Grundy-Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Beckwith, Albert G October 8, 1816 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 3:12 am

Author: Gen & Bio Record of Will County IL 1900

Albert G. Beckwith, a retired farmer residing in Plainfield, was born in St. 
Lawrence County, N. Y., October 8, 1816. His father, Dudley, a native of New 
Hampshire, learned the blacksmith’s trade there, and, after his marriage to 
Wealthy Brockway, he removed to New York. For many years he followed his trade 
in St. Lawrence County. In October, 1835, he came west to Illinois, settling 
in Plainfield, where he built the first blacksmith’s shop in the town. For 
years he carried on his trade in this village, having in his old age the 
assistance of his son, our subject, in his work. In politics he was a 
Republican. During the war of 1812 he served in the American army, being 
assigned to duty along the St. Lawrence River. His death occurred April 30, 
1871, when he was eighty-two years of age. Though reared in the Baptist faith 
(his father being a minister in that denomination) he became a member of the 
Congregational Church and an active worker in that cause. His wife, who died 
at seventy-five years, was like himself a faithful Christian and an active 
Congregationalist. Of their two children the younger, Adaline, married Samuel 
Pratt and died when fifty-four years of age.

Mr. Beckwith is certainly entitled to be called a pioneer of Illinois, as it 
has been sixty-six years since he came to this state. When he was eighteen, in 
1834, he started west via wagon with two families, crossing through Canada to 
Detroit and thence to Chicago, where he arrived on the 11th of August. Going 
from there to Dunkley’s Grove, twenty miles northwest of Chicago, he helped in 
the building of log houses and remained until November 1. Winter came on and 
he was without money, so he walked back to Chicago, fording several streams en 
route. Though he started early in the morning dark had fallen before he 
reached his destination. The howling of the wolves could plainly be heard and 
the loneliness of the scene could be imagined better than described. When he 
reached the town he secured employment in putting up a small building. His 
next job was in the pinery among the Indians; he remained in the forest until 
April, meantime never seeing a white woman’s face. The summer of 1835 he spent 
at Dunkley’s Grove, meantime saving $25, which he sent home to his father with 
the suggestion that he come west.

October, 1835, found our subject for the first time in Plainfield, where he 
built a shop and worked until 1836. He then returned to New York for his 
mother and sister, who had not accompanied his father west. On his return he 
rented a farm which he operated for several years, also working in a shop as a 
teamster and in other occupations. After he had been here for ten years he 
bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land three miles northwest of 
Plainfield, to which he moved and which he improved. After three years he sold 
the place and bought one hundred and fifteen acres south of town, where he 
made valuable improvements and erected the necessary buildings. In 1892 he 
sold the farm, retired from active labors and settled in the village. 
Politically he has been active in local Republican affairs. He has been 
connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years, and his wife 
has been identified with the same denomination for sixty years.

In 1844 Mr. Beckwith married Louisa J. Foster, a sister of Giles D. Foster, in 
whose sketch her family history appears. She died in 1862, leaving two 
daughters, namely: Jane, a widow, living in Oklahoma; and Ellen, widow of 
Frank Andrews, of Florida. The second marriage of our subject took place 
November 28, 1864, and united him with Mrs. Helen (Hoag) Barney, who was born 
in Nashua, N. H., April i8, 1828, a daughter of Asahel and Sabria C. 
(Chessmore) Hoag. Her father, who was born in Henniker, N. H., August 2, 1795, 
accompanied his parents to Vermont when a child, and there learned the 
shoemaker’s trade. When he was twenty-eight years old he returned to New 
Hampshire, settling in Nashua, where he engaged in the mercantile business 
until 1830. His next removal was to Concord, N. H., where he bought land, 
built a shoe store and a printing house and printed thousands of Bibles. 
Failing health induced him in 1838 to seek a home in the west. Coming to 
Plainfield he bought a farm near the village and, improving the property, 
afterward made it his home. For years he served as road commissioner and 
school director and took an active part in local Republican politics. He was 
reared in the Quaker faith and always inclined toward the doctrines of that 
sect, though he did not keep his birthright in it. While in the east he became 
prominent in Masonry, and after settling in Illinois he assisted in organizing 
a blue lodge in Joliet. His life was fairly successful viewed from a financial 
standpoint. Viewed from a higher standpoint of usefulness and of good deeds 
done he was a citizen whose value was great and whose death might well be 
deplored. He died while he was visiting in California, August 10, 1870, 
overexertion in climbing a mountain in Mexico having led to his death. He was 
buried with Masonic honors.

The mother of Mrs. Beckwith was born in Washington, Vt., May 3, 1799, and died 
in Plainfield January 22, 1861, at the age of sixty-one years. She was a 
Congregationalist in religious connections. Of her seven children Royal M. and 
Oscar S. are deceased; Franklin, who was a successful school teacher here hut 
is now deceased, was the first to be buried with Masonic honors in Plainfield; 
George W. has also passed from earth; Charles B. was fifth in order of birth; 
Harriet is the widow of Alexander Roberts, of Tustin; Cal.; and Mrs. Beckwith 
completes the family circle. She was ten years of age when her parents settled 
near Plainfield and consequently remembers the pioneer days of this locality. 
For five years she was a student in a young ladies’ academy on Dearborn 
street, Chicago, and while there saw the first train of cars that ever came 
into Chicago. When twenty-three she became the wife of Milton Barney, a 
merchant of St. Paul, Minn. In the spring of 1860 he went to Colorado and for 
two years was judge at Georgetown, where he also had important mining 
interests. While he was crossing the range he was lost and it is supposed he 
was murdered for his money, as he had just sold a claim and had the money with 
him. His only son, Royal S. Barney, is engaged in merchandising in Denver, 
Cob. By her second marriage Mrs. Beckwith had a daughter, Florence R., wife of 
Thomas W. Walker, of Mazon, Grundy County, Ill. Mr. Walker was born in Mazon 
April 16, 1859, and is a leading man of that place, being constable, school 
commissioner and holding other important positions.

Source: "Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County, Illinois", 1900, 
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, Pages 408-409


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