Walter Herbert Beck b. 4 Mar 1878 Covington, Miami County, Ohio, United States d. 7 Dec 1962 Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States: Tangled Roots

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Name	Walter Herbert Beck
	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
Born	4 Mar 1878	Covington, Miami County, Ohio, United States [1, 2]
	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.
Gender	Male
Census	1880	Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States [3]
	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 [4]
	as Walter Beck, son, day laborer, in the household of Cynthia Beck
	Address: West Lane
Occupation	1905 [5, 6, 7, 8]
	Carpenter/General Contractor
Residence	1905	Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States [9]
Residence	Jul 1906	Geneva, Adams County, Indiana, United States
Census	1910	Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States [10]
	as Walter H. Beck, laborer doing odd jobs, head of household
Physical Description	12 Sep 1918 [11]
	tall, slender build, brown eyes and black hair
Military	12 Sep 1918	Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States [11]
	registered for the WWI Draft
Occupation	12 Sep 1918	Casstown, Miami County, Ohio, United States [11]
	Farmer
Residence	12 Sep 1918	Casstown, Miami County, Ohio, United States [11]
	Address: 21 R.F.D.#1
Census	1920	Anna, Shelby County, Ohio, United States [12]
	as Walter H. Beck, carpenter, head of household
	Address: Main Street
Census	1930	Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States [13]
	as Walter H. Beck, real estate salesman, head of household
	Address: Covington Pike
Residence	1 Apr 1935	Shelby County, Ohio, United States [7]
Census	1940	Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States [7]
	as Walter Beck, carpenter, head of household
Occupation	23 Apr 1942 [6]
	Carpenter/Contractor
Physical Description	25 Apr 1942 [6]
	White, 5'8" 170 lbs., Brown eyes, Gray hair, Light complexion
Education	quit school before 4th grade [5, 8]
Military	25 Apr 1942	Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States [6]
	registered for the WWII Draft
Residence	25 Apr 1942	Kessler Station, Miami County, Ohio, United States [6]
	Address: RR #1
Correspondence	21 Mar 1958 [14]
	letter to William Beck with a thank you for the family history book
	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
Member	was a member of the Port Jefferson Village Council, Red Men Lodge, Shelby County Deer Hunters Association and the Methodist Church.
Died	7 Dec 1962	Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States [15]
	Cause: of complications from pneumonia
		Obituary - Walter Herbert Beck Newspaper clipping
Obituary	8 Dec 1962 [16]
	Original newspaper clipping - name of newspaper and date published unknown
	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)
Buried	10 Dec 1962	Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States [17, 18]
	Address: Glen Cemetery
Newspaper	14 Jun 1964 [19]
	Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma), 14, June 1964
	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.
Person ID	I2005	TangledRoots \| Beck Family
Last Modified	13 Nov 2021

Father	James Robert Beck, b. 20 Nov 1834, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Mother	Cynthia Ann Kelly, b. 21 Feb 1839, Botkins, Shelby County, Ohio, United States , d. 1 Sep 1931, Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States (Age 92 years)
Married	1 Nov 1855	Shelby County, Ohio, United States
Family ID	F1041	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Ethel May Vance, b. 5 May 1887, Nashville, Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States , d. 16 Dec 1969, North Fairfield, Huron County, Ohio, United States (Age 82 years)

Married 23 Dec 1903 Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States [20]

Children

	1. Lodis Marie Beck, b. 4 Aug 1904, Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States , d. 21 May 1926, Lima, Allen County, Ohio, United States (Age 21 years)
	2. Orelia Gustava Beck, b. 18 Sep 1906, Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States , d. 14 May 1977, Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, United States (Age 70 years)
	3. Louise Opal Beck, b. 14 Oct 1908, Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio, United States , d. 26 Apr 1995, Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States (Age 86 years)
	4. Vivian Theresa Beck, b. 25 Nov 1910, Kessler, Miami County, Ohio, United States , d. 30 Nov 1995, Troy, Miami County, Ohio, United States (Age 85 years)
	5. Thearen Quentin Beck, b. 7 Oct 1922, Anna, Shelby County, Ohio, United States , d. 22 Nov 1999, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States (Age 77 years)

Last Modified 16 Jan 2022

Family ID F166 Group Sheet | Family Chart

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.

Sources

[S250] Family interview: Thearen Beck.
born March 4, 1878 filed Dec. 30 1903 Book 7, pg. 317 #23880 Troy Christian Church, Warren H. Dennison
[S2188] Artifact: Privately Held, Moms Date Book: Walter Herbert Beck.
Walter Herbert Beck March 4
[S134] 1880 Federal Census: Ohio, Shelby County, Salem Township, pg. 209C.
DW 101-106
...line 36 -James R. Beck, white, male, age 46, married, farmer, born Ohio, father born PA, mother born VA
...line 37 - Cynthia A. Beck, white, female, age 43, wife, married, keeping house, born Ind, mother born Ohio, father born Ohio
...line 38 - William E. Beck, white, male, age 20, son, single, clerk in store, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ind
...line 39 - Alice L. Beck, white, female, age 16, daughter, single, at home, born Ind, father born Ohio, mother born Ind
...line 40 - Henry E. Beck, white, male, age 14, son, born Ind, father born Ohio, mother born Ind
...line 41 - Anna Belle Beck, white, female, age 11, daughter, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ind
...line 42 - Francis Clarence Beck, white, male, age 5, son, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ind
...line 43 - Walter Herbert Beck, white, male, age 2, son, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ind
Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio p209C
[S150] 1900 Federal Census: Ohio, Shelby County, Port Jefferson, Salem Township, pg. 14B.
DW 332-336
...line 63 - Cynthia Beck, head, white, female, born Feb 1837, age 61, wd, 8 children, 5 living, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio.
...line 64 - Henry W. Beck, son, white, male, born November 1866, age 33, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana, day laborer
...line 65 - Walter Beck, son, white, male, born March 1878, age 22, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana, day laborer
Port Jefferson, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio p14B
[S250] Family interview: Thearen Beck.
[S538] Military: World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, U1455 - Walter Herbert Beck.
Residence: Kessler Station, Miami, Ohio, age 64, born March 4 1878 in Covington, Ohio, Contact: Mrs. Ethel Beck. White, 5'8" 170 lbs., Brown eyes, Gray hair, Light complexion
Walter Herbert Beck
Miami County, Ohio
25 April 1942 ~p1Walter Herbert Beck
Miami County, Ohio
25, April 1942 ~p2
[S621] 1940 Federal Census: Ohio, Miami County, Union Twp., p2B.
#40 rent
...line 80 - Walter Beck, head, male, white, age 61, married, 8th grade, born Ohio, previous address - Shelby, Ohio, carpenter-building construction
Union Township, Miami County, Ohio p2B
[S892] Correspondence: Walter Herbert Beck, letter dated 21 March 1958.
Walter Beck wrote a letter to William Beck, dated 21 March 1958, to thank him for the booklet "Further Gleanings from the Past", a family history book about Beck of Northern Ireland.
Letter addressed to William Beck from Walter Herbert Beck concerning family and genealogy. ~p1
21 March 1958Letter addressed to William Beck from Walter Herbert Beck concerning family and genealogy. ~p2
21 March 1958
[S1579] Newspaper: Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma), Ethel Beck.
Lawton Constitution
June 14, 1964
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.
Amazed by City
14 June 1964
[S168] 1910 Federal Census: Ohio, Shelby County, Salem Township, pg. 9B.
DW 229-231
...line 84 - Syntha Beck, servant, female, white, age 66, single, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Virginia, hand servant for private family (in household of Allen Riddle)

DW 232-234
...line 94 - Walter H. Beck, head, male, white, age 32, married 7 yrs, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana, laborer doing odd jobs, rents house
...line 95 - Ethel M. Beck, wife, female, wife, age 22, married 7 yrs, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 96 - Lodis M. Beck, daughter, female, white age 5, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 97 - Orelia G. Beck, daughter, female, white, age 3, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 98 - Louisa O. Beck, daughter, female, white, age 1 6/12, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio p9B
[S539] Military: World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Card for Walter Herbert Beck,.
Walter Herbert Beck, Residence: R.F.D.1 Casstown, Miami, Ohio; Age: 42; Born March 4 1878, White, Natural Born Citizen; Occupation: Farming; Employers Name: John South, R.F.D.1, Casstown, Miami, Ohio; Nearest Relative: Ethel May Beck, R.F.D.1 Casstown, Miami, O.; Tall, Slender build, Brown eyes, Black hair, Signed: Walter Herbert Beck
WalterHerbert Beck
Miami County, Ohio
12 Sept 1918
[S184] 1920 Federal Census: Ohio, Shelby County, Anna Village, Franklin Township, pg. 6B.
DW 115
...line 82 - Walter H. Beck, head, rent, male, white, age 42, male, married 7 yrs., born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio, carpenter. Main Street
...line 83 - Ethel M. Beck, wife, female, white, age 32, married 7 yrs, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 84 - Lodis M. Beck, daughter, female, white, age 15, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 85 - Orelia G. Beck, daughter, female, white, age 13, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 86 - Louisa O. Beck, daughter, female, white, age 11, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 87 - Vivian R. Beck, daughter, female, white, age 9, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
Anna Village, Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio p6B
[S198] 1930 Federal Census: Ohio, Montgomery County, Randolph Township, pg., 8B.
DW 183-184
...line 75 - Walter H. Beck, head, rent,no radio, male, white, age 52, married (age 24), born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio, speaks English, salesman, real estate, veteran=no
...line 76 - Ethel M. Beck, wife, female, white, age, age 42, married (age 16), born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 77 - Orelia G. Beck, daughter, female, white, age 23, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
...line 78 - Thearen Q. Beck, son, male, white, age 7, single, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio
(Covington Pike)
Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio p8B
[S892] Correspondence: Walter Herbert Beck, 21 March 1958, 2 pages.
Walter Beck wrote a letter to William Beck, dated 21 March 1958, to thank him for the booklet "Further Gleanings from the Past", a family history book about Beck of Northern Ireland.
Letter addressed to William Beck from Walter Herbert Beck concerning family and genealogy. ~p1
21 March 1958Letter addressed to William Beck from Walter Herbert Beck concerning family and genealogy. ~p2
21 March 1958
[S488] Ohio: Department of Health, Death Certificate 1908-1953, Walter Herbert Beck.
[S2050] Newspaper: Unknown, Original newspaper clipping - name of newspaper and date published unknown.
Obituary for Walter Herbert Beck
Walter Beck
8 December 1962
[S855] Burial: Glenn Cemetery, Lot 51-G Walter Herbert Beck.
Walter H. Beck 1878 - 1962
Photographed April 10, 2004 by Pat HormellPort Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio
Walter Herbert Beck 1878-1962
Ethel May Vance Beck 1887-1969
[S2188] Artifact: Privately Held, Purchase: Walter H. Beck and Ethel M. Beck (Reliability: 3).
The Piqua Granite & Marble Company, Inc.
$236.17
Piqua Granite and Marble Company
27 April 1970
[S1579] Newspaper: Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma), 14, June 1964.
Lawton Constitution
June 14, 1964
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.
Amazed by City
14 June 1964
[S334] Marriage License for Walter Beck and Ethel May Vance, v7, p317 #23880 - Walter H. Beck and Ethel May Vance.
State of Ohio, Miami County
....Walter H. Beck, age 26, Mar 4 1903, residence Troy, Ohio, place of birth Covington, Ohio, occupation farmer, father Robert Beck, mother Synthia Kelly
...Ethel May Vance, age 16, May 22 1903, residence Union Tp., Miami Co., O., place of birth Miami County, Ohio, father Warren Honeyman, mother Rosa Cress.
...Consent: The written consent of mother as sole parent of Ethel May Vance is herewith filed. Married 23 December 1903 by Warren H. Dennsison, Pastor, Troy Christian Church
Miami County, Ohio v7 p317
23 December 1903