Northumberland-Schuylkill County PA Archives Biographies.....Beck, John H. 1862 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 2, 2005, 7:46 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. JOHN H. BECK, a prominent farmer of Rockefeller township, Northumberland County, was born in Fraley township, Schuylkill County, Pa., August 30, 1850. He is a son of John Jacob and Elizabeth (Shadel) Beck, of Lykens Valley, Dauphin County, Pa. John H. Beck, our subject's paternal grandfather, was born in Northampton County, Pa., and settled in Lykens Valley, Pa., where he made a life-work of farming. He married Susan Greenswicht of Northampton County and the following children blessed their union: Daniel; John and David, twins; Jonathan; George; John Jacob, our subject's father; Polly; Harriet; Susanna; and Christianna. David Shadel, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Northumberland County. He married Polly Hoffey of Lykens Valley and to them were born six children: Elizabeth, our subject's mother; Henry; Caroline; Sarah; Catherine; and Eve. He was engaged in the lucrative business of hat manufacturing and lived most of his life in Lykens Valley. John Jacob Beck, our subject's father, was born June 24, 1820, and died May 15, 1883. He lived in Audenried, Pa., for several years and was a coal miner; he resided near Hazleton, Pa., three years. He was married in the spring of 1848 to Elizabeth Shadel, who was born in Schuylkill County, August 24, 1822, and after his marriage he moved to Rockefeller (then Lower Augusta) township, Northumberland County, and bought a farm of eighty acres of David Shipe, and there he lived until his death. He carried on general farming and later invested in more land and added to his farm. He was a Republican in politics, but preferred to advance his friends in office rather than himself. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church. Three children were born to our subject's parents, namely: John H.; David, who died at the age of seven years; and Louisa, who married W. B. Eister, Esq., a merchant and postmaster of Seven Points, Pa. John H. and Louisa were educated in the common schools of the neighborhood and have lived all their lives in Rockefeller township. Our subject bought the old homestead and has since added to it so that he has now 260 acres of valuable land upon which he has raised a great deal of stock, but is now engaged in general farming. He was united in marriage January 2, 1868, to Abbie R. Zostman of Lower Augusta, a daughter of Daniel and Esther (Raker) Zostman, both of that township. Daniel Zostman, after the death of his first wife, was married the second time to Susanna Conrad of Lower Augusta. He was a tanner by trade and died in 1890. The children by his first union were: Sarah Ann; one, who died in infancy; Alexander; Harriet; William; Mary Jane; Rebecca; Catherine; Abbie R., our subject's wife; one, who died in infancy; Daniel; and Esther. Our subject and wife have had thirteen children, and do not consider the number unlucky, as follows: William Edward, born January 13, 1868, died April 21, 1872; David Albert, born May 6, 1871, married Alberta Dunkelberger, and is a dairyman at Irish Valley, Shamokin township, Northumberland County; Mary Alice, born August 26, 1872, married Harvey E. Miller, a butcher, at Sunbury, Pa.; Daniel J., a farmer of Rockefeller township, born December 13, 1873, married Emma J. Maurer, and has two children, Laura V., and Lloyd E.; George W., born June 18, 1875, and works on a pipe line at Buffalo Valley, Pa.; Harry Luther, born July 18, 1877, married Susanna Dunkelberger, and lives in Shamokin township; John Norman, born June 26, 1881; Susan Elizabeth, born October 12, 1883, and married Theodore P. Bennett of Columbia County; Franklin W., born January 20, 1886; Abbie M., born September 30, 1888; Kate F., born May 30, 1890; Esther N., born September 13, 1892; and Orville E., born July 23, 1895. The seven younger children live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the Lutheran Church. He has held many township offices; is a stanch Republican; is a member of Lodge No. 414, F. & A. M., at Elysburg, Pa., of which he is past master; a member of Camp No. 139, P. O. S. of A., of Seven Points. Our subject is a good musician and has contributed to his own and others' enjoyment by playing the B-flat cornet for seven years in the Seven Points Band and tenor horn for five years in the same band. His hard work and sterling business qualities have brought the success which he deserves, the improvement of his property, and the respect and favor of the community in which he lives. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb