Walter Herbert Beck

Other Events:

• Education: quit school before 4th grade
• Member: was a member of the Port Jefferson Village Council, Red Men Lodge, Shelby County Deer Hunters Association and the Methodist Church.
• Census: 1880, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Walter Herbert Beck, son, in the household of James R. Beck
• Religion: 28 Jun 1890, Geneva, Adams County, Indiana, United States; was admitted as a member of the Quaker church
• Census: 1900, Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Walter Beck, son, day laborer, in the household of Cynthia Beck; Address:
  West Lane
• Occupation: 1905; Carpenter/General Contractor
• Residence: 1905, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States
• Residence: Jul 1906, Geneva, Adams County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 1910, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Walter H. Beck, laborer doing odd jobs, head of household
• Physical Description: 12 Sep 1918; tall, slender build, brown eyes and black hair
• Military: 12 Sep 1918, Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States; registered for the WWI Draft
• Occupation: 12 Sep 1918, Casstown, Miami County, Ohio, United States; Farmer
• Residence: 12 Sep 1918, Casstown, Miami County, Ohio, United States; Address:
  21 R.F.D.#1
• Census: 1920, Anna, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Walter H. Beck, carpenter, head of household; Address:
  Main Street
• Census: 1930, Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as Walter H. Beck, real estate salesman, head of household; Address:
  Covington Pike
• Residence: 1 Apr 1935, Shelby County, Ohio, United States
• Census: 1940, Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; as Walter Beck, carpenter, head of household
• Occupation: 23 Apr 1942; Carpenter/Contractor
• Physical Description: 25 Apr 1942; White, 5'8" 170 lbs., Brown eyes, Gray hair, Light complexion
• Military: 25 Apr 1942, Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States; registered for the WWII Draft
• Residence: 25 Apr 1942, Kessler Station, Miami County, Ohio, United States; Address:
  RR #1
• Correspondence: 21 Mar 1958; letter to William Beck with a thank you for the family history book
• Obituary: 8 Dec 1962; Original newspaper clipping - name of newspaper and date published unknown
• Newspaper: 14 Jun 1964; Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma), 14, June 1964

Notes:

MEMORIES... by Patricia Beck Hormell
Hunting, fishing, growing strawberries and rescuing animals and home made candy, that's what I remember most. He was an avid hunter, even taking trips to Colorado to hunt for big game. He made a jacket and pair of pants out of tanned deer hide and wore them quite a bit. There was always plenty of wild meat at mealtimes; including elk, deer, rabbit, squirrel, pheasant and duck. Oh, and fish! We went fishing in all the nearby rivers and creeks.
There always seemed to be some animal that needed rescued and cared for. I can remember fox, racoon, opossum, rabbits and birds and many others making there home in the cages Grandpa had set up for them while he cared for their needs.
Strawberries were plentiful, he had a very big patch where I helped do the picking, or mostly eating!
Grandpa liked to make candy and he filled the house with all kinds of candy at Christmas. Fondants, seafoam, and chocolate covered creme drops are some that I remember setting on the wire racks cooling or drying. Very tempting!
Sometimes the things you remember are funny things that someone taught you to do. Grandpa taught me to put sugar on sliced tomatoes, and also to crumble saltines in milk. I still put sugar on my fresh sliced tomatoes, they taste so good!
Grandpa had false teeth but never wore them. I think he put them in a drawer after about a week of trying them and never took them out again. It didn't stop him from eating anything though, his gums must have been really tough.
He was a carpenter and we often visited the sites where he was building a house. That was fun, climbing all over everything and driving my mother crazy. He built many homes in Miami, Shelby and Montgomery Counties. He didn't have anything but hand tools or his hand written notes and figures.
Grandpa didn't believe in smoking, drinking or swearing but he did have one vice, which was gambling. He would go to town on Saturday night and gamble.
It wasn't until after grandpa passed that I found out he was very interested in genealogy. Wish I had known when he was alive.

NOTES... by Thearen Beck
Walter left home at age 8 after he threw a hatchet at his stepfather (George Buckey) because he was beating his mother (Cynthia Ann Kelley) and Buckey ask him to leave. He went to live with Henry Decker in Geneva, Indiana for clothes and board. At age 10 he lived with a Mr. Zimmerman and learned German. Zimmerman died; Walter moved to Buena Vista, Indiana and lived with a preacher, Christable Aegly for 3 years and then with Ed Mann, who Walter said was real mean so he ran away and moved back to Henry Deckers' for 3-1/2 years. At this time he moved back to Ohio and lived in Shelby and Miami Counties doing any kind of work and farming. In 1903 Walter met and married Ethel and 2-years later moved to Mary Vances' house where he raised tobacco on 10 acres. They packed up and headed for Lawton, Oklahoma to homestead. Stopped in St. Louis on the way and almost got robbed. Stayed in a rooming house (2-days) across the street from the Depot, on the 25th floor. Watched a 20-mule team load gravel on flat boat. It was a rough section of town. They were impressed by the market section; bananas 10 cents/dozen. Offered steady job by contractor. Went by train to Lawton and offered a job in Tulsa, Oklahoma but refused. Rented a one room house by the depot and worked as a carpenter. Hunted bobcat with brindle dog. There was a smallpox epidemic so Walter sent Ethel back to Geneva, Indiana in June 1906 as she was pregnant. He shipped their dishes Bill of Stray and Walter followed in July. Worked as a stone mason in Geneva. Moved to Troy, Ohio; Nashville, Ohio; Port Jefferson, Ohio and sold fruit trees in Pennsylvania. Bought a house in Kessler, Ohio and it burned to the ground with everything in it. They lived in Casstown, Ohio; Christenburg, Ohio; and Anna, Ohio where Thearen was born; then moved to Port Jefferson when Thearen was 6 months old; to Kessler, Ohio; and then bought a farm near Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio; and back to Port Jefferson. Continued working as a carpenter/general contractor until he was in his 70's.

Name:
1880 Census - Walter Herbert Beck
1900 Census - Walter Beck
1910 Census - Walter H. Beck
1920 Census - Walter H. Beck
1930 Census - Walter H. Beck
1940 Census - Walter Beck
Marriage Certificate - Walter Beck
WWI Draft Registration - Walter Herbert Beck
WWII Draft Registration - Walter Herbert Beck
Obituary - Walter Beck

Birth:

NOTE: Covington, from 1793 to 1812 it was known as Fort Rowdy, from 1812 to 1816 as Fort Buchannan and Friendship, from 1816 to 1835 it was known as Stillwater, and in 1835 it was incorporated as Covington. It is located on the Stillwater River just across from the mouth of the Greenville Creek.

Correspondence:

William Beck
27 Baan Baan Street
Dapte, New South Wales, Australia
Dear Sir:
I have received your letter after the post office has traced me down from place to place, which has 8 different addresses from the letter I received through the Immigrant Agent in my City from Mr. John Beck, Parkway, Essex, England and received the book from him, of which I was very proud.
Sometime after World War I, I wrote a letter to him and never got any reply and considered that he was one of the unlucky ones of the spoils of War. I am very proud to know that you are in the business you are in, saving souls. I think that is the highest honor of any other profession and to know that you have had the ones that has been bestowed on you as a minister and the interest you had in keeping the history of the noble family of the Irish family of Beck. I am enclosing the name and address of the Sidney Librarian.
I live just 5 miles out of Sidney and 9 miles from Ann, Ohio where I got the first correspondence from Mr. John Beck, Essex, England. We are building a beautiful new library in Sidney, which will be ready for occupancy about September. If possible, I would like very much if it could be arrange if you could send the history to me, so I could present it to the library when it is dedicated.
Now I will tell you of part of my life. I was born March 4th 1878 near Covington, Ohio to Robert and Cynthia Ann Kelly Beck, who have passed beyond. Father died in 1879 and Mother died at the age of 96. There were 8 children, 5 boys and 3 girls of which all are deceased, except one brother 82 years and myself, 80 years. From the time I was 8 years old, I worked for my board and clothes from one place to another 'til I was quite a man. Some places were like Heaven to me and some were so bad that it brings tears to my eyes when I think how cruel they were to me. When I was 25, I met a beautiful little girl and fell in love and was married 55 years ago. There were 4 girls and 1 boy born to us.
I have been a carpenter for 50 years. I have my own home and have retired. I have but a few enemies and a host of friends. I don't chew, drink or smoke and am an ardent hunter of both big and small game and love to fish and all clean sports. May God help you in all your work and every day be a better one.
We have deer, bear, elk, moose and some caribou and reindeer, which come down from the far North Alaska each winter. For small game, we have hare, wild turkey in some places, geese, ducks, squirrel, rabbits, grouse and some sage hens and have some beautiful water to fish in. We raise all kind of livestock and grain. We have at Vandalia, Ohio, the World's Trap Shoot, which each year the World Champion is awarded Champion of the World.
Our Irish family in U.S.A. celebrates St. Patricks Day. They had the largest parade this year they ever had. We have beautiful large Presbyterian Church in Sidney.
Thanking you for your most grateful letter on the further gleanings from the past, of which I cherish with the greatest esteem and have cherished all my life, and hoping to hear from you and your family and all about your Country, I remain,
Yours in faith forever,
Walter H. Beck
Box 295
Port Jefferson, Ohio

Obituary:

Walter Beck Dies; Retired Contractor
PORT JEFFERSON - Walter Herbert Beck, 84, a retired general contractor, died at his home in this community at 6:30 p. m. Friday.
Death resulted from complications following an attack of pneumonia. He had been in failing health for the past year.
Born Mar. 4, 1878 in Covington, O., he was a son of Robert and Cynthia Kelly Beck. Practically all his life had been spent in Shelby county.
His marriage with Ethel Vance took place on Dec. 23, 1903. She survives with three daughters and a son.
They are: Mrs. Clarence (Orelia) Green, North Fairfield, O.; Mrs. Robert (Louise) Rosell, Xenia, O.; Mrs. Lawrence (Vivian) Beemer, Sidney, and Thearen Beck, Englewood, O.
Also surviving is a brother, Frank Beck, of Muncie, Ind.; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. A daughter, three brothers and three sisters have preceded him in death.
Mr. Beck was a member of the village council of Port Jefferson and also held membership in the Red Men Lodge and the Shelby County Deer Hunter Association.
He was a member of the Methodist Church at Port Jefferson.
For many years Mr. Beck was a general contractor, retiring some years ago.
Funeral services have been arranged for 2:30 p. m. Monday from the Dearth Funeral Home, with Rev. Harold Kochersperger officiating. Burial will be made in Glen Cemetery.
Friends will be received at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p. m. on Sunday and on Monday until the funeral hour. (Original newspaper clipping - name of newspaper and date published unknown)

Newspaper:

Former Resident Amazed By City
A 78-year old Ohio woman who lived in Lawton before statehood visited here Saturday and expressed amazement at the city's growth since she left 57 years ago.
The visitor was Mrs. Ethel Beck, 78, Port Jefferson, Ohio, whose late husband, Walter H. Beck, built one of the first large farm buildings in Comanche county before statehood.
Mrs. Beck was traveling with her son, Thearen Beck, Englewood Ohio, and his wife, Charlotte, and daughter, Mary Ann, 5. He has been on business trips to San Antonio and Oklahoma City, and they decided to spend the weekend in Lawton to give his mother an opportunity to visit old landmarks of the area.

Walter married Ethel May Vance on 23 Dec 1903 in Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States. Ethel (daughter of Eli Warren Honeyman and Rosa Florence Vance) was born on 5 May 1887 in Nashville, Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; died on 16 Dec 1969 in North Fairfield, Huron County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 19 Dec 1969 in Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lodis Marie Beck was born on 4 Aug 1904 in Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; died on 21 May 1926 in Lima, Allen County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 23 May 1926 in Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States.
2. Orelia Gustava Beck was born on 18 Sep 1906 in Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; died on 14 May 1977 in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, United States; was buried in May 1977 in North Fairfield, Huron County, Ohio, United States.
3. Louise Opal Beck was born on 14 Oct 1908 in Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; died on 26 Apr 1995 in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 28 Apr 1995 in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States.
4. Vivian Theresa Beck was born on 25 Nov 1910 in Kessler, Miami County, Ohio, United States; died on 30 Nov 1995 in Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 6 Dec 1995 in Swanders, Shelby County, Ohio, United States.
5. Thearen Quentin Beck was born on 7 Oct 1922 in Anna, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; died on 22 Nov 1999 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 24 Nov 1999 in Brookville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.

Other Events:

• Census: 1850, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as J. R. Beck, in the household of Wm. Beck
• Census: 1860, Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; as J. R. Beck, farmer, head of household
• Census: 1870, Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, United States; as James Beck, day laborer, head of household
• Census: 1880, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as James R. Beck, farmer, head of household
• Newspaper: 29 Apr 1881; The Sidney Journal (Sidney, Ohio), 29 April 1881, p3.

Notes:

Newspaper:

James R. Beck died on Sunday, and his funeral took place on Monday at Wesley chapel. Mr. Beck was 47 years old. He leaves a wife and seven children.

James married Cynthia Ann Kelly on 1 Nov 1855 in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. Cynthia (daughter of James Kelly and Elizabeth Sigler) was born on 21 Feb 1839 in Botkins, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; died on 1 Sep 1931 in Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 3 Sep 1931 in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Physical Description: Red hair
• Census: 1840, Jay County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 1850, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Cinthia Kelly, in the household of James Kelly
• Census: 1860, Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; as Cynthia Beck, in the household of J. R Beck
• Census: 1870, Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, United States; as Cynthia Beck, in the household of James Beck
• Census: 1880, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Cynthia A. Beck, wife, in the household of James R. Beck
• Residence: 8 Dec 1888, Ceylon, Adams County, Indiana, United States
• Religion: 26 Apr 1890, Geneva, Adams County, Indiana, United States; set off to White Oak Monthly Meeting by request
• Census: 30 Jun 1900, Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Cynthia Beck, widow, head of household; Address:
  West Lane
• Census: 1910, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Syntha Beck, hired servant, in the household of Allen Riddle
• Census: 1920, Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; as Cynthia A. Beck, mother, in the household of Frank C. Beck
• Census: 1930, Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; as Cyntha A. Beck, mother, widow, in the household of son Frank C. Beck

Notes:

Died:


OBITUARY
AGED LADY DIES AT WEST MILTON
Mrs. Cynthia Ann Beck, aged 94 years, 6 months and 10 days, died at the home of her son, F. C. Beck of West Milton, Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock. Death followed a prolonged illness.
One daughter and three sons survive. They are Mrs. Allie Lions, of Anna; W.E. Beck of Port Jefferson: W. H. Beck of Kessler and F. C. Beck of West Milton. Also two sisters, Mrs. Jane Trammel of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Mary Buckey of Geneva, Ind., sixteen grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services wil be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the M.E. Church, Port Jefferson in charge of Rev. Robertson. Interment Glen Cemetery. (Newspaper: Wednesday September 2, 1931)

Other Events:

• Census: 1840, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as William Beck, farmer
• Census: 1850, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Wm. Beck, head of household

William married Elizabeth Jane Fairburn on 12 Jan 1833 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. Elizabeth was born between 1809 and 1812 in Virginia, United States; died after Aug 1870. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Birth: Abt 1810, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Census: 1850, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Elizabeth Beck, in the household of Wm. Beck
• Census: 1860, Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; as Elizabeth Baker, in the household of J. R Beck
• Census: 1870, Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, United States; as Jane Beck, in the household of son James Beck

Notes:

William Beck, Elizabeth's first husband, died March 22, 1855 and she married for the second time Andrew Baker on April 26, 1857. In the court records I found a divorce record as follows: Divorce records - Shelby County, Ohio. Baker, Andrew vs. Elizabeth J. Baker, Jan 1863. Defendent absent more than 3 years, divorce granted.

Other Events:

• Name: Robert James Kelly
• Land Patent: 15 Feb 1836, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; received Land Patent OH0670_283 for 80 acres; Address:
  1st PM, East half of the South East quarter, Section 33, Townshi
• Census: 1840, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as James Kelly
• Property: 27 Feb 1845, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; sold 80 acres for $200.00 to David Kelly; Address:
  (the East half of the South East Quarter of Section 33 in Townsh
• Property: 5 Oct 1847, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; signed a Quit Claim for 157.80 acres for $1.00 to Nathan VanMeter; Address:
  (South West quarter of Section 31 in Township 2 of Range 7 East,
• Census: 1850, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as James Kelly, farmer, head of household
• Property: 5 Jul 1856, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; purchased 80 acres for $1000.00 from Cornelius Kelly; Address:
  (West half of the South West quarter of Section 3, Township 7 So
• Property: 21 Nov 1859, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; sold 80 acres for $1200 to Samuel Boyer, (the West 1/2 of the South West 1/4, Section 3, Township 7, Range 6)
• Census: 1860, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as James Kelly, farmer, head of household
• Census: 1870, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as James Kelly, farmer, head of household
• Census: 1880, Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana, United States; as James Kelley, farmer, head of household

Notes:

Land Patent:

Deed: United States to James Kelly
80 acres, Cash Entry
Certificate: #3833
Location: (the East half of the South East Quarter of Section 33 in Township 6 South, of Range 6 East)
Dated: 15 February 1836
vMp129

Property:

Signed: James Kelly and Elizabeth (her mark) Kelly
Witness: W M Smith and Daniel A Haynes
vM, p129

Property:

Signed: James Kelly and E. W. Kelly
Witness: John Hopkins, Jr. and John John Hopkins
vN, p296

Property:

Signed: Cornelius Kelly
Witness: William Agaii and Elam Cottrill
vW, p298

Property:

Signed: James (his mark) Kelly and Elizabeth (her mark) Kelly
Witness: Eliakim Ludlum and Daniel Boyer
vZ, p351

James married Elizabeth Sigler on 13 Apr 1837 in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. Elizabeth (daughter of Peter Sigler and Lydia Martin) was born in 1819 in Maryland, United States; died about 1897. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Census: 1850, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Elizabeth Kelly, in the household of James Kelly
• Census: 1860, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as Elizabeth Kelly, in the household of James Kelly
• Census: 1870, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as Elizabeth Kelly, in the household of James Kelly
• Census: 1880, Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana, United States; as Elizabeth Kelley, wife, in the household of James Kelley

Other Events:

• Emigration: 1 May 1804, Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland; to America on the ship Commerce
• Immigration: 10 Jul 1804, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; with one chest and bedding
• Tax Record: 1809, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Tax Record: 1826, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Tax Record: 1827, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Tax Record: 1828, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Naturalization: 22 Jul 1828, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; James Beck, born in the Kingdom of Ireland, took the oath of allegance
• Tax Record: 1829, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Census: 1830, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Tax Record: 1830, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Tax Record: 1831, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Tax Record: 1832, Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
• Land Patent: 20 Mar 1837, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; received Land Patent OH1660_167 for 80 acres; Address:
  (1st PM, East 1/2 of the North West 1/4, Section 14, Township 7
• Correspondence: 24 Sep 1845; wrote a letter to family in Ireland

Notes:

Shelby county was formed in 1819 from Miami County and was named for General Isaac Shelby, Revolutionary War hero and first Governor of Kentucky. The village of Hardin was named the county seat, and an old blockhouse served as the site for conducting official county business. Several sessions of court were held there, but the county seat was removed to Sidney following the December 13, 1819 session, and remains there today.
Beck School-District No. 6--The 3rd school built in Dinsmore Township was built in this section in 1844. It was a log building about 18' x 20' and was called the Beck School. The first teacher was James Beck. (Reference: "One-Room Schools")
Teachers and Pupils-Reunion—Away back in the first half of the century there stood on a knoll in what is now District #5 in Perry Township, an old log house, presided over by an Irish dominie named Beck, who taught the rising generation of the day the great principles embodied in the three "R's". He was a peppery old man but exceedingly good-hearted and his memory is still green. In 1856, when roads were cut through the county, the site was changed a little west and at the side of the pike was a new brick building erected. This served the purpose for many years but finally it too went the way of all houses and was succeeded in 1877 by the present substantial edifice, known as the D.H. Crumbaugh School. (Source: Sidney Weekly Journal, 8-25-1893)
Anna is situated almost centrally in the wide expanse of wealthy farming country which characterizes Shelby county north of the Miami gorge. Land was first entered in this north territory in 1831, but the first settlers who arrived to stay were George Turner, Joseph Green and John Munch, in 1832. David Taylor, his wife and eight children came in 1834, Alfired Staley in 1833, and immigration followed rapidly from that time forward. The first schoolhouse was built in 1836, and stood on the corner of what became "Loramie cemetery," between Botkins and Anna. Its first teacher was William D. Johnston, the second, Wesley Shorts, and the third, Jonathan Counts. This was in the greased-paper window epoch of the district ; but in 1840 a second building, while similar, was lighted with real glass. William Wilson and E. T. Mede were early teachers there. The Beck schoolhouse, James Beck, teacher, was put up in 1844, Hewed logs, instead of round, came into vogue by this time, and in 1854 the state law provided better schools at public expense. (Memoirs of the Miami Valley - Volume One)

Birth:

LOUGHBRICKLAND, a post-town, in the parish of AGHADERG, barony of UPPER IVEAGH, county of DOWN, and province of ULSTER, 8 miles (N. E.) from Newry, and 58 1/2 (N.) from Dublin, on the road from Newry to Belfast

Naturalization:

James Beck, born in the Kingdom of Ireland; this day came personally into Court and made application to be Naturalized and to become a Citizen of the United States. He being sworn declared on Oath that he will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Ohio and that he does absolutely and bonafidely denounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever and particularly to George the Fourth King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Land Patent:

Land Patent: James Beck
80 acres, Cash Entry
Certificate: #7236
Location: Shelby County (East half of the South East quarter, Section 33, Township 6 South, Range 6 East)
Date: 20 March 1837

Correspondence:

Dinsmore Ohio
Sept 24
Mr James A Beck
Gilford
Down
Ireland
Dinsmore, Shelby Co Sept 24th AD 1845
Dear friend & Nephew
—With great pleasure I received your letter dated the 14th of June, I received it the 10th of July, & was really extreamly glad to hear that you & your Mother, Brothers & sisters were all well, & doing well, it is a great satisfaction to me to hear of my friends being well & doing well I am verry glad that you took such pains to give the particulars respecting all my friends & near relatives in Ireland, I was verry sorry to hear that temporal difficulties had come across my aged & loving brother who was when young highly esteemed by all that knew him I yesterday wrote a letter to brother John in which I requested him to let me know what the difficulties were that you could not rightly explain, it is a great pleasure to me to hear of my friends being well & doing well & sorry when I hear of any difficulties attend any of them; but I still wish to hear the truth let it be good or bad dear James I have the pleasure of letting you know that I enjoy good health, but find that age is pulling me fast down, my head almost white & somewhat balded though my face is still full & rudy coloured, my children & their families are also, I believe at present well I have seen none of James Pattys family nor my son Francis Hugh since spring a year ago, but William Beck my son was down there a few weeks ago, they were then all well & doing well, James Noland & Martha Burns my daughter were well a few days ago & their two children also, my son William & his family are also well Joseph Elliot & Susannah & their 3 children are well & doing well, I now have my home with them, he is now seeding my farm & some of the wheat he has sown is now up green there are only about 26 acres of my place yet cleared & fit for cultivation Joseph will seed about twelve or thirteen of it this fall, there are about 6 or seven acres of it in meadow, the rest for oats next spring.
—To give you particular & full statement of the Agricultural, manufactural commercial & Political state of the country is more than I can do properly at this time. Agriculture is rapidly improving & the Agriculturist are the most happy & indipendent people & a number of them can ride to their meetings or places of worship in their silver mounted chaise or sedans. Cotton & woolen Manufacturies are getting to be established in every good town & Manufacturies of every kind are geting to be established in many parts of the union, so that it appears to me that the United States will like England become a great Manufacturing Country and as for commerce we have commerce with all parts of the civilised world & peace with all- Mexico I believe feels dissatisfied that Texas is anexed to the United States but suppose she will not declare war against us, as she is weak its not in her power to do us any injury, without some stronger power assist them, & none will, without Great Britain does, & I think as they have tried the United States twice, they know better than to try them again as we are four times as strong as we were the time of the last war, you stated in your letter that if an eruption should take place, that our Navey be sent to the bottom of the deep & our Maritime Cities left in ashes, but the time of the last war we had four victories on the deep for one that Britain had, & our Maritime strength 4 times what it was then, & the British settlements anxious to become now apart of the union, these considerations & knowing that was would be to both countries I think we will continue at peace. As to the political state of the country, Politics runs high at present we are three political parties, Whigs Democrats & Abolitionists or liberty party, I shall send you now some whig Journals, & probable will again send you some loco journals so you can see how both views Politics, the Locos assumes the name of Democrats but I think they do not advocate democratic principals, they advocate a one man power & if their plan be carried out we will become a Monarchy but I hope they will soon see that the Whig policy is the most Democratic. Our State election is the 14th of next month after that I will send you some more Journals.
—I shall now quit politics & give you a brief sketch of the country this country is a flat country & rich soil & when well cultivated produces great crops, corn or maize will turn out from 20 to 60 Bushels per acre and one of our neighbours thinks he will this season have 75 bushels to the acre of wheat will yield from 15 to 40 bushels per acre & other crops in proportion as the crops has been abundant this season, grain is fell in price verry low before harvest wheat sold at 75 & 80 cents per bushel of [?]lles & is now down to 50 cents, but the journals I send you will show you the price of all kinds grain and every thing else in Cincinnati it had not 2000 inhabitants & but last spring above 80,000.
—Dear James it astonishes me to hear of the rapit improvement of Ireland, in my day there there was no such factories as that you are concerned in ... And it seems also strange that Common work hands in that country get but 15 or 20 per annum & that Archibald & you get so large salaries Time wont admit of me to write any more as I must to the post office before the mail closes please give my loving respects to your Mother & to your brothers & Sisters & to your Mothers brothers & sisters that I was acquaint when young, & to Mr David McConnell that was my near neighbour & when you write to me again let me know they all are & where they reside I add no more but my children desires their loving respects to be sent to you & to their aunt Eliza & all their cousins
And believe me dear James Alexander to be your
Affectionate
Uncle
James Beck

James married Margaret Burns on 15 Nov 1803 in Loughbrickland, County Down, Ireland. Margaret was born in Nov 1783 in Ireland; died on 26 Nov 1837 in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Nov 1837 in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Emigration: 1 May 1804, Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland; on the ship Commerce
• Immigration: 10 Jul 1804, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; on board the ship Commerce with James Beck

Other Events:

• Occupation: 1812; hunter at the time of his enlistment
• Physical Description: 20 Jul 1812; height 5' 9", sandy hair, light complexion, blue eyes
• Military: From 20 Jul 1812 to 20 Apr 1813; served as a Private in William Perry's Rangers during the War of 1812
• Census: 1830, Clinton Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Cornelius Kelly
• Census: 1840, Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Cornelius Kelly
• Beneficiary: 1 Mar 1845; in the will of his father, Nathan Kelly
• Property: 22 Aug 1846, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; purchased 80 acres for $250.00 from John P. Coleman; Address:
  (West half of the South West quarter of Section 3, Township 7 So
• Property: 20 Oct 1847, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; signed a Quit Claim Deed for 157.80 acres for $100.00 to Nathan Van Meter previously willed to Nathan by his grandfather; Address:
  (South West Quarter, Section 31, Township 2, Range 7 East)
• Census: 1850, Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; as Cornelius Kelly, farmer, head of household
• Property: 5 Jul 1856, Dinsmore Townhip, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; sold 80 acres for $1000.00 to James Kelly; Address:
  (West half of the South West quarter of Section 3, Township 7 So
• Property: 12 Jul 1856, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; sold 100.14 acres for $1500 to Emaline Kelly; Address:
  (part of the North West quarter of Section 13, Township 8, Range
• Property: 12 Jul 1856, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; sold 32.5 acres for $500.00 to Effa Buckey; Address:
  (part of the North half of Section 13, Township 8, Range 6 East)
• Property: 12 Jul 1856, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; sold 32.5 acres for $500.00 to Henry Harps; Address:
  (part of the North West quarter of Section 13, Township 8, Range
• Property: 12 Jul 1856, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; sold 32.5 acres for $500.00 to Susan Blue; Address:
  (part of the North East quarter of Section 13, Township 8, Range
• Will: 6 Oct 1856, Shelby County, Ohio, United States
• Probate: 15 Oct 1859, Shelby County, Ohio, United States
• Property: 9 Mar 1861, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States; George Clancy, Executor sold 80 acres for $2005 to George Ginn, (the North West 1/4, Section 13, Township 8, Range 6)

Notes:

Military:

The Battle of Tippecanoe
CHAPTER XI.
ROLL OF COMPANIES.
The following are the rolls of the various companies under the command of Gen. William Henry Harrison in his campaign against the Indians in the autumn of 1811, which terminated in the overthrow of the Confederacy and the destruction of the Prophets' Town. The names were taken from the official records at Washington: Roll of Capt. Norris' Company of Infantry of the Indiana Militia, from September 11 to November 24 1811
Privates:
James Kelly
Cornelius Kelly

Property:

Signed: John P Coleman
Witness: I F. Frazer and William R. Persinger
vM, p454

Property:

Signed: Cornelius Kelly, Belora Kelly, Daniel (his mark) Kelly and Emeline (her mark) Kelly
Witness: George Clancy and Wm. McMaunary
vN, p296

Property:

Signed: Cornelius Kelly
Witness: William Agaii and Elam Cottrill
vW, p298

Property:

Signed: Cornelius Kelly
Witness: J. Robinson and Ima Coats
vW, p276

Property:

Signed: Cornelius Kelly
Witness: J. Robinson and Ina Coats
vW, p274

Property:

Signed: Cornelius Kelly
Witness: J. Robinson and Ima Coats
vW, p275

Property:

Signed: Cornelius Kelly
Witness: F. Robinson
vW, p277

Will:


WILL
Dated October 6, 1856
Transcript of Probate Records, Shelby County, Ohio
Will Book 1, pg. 140-141
Filed October 15, 1859
—In the name of the Benevolent Father of all I Cornelius Kelly do make and publish this my last will and testament.
Item 1st - I give and devise to my youngest son Winfield S. Kelly and to his heirs and assigns this farm on which I now reside, exclusive of what I have conveyed to my other children by deeds to them, it being about one hundred and twenty nine acres, more or less in Section thirteen Township Number eight Range Six the North half of said section. Item 2nd - I further devise and bequeath to my said youngest son all the personal estate whether moneys or claims due me or personal property which I may be possessed of at my decease after my just debts are paid.
Item I nominate and appoint George Clancy Executor of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing and empowering him to compromise adjust release and discharge in such manner as he may deem best and proper the debts and claims due me and to manage the farm for my said second son until he arrives at the age of fourteen years Receiving and disposing of the Rents accruing leaving with my said youngest son the privilege of choosing at the age of fourteen years, one to manage for him till he arrives at twenty one years of age the Rents to be placed at interest until he arrives at twenty one years of age except what may be necessary for repairs and any necessary expense for him in case of Sickness or for boarding or clothing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of October A.D. 1856.
Cornelius (his mark) Kelly (seal)

Signed and acknowledged by said Cornelius Kelly as his last will and Testament in our presence and signed By us in his presence.
Dennis Yinger
Fielding Bell

Property:

Signed: George Clancey, Executor of Cornelius Kelley deceased
Witness: J. H. Mathers and J. S. Conklin
vA2, p553

Cornelius married Nancy _____ about 1805. Nancy was born about 1785; died on 3 Apr 1845; was buried in Apr 1845 in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Military: served in the War of 1812
• Name: Nancy Kelly

Other Events:

• Census: 1840, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as Peter Siglar, farmer
• Census: 1850, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as Peter Seigler, farmer, head of household
• Probate: 1858

Notes:

Known variations of name: Sigler, Siglar, Seigler

Mr. Moneysmith was next married, April 29, 1880. to Vilindia B. Sigler, daughter of David and Martha (Gilbert) Sigler, natives of Ohio, the former being born near Troy and the latter near Dayton. Her grandfather, Peter Sigler, was born in Germany and his wife, Lydia Martin, was a native of England and both were early settlers of Noble township, where they both died. (B. F. Bowen Company, Biographical Memoirs of Jay County, Indiana., p740 David Sigler.)

Peter married Lydia Martin on 24 Apr 1812 in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Lydia (daughter of Living) was born on 19 Jul 1789 in Maryland, United States; died on 24 Oct 1876; was buried in Oct 1876 in Fort Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Census: 1850, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as Lydia Seigler, in the household of Peter Seigler
• Census: 1860, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as Lydia Sigler, in the household of William Sigler
• Census: 1870, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, United States; as Lydia Sigler, in the household of son Henson Sigler