WILLIAM BECK.

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         One of the well known financial institutions of Morning Sun is the Exchange Bank which was founded twenty-five years ago and of which William Beck, who was one of its founders, has long been at the head. He was born in Des Moines county on the 26th of October, 1847, and is a son of Conrad and Sophia (Grota) Beck, natives of Germany. The father, who was an agriculturist, located in Des Moines county during the pioneer days. In his family were nine children: Mary, the deceased wife of David Schank, of Memphis, Tennessee; Sarah, a resident of Morning Sun; William, the subject of this sketch; Caroline, the wife of F. N. Smith, senator from Des Moines county; Henry, of Morning Sun; Cassie, the wife of E. L. McChurkin; Elizabeth, who married O. B. Jamison, of Louisa county; Emma, the widow of James Barr, of Burlington, Iowa; and Senna, the wife of Joseph Schwaller, also of Burlington.

         The education of William Beck was completed in the schools of Nauvoo, Illinois, following which he returned home and assisted his father in the cultivation of the fields and the care of the stock. Later he came to Louisa county, Iowa, buying one thousand acres of land west of Morning Sun, where he pursued general farming and stock-raising until 1886. In that year he removed to Morning Sun and became associated with his brother-in-law, E. L. McChur- . . .

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. . . kin, in establishing the Exchange Bank, of which institution he has been the president for some time past.

         On the 10th of December, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Beck and Miss Ella Berryhill, a daughter of William DeWitt and Annie Depni (Day) Berryhill, in whose family were the following children: Andrew, a resident of Idaho; William, of Colorado; Fannie, the wife of Thomas James, of Des Moines; Lisle, the deceased wife of James Scroggs, of South Dakota; Ella, now Mrs. Beck; Frank, living in Louisa county; Emma, the wife of A. B. Hook, of Jefferson county; Hastings, also a resident of Jefferson county; and twins, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have four children, in order of birth, as follows: Lemma, who was born on the 2d of August, 1893, and is now attending college at Mount Pleasant; Joseph, born on the 30th of August, 1895; Leila, born on the 1st of September, 1897; and Lillian, whose birth occurred on the 14th day of Mach, 1900.

         The family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church and the political allegiance of Mr. Beck is given to the democratic party. Possessed of good judgment and business sagacity, he has given conclusive proof of his qualifications to successfully direct the policy of the institution with which he has long been connected.