Home > United States of America > Iowa > Louisa County > Morning Sun > Elmwood Cemetery > Conrad Beck

Conrad Beck

Birth	:	23 Dec 1808 Germany
Death	:	13 Oct 1895 Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Elmwood Cemetery, Morning Sun, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.0978012, -91.2612991
Plot	:	M.C. Brown's Addition, Lot 47
Description	:	Mr. Conrad Beck was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, near Frankfort-on-the-Main, December 23rd, 1808, and died at his late resident in Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa, on Sunday, October 13th, 1895, aged 86 years, 9 months and 20 days. He remained in his native country until his nineteenth year, when escaping the draft for the standing army, he went to England, where he served for five years as gardener in the employ of sons of the nobility of that country, such as Lord Mangester and others. After visiting other portions of Europe, such as France, Spain and Portugal, he came to... Read More	Mr. Conrad Beck was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, near Frankfort-on-the-Main, December 23rd, 1808, and died at his late resident in Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa, on Sunday, October 13th, 1895, aged 86 years, 9 months and 20 days. He remained in his native country until his nineteenth year, when escaping the draft for the standing army, he went to England, where he served for five years as gardener in the employ of sons of the nobility of that country, such as Lord Mangester and others. After visiting other portions of Europe, such as France, Spain and Portugal, he came to America, arriving in New York in 1832, where in Duchess County he was employed as gardener for General Luce. In 1833 he went to Pike County, Illinois, where he purchased land and where he resided for five years. In 1838 he disposed of this property and came to Burlington, Iowa, which at that time consisted of but a few cabins. From here he went to Rome, Henry County, but not being pleased with the prospects there he removed to Pleasant Grove township, Des Moines County, where he purchased land, and subsequently built a stone house. He was united in marriage to Sophia Grata, February 20th, 1842. She was born in the Kingdom of Prussia in 1821, and came with her parents to America in 1840, locating in Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1842 they removed to Des Moines County, Iowa. They had born to them nine children, two sons and seven daughters, all of whom survive to mourn the loss of their father, the mother having departed this life on the 19th of last June. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Beck moved with his family to Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa, where they have since resided. It is due to say that Mr. Beck was no ordinary man. His history embraces many remarkable events. The circumstances of his leaving Germany were as follows: So overjoyed at having escaped the draft, he with another young man became intoxicated. This was not only to his own subsequent sorrow, but was also to the chagrin and humiliation of his father, whereupon he solemnly promised that it should never be repeated, which pledge was kept to his dying day. The share of the patrimonial estate turned over to him on leaving home, consisted of a copy of the German Lutheran Prayer Book and ten dollars in money. By close application to the Prayer Book, and by patient industry and frugality, in a short time he was able to return three hundred dollars to his father. Soon after the gold excitement he went to California, making the trip across the plains, and after having been engaged in mining for about sixteen months he returned by the way of the Isthmus. During the sea voyage from San Francisco he with his fellow passengers experienced very great suffering from the want of food, and also from severe storms and from cholera. Mr. Beck was a man noted for industry and frugality. He could not tolerate a lazy person. To him it was sin. He seriously questioned whether honesty and integrity ever characterized such. They found no quarters with him. He was necessarily a man of deep and strong convictions and which gave him remarkable decision of character. He gave his reasons for the opinions which he held, and maintained them. He had a large experience in the world, and from his careful study of men and of business he became a competent advisor both as to secular and moral things. Like the philosophers good man he was "four square", or like the celestial "city which lieth four square; the length and the bredth and the height of it were equal." So of Mr. Beck, morally, wherever you found him, under whatever circumstances, he was the same true man, perfectly reliable and prompt in all his transactions with men. It was a matter of interest to hear his tell his experiences in life. Having a good memory he was able to recall incidents with remarkable accuracy. The cash cost of his first house was seventy-five cents. He dug the first cellar that was ever made in Burlington. He was a Christian and a member of the German M. E. Church. In all his life of toil and hardship, of suffering, of adversity and prosperity, he never failed in citing the incidents of his life to recognize his heavenly Father in all the way, attributing every blessing to his most gracious favor, and would urge upon all who heard him, obedience to his will. He had been successful in accumulating a large amount of this world's goods, so that he leaves for his children a valuable inheritance of natural things in addition to the memory of his faith in God, which won for him the love and respect of a large circle of acquaintances. For the last sixteen years of his life he has been entirely blind, which to him was a very great affliction but which he patiently bore because of his vision of faith, looking hopefully to the time when he should see the King in his beauty. His suffering increased with his declining years. In the midst of helplessness and pain his bosom companion of more than half a century was suddenly taken from his side. Since then he has been lonely and anxious for the time when he should fall into the embrace of the messenger and join his loved one in the skies. Among his last utterances he was heard to say, "Lord take me home." And accordingly his prayer was granted and his spirit released from its torment of suffering. Published in the Morning Sun News, 1895

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Conrad Beck's memorial?
Conrad Beck's memorial is located at: Elmwood Cemetery, Morning Sun, Louisa County, USA.
When did Conrad Beck death?
Conrad Beck death on 13 Oct 1895 in Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Conrad Beck's memorial?
Latitude: 41.0978012
Longitude: -91.2612991

Family Members:

Spouse

Sophia Elizabeth Grote Beck

(1821 - 1895)

Children

(1843 - 1904)

(1844 - 1927)

(1848 - 1920)

(1849 - 1919)

(1852 - 1945)

Anna Catherine “Cassie” Beck McClurkin

(1856 - 1932)

Emma Louise Beck Barr

(1864 - 1936)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Elmwood Cemetery
Morning Sun, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0978012, -91.2612991

2. Rice Cemetery
Morning Sun, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1200000, -91.2730000

3. Concord Cemetery
Morning Sun, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1267014, -91.2380981

4. Sharon Cemetery
Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0488052, -91.2355957

5. Bethel Cemetery
Wapello, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1107550, -91.1869740

6. Marshall Cemetery
Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1416702, -91.3166733

7. Virginia Grove Cemetery
Morning Sun, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1416885, -91.3195910

8. Hazel Grove Cemetery
Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0611000, -91.1722031

9. Oakland Cemetery
Morning Sun, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1747208, -91.3027802

10. Fairview Cemetery
Newport, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0875015, -91.1494370

11. Fulton Cemetery
Cairo, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1755500, -91.3311100

12. Griswold Cemetery
Marshall Township, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1833615, -91.3168200

13. Linn Grove Cemetery
Mediapolis, Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0018997, -91.2363968

14. Welsh Chapel Cemetery
Mediapolis, Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0000700, -91.2518700

15. Covenanter Cemetery
Mediapolis, Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0017000, -91.2340000

16. Wapello Cemetery
Wapello, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1939011, -91.2058029

17. Northfield Cemetery
Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0595000, -91.1242000

18. Long Creek Cemetery
Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2105598, -91.2777786

19. Gallaher-Zion Cemetery
Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9754000, -91.2613000

20. Smith Cemetery
Wapello, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0887000, -91.0989000

21. Winfield Scott Township Cemetery
Winfield, Henry County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1192017, -91.4237976

22. Trinity Cemetery
Mount Union, Henry County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0170000, -91.3900000

23. Harrison Cemetery
Wapello, Louisa County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2033005, -91.1675034

24. Kossuth Cemetery
Mediapolis, Des Moines County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0124000, -91.1350000