Beck, Christian H. (1827-1898)

BECK

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/23/2019 at 17:00:08

Christian H. Beck
Aug 22, 1827 - Aug 13, 1898

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.145, Lewis Twp.)
Christian Henry Beck
Farmer, P. O. Council Bluffs, born in Holstein, Germany, August 22. 1827, son of A. H. and Elziaba (Keckbusch) Beck, both Iwrn in Holstein, Germany. They had ten children, five girls and five boys. Suljject was educated in Germany; commenced life as a farmer, and married in this countv in June. 1859, S. Young, born in Alsace, Germany, in 1845, daughter of Jacob and S. Young, both natives of Alsace, Germany, Mr. and Mrs. Beck are the parents of the following children, viz.: Ferdinand, Laura, Margaret, Rosa, Frederick, Gotlieb, Johanna, Christina, John and Adolph. Subject is a School Director, a member of the Lutheran Church, a Democrat; and came to this county in 1856; commenced farming and stock-raising; lives on Section 10, this township; owns 340 acres of good farming land, and came here a poor man, but by close application to business he has made himself a "solid man," and is certainly one of the best farmers in Lewis Township.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.258)
CHRISTIAN H. BECK, a farmer of Lewis Township, Pottawattamie County, was born in Holstein, Germany, August 22, 1827, and came to America with his parents. His father, Asmes Henry BECK, was a native of Holstein, Germany. He was a tailor by trade, and also owned a small farm. He was married to Elsebee KICKBUST, whose family were great land-holders in Germany. In 1853 they came to America and landed in Davenport, Iowa, where they remained about four years. Then they came to Pottawattamie County, Lewis Township, where they purchased eighty acres of "raw" land in the Plumer settlement, which they improved. They afterward rented this land, and lived with their daughter, Mrs. WHITLAND, of Lewis Township. The mother died on the old home farm in the PLUMER settlement, and the father died at WHITLAND's. They had a family of ten children, viz: Christian Henry, our subject; Margaret, deceased, wife of Henry SCHWORTS; Catharine M., the wife of H. H. SPETMAN, of Lewis Township; Fred K., residing with his brother, C. H.; Elsie N., wife of John SPETMAN, residing in Nebraska; Asmes H., deceased; Hans, deceased; Henry, deceased; Christina, wife of Dick MESSMAN, of Lewis Township. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church.
Christian H., our subject, was reared to farm life, and engaged in the war of 1848 against Denmark, serving three years. He also engaged in horse-trading while in the old country, and traveled a great deal. He was second sergeant in the war in Germany, served faithfully and was a gallant soldier. After he came to Davenport, he spent some two years, and then came to Lewis Township, Pottawattamie County, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 35, which he improved and used for a pasture-farm. He remained on this place about ten years, when he and his brother, Asmes, bought 240 acres of unimproved land on sections 3 and 10, Lewis Township. They built a small frame house, 16 x 16, where they lived one summer, and which they now use for a granary. Mr. BECK then built his present home, also a frame residence, 32 x 34 feet, and has erected a number of good barns for stock and grain, the main one being 62 x 40 feet, which is one of the finest barns in this part of the county. He has planted five acres of orchard and groves. He has added to his first purchase until he has now 520 acres, on sections 9, 10 and 11, and eighty acres on section 35, making in all 600 acres. He has made all the improvements the farm contains, and has done a vast amount of labor in this county. He devotes himself to farming and stock-raising; also buys feed and ships a large amount of stock. He is a Democrat, always taking an active part in the political work of his county. He has represented his township as Trustee and School Director.
Mr. BECK was married in June 1859 to Sarah YOUNG, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (SEAMAN) YOUNG, who came from Alsace, Germany, about 1853 or 1854, and located for a time in Ohio, and then came to Pottawattamie County. The father died in Mills County, Iowa, in 1886, and the mother still resides there. The father was a farmer and also owned a large vineyard and made large quantities of wine, but after coming to this country he followed farming. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and had a family of eight children: Jacob, deceased in the old country; Hans, also deceased in the old country; Catharine, deceased in Loudonville, Ohio; Sarah, wife of the subject of this sketch; Jacob, deceased; George, residing in Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Margaret, wife of Adolph GUISE, residing in Pottawattamie County, Iowa; John, a resident of Mills County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. BECK have eleven children: Ferdinand, born July 25, 1862, died April 20, 1888; Laura, born June 9, 1864, died April 1, 1868; Margaret, born May 22, 1866, is the wife of Ferdinand PLUMER, near Sioux City, Iowa; Rosa, born July 25, 1868, is at home; Freddie, born June 9, 1871: Christina, born September 1, 1872, died in October, 1874; Gotlieb, born December 14, 1874; John, born August 6, 1877; Adolph, born January 13, 1861; Alvina, born October 8, 1883, died May 29, 1888; and Dickie, born October 11, 1885.
Mr. and Mrs. BECK are members of the German Lutheran Church.