Beckman, Frederic William Karl, 1827-1894

BECKMAN, SONNER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/25/2016 at 14:58:11

Iowa Index of March 30, 1894

Fredric William Karl Beckman.
After ten weeks of intense suffering, the end came at last and Father Beckman passed away in peace at eight o’clock last Friday morning Mr. Beckman was born in Emmen, West Falls, Germany Sept 27, 1827. Coming to America he worked at the trade of shoemaking in Brooklyn for two years; getting his leather from the cutter and doing his work at home.

In 1855 he was happily married to Miss Rosa Sonner who survives him. While working at his trade in Brooklyn he became acquainted with Mr. A. Bredsting whose brother was batching and running a sawmill near Oxford Junction IA. In due time arrangements were made and Mr. Beckman and his newly married wife started out, by was of the Lakes to help in the mill and keep house for Mr. Bredsting. Up to that time M. Beckman and never seen growing corn or any prairie land. Next year Mr. Backman worked on a farm for a Mr. Buchuel, receiving as wages a yoke of oxen and a cow. The year following he rented land and the next year bought the farm on which he lived until 1888 when he sold out and moved to Sioux Co., five miles south of Hull While in Brooklyn and later in Jones county,

Mr. Backman was subject to violent sick headaches, being often confined to his bed two days at a time. After coming to his county his health was almost perfect until two years ago when he was attacked with the dropsy form which he never recovered. A year ago he left the farm and built the present home in the eastern part of our town. Two weeks before the end came, he had a severe attack of eczema, immediately followed by the grippe. After being confined to his bed for five weeks it was found necessary to open a large abscess in the right of his abdomen. The operation gave him relief but he was to weak to rally and after lingering two weeks longer his strength failed and after a nigh of unconsciousness he peacefully passed away at eight o’clock a.m. Friday March 23rd 1884(1894)

The funeral services were held in the Congregational church last Sunday afternoon being conducted by Rev. Kaafman, the pastor after which the remains were born to their last resting place in Hope cemetery. So ends the long, useful and honored life. We are informed the city home will be sold and a small one built for the bereaved widow, just north of Robt. Schoeneman’s residence.