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William Lewis Beckwith

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Birth	:	16 Sep 1861 Cottageville, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA
Death	:	24 May 1942 Cottageville, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Blaine Memorial Cemetery, Cottageville, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.8622017, -81.8281021
Inscription	:	BECKWITH W.L. 1861 - 1942 ERECTED BY MY OWN HANDS W. L. B. 1926
Description	:	FARMER WRITES OWN LIFE STORY W. L. Beckwith Writes His Own Obituary For Funeral When William L. Beckwith, 80 year old retired farmer of Cottageville, died last week there was not the usual gathering of facts and figures by relatives and friends as about for an obituary because Mr. Beckwith had himself written his own obituary and all that had to be added by relatives and friends were the time of his death and his age. He wrote the obituary on January 27, 1925, in which he reviewed the events of his life, its joys and the sorrows, its trials as well... Read More	FARMER WRITES OWN LIFE STORY W. L. Beckwith Writes His Own Obituary For Funeral When William L. Beckwith, 80 year old retired farmer of Cottageville, died last week there was not the usual gathering of facts and figures by relatives and friends as about for an obituary because Mr. Beckwith had himself written his own obituary and all that had to be added by relatives and friends were the time of his death and his age. He wrote the obituary on January 27, 1925, in which he reviewed the events of his life, its joys and the sorrows, its trials as well as the victories and outlined the procedure to be followed in the plans for his funeral and burial rites, requested no funeral oration because he felt that a man through life preached his own funeral and named two of his favorite funeral songs. The obituary which he wrote more than seventeen years before his death reads as follows: Knowing myself better than anyone knows me, and desirous of the truth being told after death, I avail myself of this opportunity of writing my own obituary. I was born on a farm two and one half miles south of Cottageville on the waters of Barr Run in Union District, Jackson County, West Virginia, on the sixteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty one. My father became totally blind from cataract when I was eight years old. This left me in care of the farm of 230 acres with limited means. With a mother's help I did the best I knew how (many others might have done much better) but seeing the situation and the responsibility resting upon me, I learned to be saving and not wasteful. I availed myself of very few of the opportunities of pleasure, for my services were needed badly at home. And my mother and I working together and oftimes denying ourselves of some necessities of life, and by gathering a little here and a little there and by saving from year to year managed to keep the taxes paid and the farm out of debt. My schooling was also limited by being handcuffed as aforesaid. Learning to read and write and some arithmetic. And as I grew from boyhood to manhood it was a pleasure as well as a duty to take care of them the best I could. My father died at the age of 81 years. My father was blind for twenty-eight years before his death. The family circle has been broken to pieces, and like Job's servant, I am the only one left to tell the story. At the age of 23 years, I was married to Miss Ella Sayre on the 18 day of January, 1885. To this union six children were born. Glenn E., Olevia M., Frank L., Ray and Elsie (being twins) and an infant son. Frank departed this life at the age of one year and four months. Elsie at two years and nine months and Ray at the age of twenty years. In January, 1918, under the preaching of Rev. Charles Ramsey at Antioch, I professed conversion, joined the United Brethren Church and was baptized and since that time have been trying to live a Christian life. But I do not want anyone to think that I am without fault, and made no mistakes, for that is common to our humanity. If I have been of any benefit to my fellowman, I desire no praise for I was only doing my duty and should have been my pleasure to do so. I lived continuously on the farm from birth, until I was past sixty-two years of age and by reasons better known to us than others, we moved to the town of Cottageville on the 27th day of December, 1923, where we have since resided. I have many friends in this town and community, and if they have any flowers for me let them be given during life, in the way of good deeds, kind acts and words of encouragement, that may help me along through life. If the death angel comes for me in the season of flowers, when the gardens are flowering with their fragrance, and the wild flowers in the fields are nodding to and fro in the breeze and along the rippling brook, perhaps where I many times have quenched by thirst, and the Sweet Williams perfume the air and either side the stone cliff, where moss and fern overhang, and if from these my friends wish to gather and place upon my casket in kind remembrance, I do not object. If I die before my wife it is left entirely with her to say where I shall be buried. If she dies first let my remains be lain by her side wherever that may be. I shall appreciate anything my friends may do for me either in health or sickness that may be a help to me, but after death when my good friends have prepared the body for the grave, they have done all that can be done. Then let my remains remain alone for from 24 to 48 hours, and take your rest. I want no funeral sermon. During my lifetime I have preached my own funeral. Let it be good or bad. And let my friends express themselves as they see fit. Two of my favorite funeral songs are: "Shall We Gather At The River," and "We Are Going Down The Valley One By One." I hope to be buried in a homemade casket made partially by my own hands for I cut the timber in the forest, hauled it to the sawmill and had it sawed for that purpose. Oh, death, where is thy sting, Oh grave, where is thy victory? Written and signed by my own hand, this the 27th day of January, 1923. WILLIAM L. BECKWITH Died on the 24th day of May, 1942. Aged 80 years, 8 months and 8 days. Jackson Herald June 5, 1942. contributed by P.J.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Lewis Beckwith's memorial?
William Lewis Beckwith's memorial is located at: Blaine Memorial Cemetery, Cottageville, Jackson County, USA.
When did William Lewis Beckwith death?
William Lewis Beckwith death on 24 May 1942 in Cottageville, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Lewis Beckwith's memorial?
Latitude: 38.8622017
Longitude: -81.8281021

Family Members:

Parent

Lewis Beckwith

(1815 - 1897)

Sarah Deen Grancil Beckwith

(1832 - 1905)

Spouse

Lenora Ellen “Ella” Sayre Beckwith

(1863 - 1945)

Siblings

Oscar J Beckwith

(1843 - 1907)

Children

Infant Beckwith

(unknow - unknow)

Glen Eustice Beckwith

(1887 - 1959)

Olevia Beckwith Pinnell

(1890 - 1976)

(1892 - 1893)

(1895 - 1897)

(1895 - 1915)

(1902 - 1902)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Blaine Memorial Cemetery
Cottageville, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8622017, -81.8281021

2. Cottageville United Methodist Church Cemetery
Cottageville, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8653050, -81.8227150

3. Ankrum Cemetery
Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8711014, -81.8516998

4. Jackson County Memory Gardens
Cottageville, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8824410, -81.8375040

5. Antioch Church Cemetery
Cottageville, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8358000, -81.8321000

6. Bush Cemetery
Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8518982, -81.7900009

7. Angerona Christian Chapel Church Cemetery
Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8379210, -81.7986060

8. Otterbein Church Cemetery
Evans, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8315010, -81.7940210

9. Cherry Grove Cemetery
Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8167000, -81.8525009

10. Staats Cemetery
Evans, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8260994, -81.7842026

11. Smith Cemetery
Apple Grove, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9091810, -81.8498860

12. Byerle Cemetery
Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9081001, -81.7938995

13. Bicknell Cemetery
Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8927994, -81.7703018

14. Fairview Cemetery #2
Letart Falls, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9197950, -81.8609120

15. Fairview Cemetery #1
Letart Falls, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9206060, -81.8614970

16. Cossin Cemetery
Mason County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8003006, -81.8566971

17. Longview Cemetery
Evans, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7922230, -81.8204940

18. Stanley Cemetery
Hemlock, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9188995, -81.7680969

19. Pioneer Cemetery
Great Bend, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9305310, -81.7927930

20. Letart Falls Cemetery
Letart Falls, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8922005, -81.9163971

21. Parsons Cemetery
Great Bend, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9331890, -81.7921780

22. Bicknell Chapel Cemetery
Great Bend, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9375100, -81.7955300

23. Beckwith Cemetery
Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9143982, -81.7497025

24. Plants Cemetery
Plants, Meigs County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9141998, -81.9068985