1891
Page 3, Column 6

Personal Mention.

D. B Miller, Red Oak, J. A. BECK, Creston, and J. H. Atkinson, Chicago, were called here last week by the death of J. S. BECK. …

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, March 4, 1891
Page 5, Columns 7 and 8

Death of James S. BECK.

The death of few citizens of Jefferson county have occasioned more genuine or widespread sorrow that than of James Shriver BECK, who passed away at his home in this city Thursday shortly before noon. Mr. BECK had been seriously ill for several months. The disease which attacked him was an ailment of the stomach and bowels which baffled the skill of physicians and whose progress steadily undermined his strength and vitality. Toward the end his sufferings were intense, but with that patience and uncomplaining spirit which marked his entire life he bore them without a murmur. Mr. BECK was a pioneer in the true sense of the word. He was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1821. His parents removed to Wheeling, Virginia, where the father died about nine years later. Before attaining his majority young BECK left for the west, and after a short stay in Kentucky found his way to Delavan, Ill., thence to Springfield, and finally to Keokuk, this state, in 1844. he was engaged in work on the Des Moines river improvement for a while, then operated a farm in Lee county, and finally came to Jefferson county in 1846. He remained here several years, and then pushed still further west. He aided in erecting the first house in Omaha, Neb., in 1953, for some time operated a ferry across the Missouri river at that place, and was engaged in the sale of merchandise at Council Bluffs for some time. In 1859 he "went across the plains" and was engaged in mining in Colorado for a year or two. Returning to this city he ever afterward made it his home. He was engaged in farming, in the sale of merchandise and various other enterprises here, in all of which he proved himself a successful business man. His later days were spent in retirement.

Quiet and undemonstrative in his manner, there were few men who made more or warmer friendships than did "Shrive" BECK, and these pleasant relationships extended to people of all classes and of all ages. He wad warm friends among the early settlers, men with whom he had sheared the pleasures and withstood the hardships of pioneer days, and intimacies just as close with those whom he had seen grow from childhood to manhood. He was an honest, conscientious man and he led an upright life. He met every duty as it came to him and discharged it without fear or favor. In him was found every element of excellent manhood and good citizenship. He was possessed of great personal popularity, and though a democrat in politics was twice elected sheriff of Jefferson county when there was naturally a large majority against his party. A residence of nearly half a century in this community had given Mr. BECK many opportunities of showing his kindness of heart, his willingness to administer to the wants of the distressed and lighten the burdens of the afflicted, and he never failed to respond to any call that might be made. It had also given him a wide acquaintance he could truly call nearly every acquaintance a friend. To those who knew "Shrive" BECK, his excellences and his sterling manhood, his memory is a sufficient monument.

The funeral took place from the family residence Saturday afternoon, and was attended by many friends from country and city. The services were conducted by Rev. J. F. Magill and the singers and the songs were largely of Mr. B.'s own choosing, for he had long known that death was imminent and he was prepared to meet it as he did all other events of his life. Ellis Hose Company, No. 1, of which Mr. BECK was the first chief, attended the services in a body and its hall is draped with mourning in his memory. The remains were interred in the Evergreen cemetery, and they were borne to their last resting place by six nephews, J. A. BECK, C. M., W. D., H. G., R. T., and R. G. JUNKIN, all of whom reside in this city. Mr. BECK was married to Narcissa D. JUNKIN in this county, March 1st, 1849 and his wife and a daughter, Mrs. J. H. ATKINSON of Chicago, survive him.

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

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Added by Admin, June 2020 --

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, March 11th, 1891
Page 2, Column 4

In Memory of a Good Man.
Dr. J. M. Shaffer in Keokuk Constitution:

James Shriver BECK died at Fairfield, February 26th. He was known to Guy Wells, William S. Sample, Wm. A. Patterson, Dr. J. M. Shaffer and many others. He was an influential worker here in the beginning of the Des Moines river improvement. He was a native of Pennsylvania and his parent kept a tavern at Roney's Point, on the national pike leading from Cumberland, Md., through Washington and Claysville, Pa., on to Wheeling, Va., and then on to Zanesville, O., and Indianapolis, Ind. Shriver used to drive stage. In those days the stage driver was what the daily newspaper is now. He married Narcissa JUNKIN, a daughter of Joseph JUNKIN, sr., and a sister of Wm. W. JUNKIN the long time editor of The Fairfield Ledger. Shriver was a good boy and a good man. The people elected him sheriff of Jefferson county and he did his work well. He always did his work well--on the farm, in his shop, in office, Shriver did his best.

In 1849 he was a member of Eagle Lodge, No. 12, A. F. and A. M., of this city. That was a good while ago. But let us see who were some of his brethren. Lyman E. Johnson was W. M. Many will recall him, and his history is written. Harry Fulton was J. W., and it will be pleasant to him to know that L. B. Fleak was treasurer. There were fifty-nine members at that time. Most of them have passed away--J. B. Knight, Jesse Hough, Rev. John Guylee, W. J. Cochran and others. Silas Heaight, of pleasant memory, is among those who survive the days of "Yellow Hand Bill" meetings. Hugh W. Sample, Major Floyd, William Timberman were all contemporaneous with Shriver BECK. Many of these have fallen to sleep, but the venerable J. M. Anderson, A. Brown, John W. Ogden, the latter is a brother of Robt. B. Ogden, and Shriver BECK renewed his acquaintance with Robert after a separation of nearly a quarter of a century. Who were Peter J. Potter and Wm. Lamb and John Olive and Moses Gray, and who were many more who sat in lodge with Shriver BECK? All who knew the man liked him thoroughly. He was a quiet man. He was not demonstrative. But he has expressed his admiration for Col. William Patterson and Judge P. T. Lomax. His light is extinguished, but there is not one of us who knew him but will accord to him the witness of a useful, honorable, well spent life. None ever heard him speak ill of another.

Ralph Robinson in The Newton Journal: Mrs. F. A. SHEARER of Colfax received a telegram on the 26th announcing the death at Fairfield of her brother-in-law, J. Shriver BECK. He was well known all over Iowa, and was an old settler before Iowa was a state--when ox teams and stages were the only modes of conveyance. Mr. BECK is an old-time friend of The Journal man, one whose friendship we highly esteemed, and whose demise is sincerely mourned.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, April 15th, 1891
Page 2, Column 3

The Week at Court.

… The following business on the law and chancery dockets has been disposed of:

… Will of James S. BECK, dec'd; will probated, Narcissa D BECK, executor, without bond. …

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Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. IAGenWeb Bylaws PROHIBIT the COPYING AND RE-POSTING OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without WRITTEN permission from the poster ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.