Beck, Henry; 1905 Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/beckh.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Henry Beck Henry Beck, of Aspen, a leading merchant and prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Pitkin county, is native of Fillipstadt, Sweden, where he was born on February 20, 1861, and the son of Henry and Mary (Olson) Beck, also natives of that country, where the father was a diligent and prosperous worker in the iron ore mines. When his son Henry was eight or nine years the father came to the United States and, after a short residence in Pennsylvania, settled on the border of Lake Superior in 1871 and there continued mining iron. He was moderately successful in his operations and became a citizen of the United States and a loyal Republican in political affiliation. He died in 1878, and his widow is now living in her native land. They belonged to the Lutheran church and had a family of four children, Henry, Carl J., Mary and Selma. Henry had but little opportunity to attend school, as at the age of ten he was obliged to go to work in the iron mines and from then on to make his own way in the world. In 1879 he came to this country, being at the time about eighteen years old, and located in the Lake Superior mining region where he remained two years. In 1881 he came to Colorado and settled at Leadville. There for four years he wrought in the silver mines as a laborer at three dollars a day and his board. In 1885 he returned to his native land and pursued a course of instruction at the high school. Two years later he again came to America and once more located at Leadville, but instead of mining he became shipping clerk for a wholesale liquor house, and remained with it until 1892. On January 1st of that year he moved to Aspen and assumed charge of the Baer Brothers wholesale liquor business. He continued in the service of that firm until January 1, 1896, then bought the stock and business and has since conducted its operations for himself. He has been very successful in the enterprise and has also extensive mining interests. He is a prominent and influential citizen, taking a deep and continuing interest in public local affairs, and standing well in the good will and regard of his fellow men. He belongs to the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Eagles, holding the rank of past president in the order last named. During the last two years he has served the people of Pitkin county wisely and faithfully as a county commissioner, being elected in the fall of 1902 on the Republican ticket. On January 13, 1890, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida M. Echberg, a native of Sweden. Her parents were successful farmers and useful members of the Lutheran church. They died some years ago, leaving five children surviving them. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have four children, Edith, Verner, Ellen and Carl. The parents are Lutherans in religious belief and active members of the church. Mr. Beck is universally recognized as one of the leading and most representative citizens of his portion of the state. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.