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Descendants of George(Major) Beck, Sr.

29. VIRGINIA "JENNY"⁵ BECK (ANDREW M.⁴, GEORGE(MAJOR)³, DAVAULT (DAWALT/DABOLT)², UNKNOWN MR.¹) was born 1829 in Beck's Mill, Howard Twp., Washington Co., IN, and died 02 March 1868 in Pbly Medina, Bandera Co., TX or Venita, OK. She married JAMES COLEMAN 15 October 1857 in Kaufman Co., TX, son of UNKNOWN and UNKNOWN. He was born Abt. 1825 in Unknown, and died 14 January 1906 in Pbly Medina, Bandera Co., TX or Vineta, OK.

Notes for VIRGINIA "JENNY" BECK:
Source: "Some Beck History as Aunt Ellen Told it to Me" which included the names of the children of Andrew M. Beck and his two wives, and with a footnote by Leotis Beck Lane, stating her father was Robert Devin "Bob" Beck, son of John J. Beck, a brother of Alexander D. Beck. See notes on her page.

Source: 1850 Kaufman Co., Census
Source: Files of Richard W. Garwood, Haubstadt, IN 1997
Source: Census Records Kaufman Co., TX 1850

Notes for JAMES COLEMAN:
Source: Kaufman County, TX census
LDS Marriage Records
Richard Garwood, Family Files, Haubstadt, IN - 1997

Child of VIRGINIA BECK and JAMES COLEMAN is:

81.

James W. Andrew⁶ Coleman, b. Abt. 1859, Lived in Medina, Bandera Co., Texas.

30. ALEXANDER DEVIN⁵ BECK (ANDREW M.⁴, GEORGE(MAJOR)³, DAVAULT (DAWALT/DABOLT)², UNKNOWN MR.¹) was born 19 June 1831 in Beck's Mill, Howard Twp., Washington Co., IN; lived in Van Zandt Co., TX, and died 02 March 1912 in Bur. River View Cem., West Millgrove, Wood Co., OH. He married (1) CATHARINE (HORSEY) GREENWOOD 18 August 1856 in Lawrence Co., IN by R. M. Parks, Minister (Marriage Record Book), daughter of LEMUEL HORSEY and RACHAEL HORSEY. She was born 06 December 1827 in Mitchell, Lawrence Co., IN, and died 01 December 1866 in Shoals, Martin Co., IN; Bur. Spring Hill Cem. (Broken Monument replaced in 1999 by J. Nell Beck Truitt). He married (2) SARAH FRANCIS SURVANCE 05 April 1867 in Shoals, Martin County, IN by Thomas Butler, Minister of the Gospel, daughter of UNKNOWN SURVANCE and UNKNOWN. She was born 13 April 1845 in Kentucky, and died 14 November 1882 in Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., TX; Bur. Cedar Grove Cem., Kaufman Co., TX. He married (3) (MRS.)LUCY F. (COLE) PALMER 07 February 1886 in Van Zandt Co., TX, daughter of MR. COLE and MRS. COLE. She was born 02 June 1855 in Texas, and died 29 November 1886 in Wills Point, Tx; Bur. Cedar Grove Cem., Kaufman Co., TX. He married (4) (MRS.)MARY JANE (MACKEY) RUSSELL 18 December 1887, daughter of ROBERT MACKEY and MARY MCCARTER. She was born 30 April 1837 in Beaver (now Lawrence) Co., PA, and died 1919 in West Millgrove Cem, Wood Co., Ohio.

Notes for ALEXANDER DEVIN BECK:
Source: Family Bible records of Alexander D. Beck and John Jefferson (J.J.) Beck, his son. 1850 Census Records Martin Co., IN; 1880 Census records - Van Zandt County, Texas; 1890 Census Records, Wood County, Ohio; Marriage Records in Lawrence Co., and Martin Co., IN and Van Zandt County, TX; Pension Papers in National Archives of Alexander D. Beck, Civil War Veteran - G.A.R.
Sources:
1850 Census - Washington County, Indiana - Jackson Township - shows the family:
Andrew Beck, age 55 - farmer - Value $1,500, born NC
Rebecca (2nd wife), age 40, born Conn
Sarah D, age 24, born IN
Susan N, age 22, born IN
Virginia, age 20, born IN
**Alexander, age 19, farmer, born IN
John J., age 17, farmer, born IN
Printhina, age 14, born IN
Andrew J., age 10, born IN
Martha A., age 6, born IN
Rebecca E., age 1, born IN

1860 Census - Washington County, Indiana - Vernon Township, Claysville Post Office taken 11th June 1860, family/household 116/107
Alexander Beck, age 29, farmer, value 1900/350, born IN
Catherine Beck, age 32, born IN
Susan Beck, age 3, born IN
Emma Beck, age 1, born IN
Emaline Robertson, age 10, born IN - in school

1880 Census - Martin County, Indiana - Halbert Township, Microfilm Reel #593 Roll 342, p. 89
Line 20, House 4, Family 4:
Beck, Alexander, age 39, Farm Laborer, Value 800, born IN
Sarah F, age 25, keepshouse, born KY
Susan, age 13, born IN - in school
Emma, age 11, born IN - in school
John, age 6, born IN
Sarvant, Wm. H., age 15, farm lab, born KY - in school
Skinner, Elizabeth, age 45 Kphse, born KY
Skinner, Lolla F., age 8, Male, born KY

Marriage Records, Lawrence Co., IN - Alexander D. Beck to (Mrs.) Catherine (Horsey) Greenwood on
18 August 1856
1880 Census - Van Zandt County, Texas
Marriage Records, Van Zandt Co., TX;
1900 Census - Wood County, Ohio;
Beck Family Bible in possession of Dr. Robert J. Beck, 6108 Rayburn Ct., Fort Worth, TX 76133 - rjbeck@flash.net
"Historical and Biographical Records, Wood County, Ohio - 1898"
Researched, compiled and documented by Joyce Nell (Beck) LaGrone-Truitt 1998
Source: "Some Beck History as Aunt Ellen Told it to Me" which included the names of the children of Andrew M. Beck and his two wives, and with a footnote by Leotis Beck Lane, stating her father was Robert Devin "Bob" Beck, son of John J. Beck, the younger brother of Alexander D. Beck. See notes on her page.
Source: 1850 Kaufman Co., Census
Source: West Millgrove, Wood County, Ohio - River View Cemetery Records

      Alexander D. Beck was born June 19, 1831,in Washington County, Indiana, as was recorded in the family Bible. In 1999 my brother, Dr. Robert J. Beck of Fort Worth, Texas has this Bible.
      Alexander, or "Elick" as he was lovingly called in his youth, was the only son born to his parents and he shared the name of his maternal grandfather, Alexander Devin, a Scotch-Irish Baptist. Therefore, we assume the middle initial "D" was for Devin.

      A. D. Beck, listed in the 1880 Texas Census, named North Carolina as his father's birthplace, and indicated his mother's birthplace was unknown. His father was Andrew M. Beck, born in Rowan (now Davidson) County North Carolina on July 5, 1795. Alexander's mother was Susan "Sueky" Nowlin Devin (Diven) and was born September 22, 1796, probably in Pittsylvania Co., VA, She died December 5, 1932 in Washington Co., Indiana, after giving birth to her baby son, John J., who was Alexander's younger brother. Andrew M., then, had the responsibility of a newborn baby, a son eighteen months, and four young daughters. He must have had help from other family members where they lived at Beck's Mill.
      Alexander's father next married Rebecca Barker of that area. They also had several children.
      Evidently, Alexander grew up in the vicinity of Beck's Mill, a small settlement in Howard Twp., south Washington County, south of Salem, Indiana, where his grandfather, George Beck, Sr. had brought his family from North Carolina in 1807, staying a short time in Bear Grass, which is now Louisville, Kentucky. George and his two older sons, John, age 23 and George, Jr., age 16, while out scouting in December 1807, located Organ Spring along Mill Creek and build a grist-mill there. The spring was dammed and provided a gallon of water per minute at 60 degree temperature. Andrew M., the father of Alexander, was 13 years old in 1808 when the family made their home in this vicinity. The first grist-mill was a log structure fifteen feet square.
      Beck's Hill, the settlement as it was known, within a short time, became the social center as families from a thirty mile radius brought their corn to Beck's Mill to be ground into cornmeal. Sometime it took two or three days as they waited their turns, so games were played outdoors. Young lads liked to accompany their fathers, and may have wrestled and played hide-and-seek games with this young ancestor of ours. The hill, a fairly steep incline, was wonderful for the foot races held there, and many lads were barefoot, running on the gravel and rocks. Growing up on Beck's Hill, Andrew M. may have seen many exciting times, as Indians came to the settlement and professed great friendship for their "white brothers." They were given food and meal, and in the night, they would take horses. Little bands of Delaware Indians still tented up Mill Creek, a few miles above Beck's Mill. Two were medicine men. The sulfa saline water from this creek helped stomach trouble.
      Families raised two or three acres of wheat, which was a good crop in those early days, for it had to be cut with a sickle, threshed out with the flail and winnowed with a sheet. It is said that Alexander's grandmother, Elizabeth, could cut more wheat than any man she ever raced against. The scythe and cradle came into use about 1840.
      There was a cave just one mile up the creek from the mill which had two openings. The fish inside were blind due to the darkness. The young Beck men, John and George, were very good bear hunters and were fearless. One story is written that other men were frightened to go into the cave, but the young Beck men entered, shot once and drug out a 450 pound bear, which the meat and grease lasted for a month or two.
      A church/school house had been erected in the fall of 1811; settlers came and cut the timbers to build their homes, a fort was built just across the road in front of the mill, a preacher settled there and built a distillery; then preached on Sunday! In the summer of 1825 a frame building, twenty by thirty feet square replaced the first mill structure, and in 1864, a commodious, two-story frame was built, which still stands today. Two years later, a lean-to was built and a carding machine was put in operation. When the two-story mill was built, the carding machinery was placed in the second story.
      Alexander's uncles, John J. Beck and George, Beck, Jr. married young women, Anna Rogers and Elizabeth Masters, who had moved there with their families. Alexander's father, Andrew, chose a preacher's daughter, Susan "Sueky" Nowlin Devin, for his wife May 6, 1821.
      Young Alexander D. Beck learned to read and write at the small school and helped his father, Andrew, at the mill and on their farm in many ways. School sessions were three months of the year. Alexander was born following his sisters, Elizabeth Ann, Sarah D, and Susan Nowlin. Alexander was one and a half years of age when his mother gave birth to another son, John J. on 5 December, 1832. She died after that birth, so Alexander never really knew his mother; his father married again on 27 February 1834 to Rebecca Barker, and she raised the children, and gave birth to five more children by Andrew.
      Alexander Beck is listed with his family in the 1850 Census Index, p. 101 of Washington County, Indiana at age 19; and is listed in the 1860 census in Martin County, Indiana. As a young man 21, in 1854, he went to Kaufman County, Texas, with his parents when they left Indiana and located there; however, he was in Lawrence County, Indiana the following year, where he married Mrs. Catherine (Horsey) Greenwood on August 21, 1856. She gave birth to his four children: Susan, Emma, Clary and John Jefferson (J. J.) Beck before her death in 1866 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Shoals, Martin Co., IN.
      Alexander D. Beck served in the Civil War, On the 26th day of September, 1864, he was drafted and enrolled at Columbus, Indiana as a Private in Co. B - 31st Regiment of the Indiana Infantry. He served for a few months at Lick Creek, Tennessee. He began suffering from Chronic Diarrhea and Rheumatism there, spent time in the hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee and Jeffersonville, Indiana and was released. All the remainder of his life he had some problems with this diarrhea, as evidenced in his Pension Papers filed in1891-1898.
      The brother of Alexander, John J. Beck, was a veteran of the CSA, Co. E. 70th Texas Cavalry.
      Catherine Horsey Greenwood Beck, died at age 37 on December 1, 1866 and is buried near the top of the hill on the right in Spring Hill Cemetery, Shoals, Martin County, Indiana.
      Alexander D. Beck then married Sarah Francis Survance, who raised the three children; Clary had died before age two. The family placed their belongings into an ox-drawn wagon and made the long trip to (now) Wills Point, Van Zandt County, Texas.
      An Elic Beck is listed in the 1880 Census in Nacogdoches Co., TX. Could he have been listed twice in the 1880 Texas Census? After Sarah's death at age 37, he married Mrs. Lucy F.(Cole) Palmer, age 34, and after a short ten months marriage, she died. Again, he wed Mrs. Mary Jane (Mackey) Russell in Wills Point, Texas. Within a year, they left and moved to the Mackey Estate, her parent's property, in West Millgrove, Ohio.
      Alexander D. Beck's burial place is in River View Cemetery, Wood County, Ohio. A large and stately gravestone marks this serene place. On Memorial Day each year, a silver star with the inscription GAR 1861-1865 is placed beside his stone, indicating his service in the Civil War - Grand Army of the Republic.
      Alexander D. Beck was my great-grandfather; (Mrs.) Catherine Horsey Greenwood Beck was my great-grandmother. I call them "Alexander the Great" and "Catherine the Great."

Source: National Archives Records - Civil War Pension Papers for Alexander Devin Beck
Source: 31st Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

The GAR Museum and Library is located in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. The building is located at 4278 Griscom Street, which is one block west of Frankford Avenue between Church and Ruan Streets, only two blocks from the Church Street stop of the Frankford elevated train. From I-95, exit at Bridge Street, turn left at the second light (Wakeling Street) and proceed to Griscom Street, turn left on Griscom to museum. From U.S. 1 (Roosevelt Blvd.) proceed to Oxford Circle; follow Oxford Ave. (next to McDonald's) to Griscom Street, turn right.

THE Grand Army of the Rebellion MUSEUM
Unique and historic Civil War artifacts, battle relics, personal memorabilia, paintings, documents, and photographs fill three floors of distinguished rooms of the Ruan House.

The extensive collection of artifacts and personal memorabilia was initially assembled by the veterans who formed Post 2 of the Grand Army of the Republic. The museum's holdings are recognized for their historical significance and are noted for their singular importance in documenting the history of the war.

Among the artifacts on display are tree stumps from the Chickamauga Battlefield, each embedded with a cannonball; one of the few remaining original sections of the stockade from the notorious Andersonville prison; many of the personal possessions of General George G. Meade; the handcuffs owned by John Wilkes Booth and intended for the kidnapping of Abraham Lincoln; a strip of the bloodstained pillowcase from the Peterson House on which lay the head of the dying President Lincoln; and dozens of other relics, each telling its own story of heroism and gallantry.

THE RUAN HOUSE LIBRARY
The 2,000-volume archive possesses a wealth of literary resources, many original to the Civil War period. Approved researchers may examine the actual Harper's Weekly and Philadelphia Inquirer newspapers for the entire period of the war, the official records of the War of the Rebellion, as well as many magazines, regimental and unit histories, and other related historical volumes and accounts. The library is especially useful for those engaging in genealogical research.

Notes for CATHARINE (HORSEY) GREENWOOD:
Sources: Research and compilation of Joyce Nell Beck Truitt, daughter of John Charles Beck and Alta Mae Tittle. 1994-98.

      Miss Catherine Horsey married Robert C. Greenwood in Lawrence County, Indiana on May 27, 1853. At this time, we do not know the reason of his demise; however, we do know that Catherine Greenwood married Alexander D. Beck on August 21, 1856 in Lawrence County, Indiana. They lived there for a year before moving into Shoals, Martin County, Indiana where their four children were born, Susan, Emma, Clara and my grandfather, John Jefferson (J.J.) Beck. Catherine died at the age of 37 on December 1, 1866 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Shoals, Martin County, Indiana.
      An article printed in the History of Lawrence County, Indiana about 1990, p. 208 has an article as follows:

ISAIAH AND SARAH DOUGHERTY
      Isaiah Dougherty (1825-1877) and Sarah Horsey (1826-1904) were married at Mitchell, Lawrence Co., IN on April 13, 1850. Isaiah was a Blacksmith and also bought and sold land in the area. On August 2, 1862, Isaiah enlisted in the Army, Company D of the 16th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, Lawrence Co., IN, at Mitchell, under Captain Columbus Moore. After two weeks for training, the Company entered its first battle at Richmond, KY. Isaiah was shot in the lower right leg, shattering the fibula. In January,he was discharged, unable to walk without crutches, and his ability to work was limited.
      Sarah was the daughter of Lemuel (1797-1853) and Rachel (1901-1889) HORSEY. Her family also lived in Mitchell during this period. Sarah's grandfather, Clement Horsey (1763-1832) and Lemuel were early pioneer settlers of Shoals, Martin County, Indiana. Clement and Lemuel Horsey are both buried in Red Cross Cemetery in Lawrence Co., IN.
      Sarah was first married to John Robinson in 1843. They had one son, Lemuel. John died a few years later. In 1850, Sarah met and married Isaiah Dougherty. They had three children, Zachariah Bigg, George Francis and Clara A.
      After the war, in 1865, Isaiah moved his family to Shoals, martin County, where they bought a farm. During this period, Zachariah met and married Martha A. Walker of Orange County.
      In April of 1877 Isaiah and Sarah sold their farm and moved to Neoga, Cumberland Co., IL. Other family members that moved with them were Zachariah and Martha, George Francis, Clara A. and Sarah's mother, Rachel Horsey.
      Isaiah's leg never healed properly and he died soon after the move to Illinois. Isaiah, Sarah, George F., Clara and Rachel are all buried in Neoga Memorial Cemetery in Neoga, Cumberland Co., IL.
      George Francis became a Physician and practiced medicine in Neoga, IL, until his death. Zachariah and Martha and their children moved to Canton, Van Zandt Co., TX in 1883. They are buried in Myrtle Springs Cemetery.

- Submitted by Royce Allen Daugherty (Dougherty) great-great grandson on Isaiah and Sarah Horsey Dougherty.

      Sarah Horsey and Catherine Horsey were sisters. Catherine Horsey married Robert C. Greenwood in Lawrence County, Indiana on May 27, 1853. At this time we do not know what happened, but she then married my great-grandfather, Alexander D. Beck on August 21, 1856 in the same county.

*************************************************
Subj:      Re: CATHERINE HORSEY BECK
Date:      1/27/1999 8:22:49 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:      grandind@dmrtc.net (Deloris Sherfick)
Reply-to:      grandind@dmrtc.net
To:      Texas1933@aol.com
Nell,
You have been the first one to help us find an error in our new book. Our reading of Catherine's stone looked like :

Beck, Catherine Died Dec 1, 1886 38 years, 11 months and 25 days.
Wife of A.D. Beck
And the death date is 1866 right? If it is indeed 1866 there would be no death record for her and there were no newspapers at that time either. Our birth and death records start in 1882.

Those old stones were really hard to read. We re-read them 2 times after the first reading to try and catch any mistakes but that 66 must have appeared to be an 86 each time. I can send you a copy of the page if you will send me your address. The daughter of hers was not listed as being buried there. Catherine was the only Beck. I looked in our death records and she wasn't there either but like I say, that would be before our records started. And if she is the only one you have there it certainly
wouldn't be worth buying a book for.

You could send copies of your family lines and we could put them in the library and they would certainly be used there if anyone was working on your family. We have on the average of 4 each day in the library genealogy section. Deloris 812.295.3701

Catherine Horsey Greenwood Beck was my great-grandmother. Researched and compiled by Joyce Nell Beck Truitt 1995-99 - Texas1933@aol.com or rjbeck@flash.net

Notes for SARAH FRANCIS SURVANCE:
Source: Sarah Francis Survance Beck, b. April 13, 1845 in Kentucky; married Alexander D. Beck in Martin County, Indiana on April 4, 1867. In 1878, he took his daughter, Emma and son, John J. and wife, Francis and traveled to Van Zandt County, Texas in an ox-drawn wagon. His older daughter, Susan, and her husband, Kemp Marley and his daughter Fidelia, had gone to the Texas area the year before where other Beck family members had settled in 1845. Alexander's father, Andrew M. Beck, had died at College Mound, Kaufman County, Texas (which was next to Van Zandt Co.) in 1875. We think that Alexander may have gone there when his father was ill, and therefore, made the decision to move his family there. John Jefferson Beck, the son of Alexander, was his only son, as written in a biographical sketch published in 1898 in Wood County, Ohio.
      Sarah Francis had a sister Elizabeth and a brother William. Elizabeth married Talliafero Skinner in Jefferson Co., KY. This was a second marriage for her and a third or fourth for him. Anyway, they had two children, Talliafero, Jr. and Isabelle Skinner. Mr. Skinner died in 1869, leaving Alexander D. Beck as executor and guardian of these two children. A descendant of William, brother of Sarah Francis, communicates with me and is seeking what happened to the children. Elizabeth Survance Skinner died before the estate was even settled, so Alexander and Sarah had the care of this nephew and niece.
The 1870 Census-Halbert Twp. Martin Co., IN:
      Alexander Beck            Age 39            b. IN
      Sarah F.                  Age 25            b. KY
      Susan                  Age 13            b. IN
      Emma                  Age 11            b. IN
      John                  Age 06            b. IN
      William H. Servance      Age 15            b. KY (brother of Sarah F.)
      Elizabeth Skinner            Age 45            b. KY (sister or mother of Sarah F.?)
      Loll F. Skinner            Age 08            b. KY      (Isabelle? Or Talliferro, Jr.?)

      The Probate Estate of Taliferro Skinner, Will Book 1, p. 36-37 was probated January 31, 1870, showing wife Elizabeth; Alexander D. Beck, Executor and guardian of children; also named were Sarah F. Servant, Elizabeth Jane Servant, Isabella Skinner, Taliferro L. Skinner. Alexander D. Beck, Adm. Bond 11 February 1870. Sarah F. Beck legatee of Taliferro Skinner renounced all her rights of the will of said Taliferro as heir of her sister, Elizabeth J. Servant, another legatee in favor of Taliferro Skinner, Jr. and Isabelle Skinner and authorized Executor to pay same to guardian of said children. The Final Account filed by Executor 4 April 1873: By terms of will, he was to pay Sarah F. Beck and Elizabeth J. Servant [who were adults] when minor children became of age $100.00 and balance to minor children, Taliferro Skinner, Jr. and Isabelle Skinner. Elizabeth J. Servant died intestate leaving as her only heir, Sarah Beck, who renounced all interest in said estate to minor heirs. Then added information: T. S. Skinner had married Elizabeth Servant 10 September 1866 in Martin County, IN. So the question remains - who took these children and raised them?
      In 1879, Alexander D., age 48, and second wife, Sarah Francis, age 34, his daughter Emma, and young John Jefferson, age 16, placed their possessions in a covered wagon, pulled by oxen, and made the journey to the Van Zandt County, Texas area - as indicated in J. J. Beck obituary.
      Their decision to move to Texas may have been because Alexander's father had taken his family there in 1854, or because his daughter, Susan and her husband had left Indiana and gone to Texas. Many Beck family members had settled in the Ease Texas area. Several cousins, nieces and nephews relocated there as early as 1844, as referenced in the story of their lives.

Source: Martin County, IN census; Cedar Grove Cemetery, Kaufman Co., TX burial record.
Source: LaDonna Walen - February, 1998 - a descendant of Survance famil Information from her family files. LaDonna wrote, "Francis had a brother, William and a sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Taliafero Skinner in Jefferson Co., KY. It may have been a second marriage for her and a third or fourth for him. Anyway, they had two children, Taliafero, Jr. and Isabelle. Mr. T. died in 1869, leaving Alexander D. Beck as executor and guardian of these two children. Where they went to, I don't know, unless Isabelle was old enough to get married and the Loll F. Skinner shown on the census is actually Taliafero, Jr. Also, Elizabeth Survance Skinner died before the estate was even settled, so Alexander and Sarah may have raised these two also. This gets confusing because the age difference between Survances seemed to put Elizabeth as William's Mother, more than sister. There are four named Elizabeths here, so haven't ironed that out yet. I have had no luck tracing anything back because of this problem and so many marriages."

Source: April 1999 - Brian Survance - brian.survance@covance.com created a website for Survance researchers:
      http://myfamily.com - then enter User Name and Password to get into the site. One may contact him at his email address and since he is webmaster, will first assign a user name and password. Those now members are:
These members are currently visiting the site:
Brian Survance (brian.survance@covance.com)
Glenda Survance (gsurvanc@iupui.edu)
Kurt Survance (kurts@analogy.com)
Curtis Survance (survance@centuryinter.net)
Jon Survance (joygte@apk.net)
Mary Ann Survance (maryan4@juno.com)
Lisa Survance (lsurvance@aol.com)
Jamie Survance (jteasly@hotmail.com)
Glen D Survance-Deceased (no email)
Roger Survance (d.survance@worldnet.att.net)
Susan Survance (survance@centuryinter.net)
Curtis P. Survance (survance@centuryinter.net)
Timothy K. Survance (survance@centuryinter.net)
Kyle Survance (ksurvanc@houston.prodop.slb.com)
Kevin Lawrence (questor@dmrtc.net)
Nell Truitt (Texas1933@aol.com)

Subj:      Re: SURVANCE/BECK Date:      1/27/1999
To:      kurts@analogy.com

In a message dated 1/27/1999 5:57:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, from Kurt Survance - kurts@analogy.com writes:
> I did find one bit of information posted on a genealogy page by Ladonna. She was inquiring about a Taliaferro Skinner whom she believed was Sarah's grandfather.

8 April 1999

Kurt Survance
5925 SW 59th Avenue
Portland OR 97219

Dear Kurt:

I really enjoy our communication about the SURVANCE family. I appreciate what you have shared with me. We had chatted about my finding the photo of Sarah Francis Survance in my great-grandfather�s family Bible, so I wanted to send you this copy and get your opinion. Sarah was born in 1845. She was 22 when she married my great-grandfather, Alexander Devin Beck. He was born in 1831, so she was 14 years his junior. According to the date, I am fairly sure the photo is Sarah. And she is a beautiful woman. Now, the other older lady favors her, I think. Could this be Sarah at age 37 before she died? Her death date was 14 November 1882, just four years after they had moved from Shoals, Martin County, Indiana to Wills Point, Van Zandt County, Texas.

Any Survance information which you may come across from these Kentucky/Indiana family members, please share it with me. I have her brother as William H. Survance and her sister as Elizabeth Survance Skinner (m. Taliferro Skinner). LaDonna had given me that information.

I am copying and pasting some information which I had as sources in my Family Tree Maker file on the Survance family.

Source: Notation from g-granddaughter, J. Nell Beck Truitt:
      Sarah Francis Survance Beck, b. April 13, 1845 in Kentucky; married Alexander D. Beck in Martin County, Indiana on April 4, 1867. In 1878, he took his daughter, Emma and son, John Jefferson and wife, Francis, and traveled to Van Zandt County, Texas in an ox-drawn wagon. His older daughter, Susan, and her husband, Kemp Marley and his daughter Fidelia, had gone to the Texas area the year before.
      Alexander's father, Andrew M. Beck, had died at College Mound, Kaufman County, Texas (which was next to Van Zandt Co.) in 1875. We think that he may have gone there when his father was ill, and therefore, made the decision to move his family there. John Jefferson Beck, the son of Alexander, was his only son, as written in a biographical sketch published in 1898 in Wood County, Ohio.
      In February, 1998, I made contact with a descendant of Sarah Francis Survance, named above. She has given me information from her family files.
      Source: A descendant Neice, LaDonna Walen, 29W538 Butterfield Road, Warrenville, IL 60555 - 1998 Her Email: LDWalen@aol.com (deceased)
Martin County, IN census; Cedar Grove Cemetery, Kaufman Co., TX burial record.
      LaDonna wrote, "Francis had a brother, William and a sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Talliafero Skinner in
Jefferson Co., KY. It may have been a second marriage for her and a third or fourth for him. Anyway, they had two children, Talliafero, Jr. and Isabelle. Mr. T. died in 1869, leaving Alexander D. Beck as executor and guardian of these two children."
      LaDonna continued, "Where they went to, I don't know, unless Isabelle was old enough to get married and the Loll F. Skinner shown on the census is actually Talliafero, Jr. Also, Elizabeth Survance Skinner died before the estate was even settled,
so Alexander and Sarah may have raised these two also."
      She goes on, " This gets confusing because the age difference between Survances seemed to put Elizabeth as William's Mother, more than sister. There are four named Elizabeths here, so haven't ironed that out yet. I have had no luck tracing anything back because of this problem and so many marriages."       She lists the 1870 Halbert Twp., Martin Co. IN Census:

Alexander Beck, age 39, b. IN
Sarah F., 25, b. KY
Susan, 13, b. IN
Emma, 11, b. IN
John, 6, b. IN
William H. Servance, 15, b. KY
Elizabeth Skinner, 45, b. KY (could this be the mother of Sarah Francis and Elizabeth?)
Loll F. Skinner, 8, b. KY (we think this is wrong or is Talliferro, Jr.)

Do you have any of this family in your family files?

Nell Truitt

Subj:      Survance Family
Date:      9/24/1999 10:10:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:      briansurv@hotmail.com (Brian Survance)
To:      Texas1933@aol.com

Nell, We use to meet for the Survance Family Reunion in the Martin State Forest which is actually just outside Shoals and then about 2 years ago, Jimmy Survance, my uncle bought some land down there and built a Shelter and also bought a few Motor home and travel trailers and since then we have been there. I still have a lot of realitives down there because I'm Survance on one side and then he married a Montgomery which are the Dominant families in the area there in shoals. This site: http://members.aol.com/calebj/passenger.html has a name of Thomas Rogers which is one of my realitives that came across on the Mayflower. ( I believe). I did a search for Abraham Harding with a wife of Permilia Gerkin and found a hug family tree dating back to the 1400's. Mostly from Southern England. I'll try to see what I can find on the Skinner side here soon, I'm trying to get moved into my new house and my wife keeps yelling at me to stay off the Computer.

Are you having any trouble getting to the site these days?

Notes for (MRS.)LUCY F. (COLE) PALMER:
Source: Marriage Records Van Zandt Co., TX; Cedar Grove Cemetery Records, Kaufman Co., TX.

Lucy F. Palmer was born June 29, 1855 and married Edward B. Palmer. They had a daughter, Jane A. Palmer, listed in the 1880 Census. Two other children, another daughter, Ann "Annie" Palmer and a son, John S. Palmer were born before 1900. These children, after their mother's death, went to live with their paternal grandparents, as they are shown on school records with David and Margaret Palmer as guardians.
On February 7, 1886 she married Alexander D. Beck in Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., TX. She died on November 20, 1886, just ten months after their marriage. She is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery. On her broken stone (in Dec. 1997) the emblem of Eastern Star is engraved, and the words: L. F. Beck, born June 29, 1855, died Nov 20, 1886, wife of (and that part of the stone is missing); then below: A loving wife, mother and friend.
Source: History of Van Zandt County Texas p. 385:
PALMER-GUNTER (Family 460)
      David S. Palmer was born 11 Dec 1817 in Georgia, county unknown. He married Margaret A. Gunter 7 Nov 1837 who was born 20 April 1819 in Georgia. This data was found on their grave markers in the Cedar Grove Cemetery near Wills Point, Van Zandt County Texas. There was a David Palmer living in Walton County Georgia in 1840 (census). He had two children under five years of age and a wife. Vital statistics indicate that this was the above David S. Palmer.
      Five children were born to this couple in Georgia - James R., Martha E "Mattie", Elizabeth F., William H., and George W.
      This family left Georgia between 1846 and 1849, probably headed for Texas. They were in Benton County (now Calhoun) Alabama in 1850 census. One child, Mary Rebecca was born 14 April 1849 in Alabama (census). They did not stay long there because the next child, Edwin, was born in Wood County Texas, Susan Emma 12 March 1856, and Thomas B. about 1859. David and Margaret made another move, this time to Van Zandt County Texas (census). Amanda Louise was born 23 Nov 1861. A total of ten children were born to David and Margaret Palmer.
      David S. Palmer and his oldest son, James R., and very likely other sons of this family enlisted for service in the Civil War. Bennett Palmer, a great grandson of David and Margaret said his grandfather George W. Palmer served in the Confederate.
      The Palmers owned a farm in the Center Community where he died 11 Jan 1888. Mrs. Palmer died 15 July 1895. Both are buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery near Wills Point, Texas.

Edwin B. Palmer, b. 23 July 1852 married Lucy F. Cole 10 December 1874 in Van Zandt County Texas - from Marriage Records. Lucy F. Palmer was born 29 June 1855 and married Edward B. Palmer. They had a daughter, Jane A. Palmer, listed in the 1880 Texas Census. Two other children, a daughter Ann "Annie" Palmer and a son John S. Palmer were born within the next three years. Their father, Ed B. Palmer died October 1883 and was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Lucy F. Palmer, age 31, then married Alexander D. Beck, age 55. Within ten months, on 20 November 1886, Lucy died and was buried next to her children's father at Cedar Grove. On her broken stone (as Bob Beck and Nell Truitt viewed the gravestones in December 1998) the emblem of Eastern Star is engraved, and the words: L. F. Beck, born June 29, 1855, died November 20, 1886, wife of ...and that part of the stone is missing; then below on the bottom of the stone is engraved: A loving wife, mother and friend. The children, after their mother's death, went to live with their paternal grandparents, as they are shown on school records with David and Margaret Palmer as guardians.

Notes for (MRS.)MARY JANE (MACKEY) RUSSELL:
Source: 1860, 1870 Indiana Census
Source: 1880 Texas Census
Source: Marriage Record - Martin Co., IN
Ssource: Ressearch by ggd, Joyce Nell Beck Truitt
Alexander then married Sarah Francis Survance, a maiden fourteen years his junior in Martin County, Indiana on April 04, 1867. She was born April 13, 1845 in Kentucky. Her parents were both born in Kentucky also, as the 1880 Texas Census indicated. She became the step-mother to his children, and evidently was a fine Christian woman.

Alexander and Sarah Francis attended the Shoals Christian congregation. Before 1860 it was organized and met at the home of members. Willis Bex was acting pastor in October 1868, and appointed Otto Hoffman as elder, and John Pugh and Alexander Beck as the deacons. On May 12, 1870, the congregation met at the school-house, and selected Beck, Richard Boyle and Barak Gaddis as trustees and instructed them to procure a suitable site upon which a place of worship might be erected. Lot No. 1 in Horsey's Addition to the town of Shoals was obtained in 1875 and a church built. It was heated by two large stoves and lighted by kerosene lamps suspended from the ceiling.

While researching in the Shoals, Indiana library on May 7, 1997, this author located the following article:

The Shoals Mt. Moriah Rebekah Lodge, 133, is the oldest local woman's fraternal organization. It was formed December 16, 1874, with seventeen members. The names of the first officers are not available but the following persons were charter members: A. D. and Sarah Beck (and others named). These participants and their successors have been active throughout the existence of the order and in 1965 there was a membership of fifty-two women and two men. Members have distinguished themselves as District No. 13 leaders.
(In September, 1997, I received a letter from Norma Oakes, the current Noble Grand of Mr. Moriah Rebekah Lodge #133 and she has searched for original records both locally and state; however, she locates no other information than that above.)

Alexander sold his farm in Wills Point soon after he married Mrs. Mary J. Russell as they made plans to return to her family property in the Buckeye state of Ohio. In 1897, they submitted the following story.
The following was written in the Wood County, Ohio Biographical Sketches:
Mary Jane Mackey was born in Beaver (now Lawrence) County, Pennsylvania on April 30, 1837, and was the daughter of Robert and Mary (McCarter) Mackey. Her family came cross country from Pennsylvania to Wood County, Ohio in 1850 and located on a new farm of 160 acres, clearing the land and cultivating it. Mary J. was the seventh child, and only daughter, born to the Mackeys. She married A. C. Russell on July 12, 1864 in Ohio. In 1881 they moved to Van Zandt County, Texas, as a brother to Mary J., Joseph, had moved to Fannin County, Texas. In November of the following year, A. C. died and his remains were sent back to River View Cemetery, West Millgrove, Ohio for burial. Then, on December 18, 1887, Mrs. Russell became the wife of Alexander D. Beck.

In 1888, A. D. and Mary J. Beck left Van Zandt County, Texas and moved to Wood County, Ohio in Perry Township, near West Millgrove where they had a good farm of 100 acres, which they successfully operated. A large willow tree, which stands on the farm, has grown from a little riding whip, brought from Perrysburg nearly sixty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have a large circle of friends, who hold them in the highest esteem and confidence. Mrs. Beck had no children of her own, but reared a little niece, Mary Mackey, the daughter of Joseph Mackey. In politics, Alexander D. Beck was an ardent Democrat and member of the Disciples Church."

Wood County, Ohio, in 1820, was named for the chivalrous Colonel Wood, a distinguished officer of the War of 1812, who was Gen. William Henry Harrison's engineer. He was the builder of Ft. Meigs, which was within the borders of Wood County.

One hundred acres became the farm in Ohio for the Becks. In December, they signed an agreement granting rights to John McIntyre to lay Natural Gas Lines and Telephone Lines across the following described lines: along the highway 160 rods running West on the � Section line through Section (8) being the East � Section (8) Perry Twp Town (3) Range (12) Wood County, Ohio, together with the right to operate and maintain the same in perpetuity and to repair same. The lines shall be laid along the route as indicated by the present survey and be buried to such a depth as not to interfere with the cultivation of the land or the existing drainages. Said party of the second part agrees to pay all damages to growing crops occasioned by laying, repairing or removing said lines, and if such damages can not be mutually agreed upon, each party hereto shall select a man and those two a third man, who shall determine the amounts of such damage and their decision shall be final and such award shall be paid within ten days thereafter. All damages are to be adjusted between the 1st and 10th of August of each year. In witness whereof, the said Mary J. Beck and A. D. Beck, her husband, have hereunto set their hands and seals this 22nd day of December, 1892.

Mary J. Beck was awarded a widow's pension after the death of Alexander. She died May 6, 1919, and was buried beside her first husband in the same cemetery in Section 1, Row 31.The oblisque monument just across the drive from the burial place of Alexander, is engraved with the names of Albert D. Russell and his parents as well as Mary Jane Beck.
===========================================================================
ROBERT MACKEY, the brother of Mary Jane, was born 17 April 1831 in Beaver County Pennsylvania. His parents were Robert and Mary Mackey. He had six brothers - Daniel, Alexander, William, James, Joseph, and John. Joseph Mackey was a member of the 9th Illinois Cavalry, and served all through the Civil War, and was honorably discharged at the end. John Mackey was a member of the 49th O. V. I., served nearly three years, and was discharged due to disability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the River View Cemetery, West Millgrove, Ohio, the monuments stand for the Mackey families, Russell families and for Alexander D. Beck. On a 7 ft. tall oblisque monument, the names are engraved on the four sides as follows:
Norman C. Russell, born Oct 12 1808, died Aug 12 1865, 56 y 10 m
Laura, wife of N. C. Russell, born Aug 2 1810, died June 8 1864, age 53 y 10 m 6 d
Albert C. Russell, born Aug 2 1836, died Nov 2 1883
Mary Jane Beck, born Apr 30 1837, died May 6 1919

Children of ALEXANDER BECK and CATHARINE GREENWOOD are:

82.	i.	Susan⁶ Beck, b. 07 June 1857, Vernon Twp., Washington Co., IN; d. Unknown, Pbly Texas.
83.	ii.	Emma Beck, b. 23 May 1859, Washington Co., IN; d. 25 July 1905, Wills Point, TX; interred Union Grove Cem., Van Zandt Co., TX.
	iii.	Clara "Clary" Beck, b. 28 August 1861, Vernon Twp., Washington Co., IN; d. 15 August 1863, Vernon Twp., Washington Co., IN (possibly interred Mt. Tabor Cem).

Notes for Clara "Clary" Beck:
Source: 1850 Martin Co., Indiana census
Source: Beck Family Bible, with the names engraved on the front: Alexander D. Beck and Sarah F. Beck, now in the possession of Dr. Robert J. Beck, 6108 Rayburn Court, Fort Worth TX 76133 (1998).

Note by J. Nell Beck Truitt - 15 September 1999: Searching deeds, cemetery records, and census records in Indiana I did not locate the exact place of death and burial for Clara. Her parents purchased 120 acres of property in Vernon Township, Claysville Post Office Washington County, IN in May 1858 from Berry W. Martin and Mary Jane Martin his wife. On 22 August 1859, Alexander D. Beck and wife Catharine conveyed this same land to Sisson P. Martin. They received 120 acres less 3/4 acres where the School House was located.

Alexander and his family remained in the area as they were listed in the 1860 census there. It is not known if they soon thereafter moved into Shoals, Martin County, but he did serve in the Civil War in 1864 and 1865. Alexander D. and his wife purchased land in Halbert Twp, Shoals, Martin Co., IN in 1872 and 1874. We cannot prove the place of residence during 1861-1872, so we do not know where Clary was interred.

84.

iv.

John Jefferson (J.J.) Beck, b. 26 June 1863, Vernon Twp., Washington Co., IN; d. 25 March 1950, Interred Union Grove Cem., Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., TX.

Child of ALEXANDER BECK and SARAH SURVANCE is:

None⁶.

Child of ALEXANDER BECK and (MRS.)LUCY PALMER is:

vi.

None⁶.

Child of ALEXANDER BECK and (MRS.)MARY RUSSELL is:

vii.

None⁶.

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