Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Beckwith, Edwin Forrest 1928
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 27, 2012, 6:38 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Tuesday, August 7, 1928

Although Ionia citizens have been aware for some time of the precarious 
condition of the health of Dr. E. F. Beckwith, who had been suffering from the 
effects of a weakened heart, word of his death shortly before 9 o’clock 
Tuesday morning came as a shock to the city.  Without complaint Dr. Beckwith 
had gone about his work among his patients in spite of his impaired health and 
while in recent weeks he had curtailed his labors as much as he could, 
nevertheless he had continued to minister to the needs of his community, 
answering steadfastly to the demands of his profession to the last of his 
strength.  No later than Monday evening after supper he had answered the call 
of a patient and performed what was his last duty as Ionia’s best known 
physician.  Dr. Beckwith became ill during the night, suffering discomfort 
from his old trouble, and Tuesday morning his condition suddenly became 
critical.  His death followed within a short time.

Dr. Edwin F. Beckwith had for man years filled a place in the life of Ionia 
which it has been given to few men to fill in their communities.  He was one 
of Ionia’s sterling characters, both in the quality of citizenship he was 
permitted to bestow upon his city and in the worth of the service which he 
devoted to it throughout his life.  A man of Christian character , upright, 
kindly, devoted to all those splendid principles of life which make the true 
friend of both God and man, he had given more to his generation than a man is 
usually able or inclined to give.  In his church life, his home life and in 
his profession Dr. Beckwith was one of those characters who now and then pass 
through life leaving behind them the shining record of unashamed Christian 
service.

Born in Marietta, O., May 18, 1857, Dr. Beckwith had but recently passed his 
seventy-first birthday anniversary.  Educated in the public schools at 
Zanesville, O., in Columbus, at Farmers’ college and Sterling Medical college, 
he graduated in 1885 and shortly thereafter came to Muir to continue the 
practice of medicine which he had begun at Urbana, O. not long before.  In 
March 1887, he was appointed physician at the Michigan Reformatory, a position 
which he held almost continually until 1900 while at the same time he was 
building up a private practice in Ionia.  Since that time he has continued to 
practice in Ionia, and for many years has made his home on Union street, and 
continued his offices in the Webber block.

Dr. Beckwith was prominently identified with the affairs of the First 
Presbyterian church of Ionia, with which he has always affiliated.  He was the 
oldst offial of the local church in service as well as in years, serving as an 
elder, and had represented his church in western Michigan Presbytery, the 
Michigan synod, and the national Presbyterian assembly.  He was a thirty-
second degree Mason.

In his early youth Dr. Beckwith was married to Miss Kate N. Burr, daughter of 
Colonel Raymond Burr, quartermaster-general of Ohio during the Civil war.  
Mrs. Beckwith and three daughters, Mrs. Alice Stiven, of Urbana, Ill.; Mrs. 
Bertha Johnson, of Gambler, O., and Mrs. Mary Butchart, of Cleveland, O. 
survive him.  The death of their only son, Raymond, occurred a few years ago.  
Mr. and Mrs. Butchart, coming to Ionia to spend their vacation with their 
parents, arrived here Monday evening from Cleveland.

Funeral services are to be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from the 
home at 332 Union street.  Burial will be in Highland Park cemetery.



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