My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD H. BECK, M. D., the well known physician and surgeon of Newburg, Northampton County, is a man of large intelligence and high standing in the profession. It is his constant endeavor to keep thoroughly posted in all the discoveries and improvements in the art of surgery and general practice, and to this end he studies the best medical journals of the day and is in touch with the latest thought and sentiment in this direction. He belongs to various medical societies, and is highly thought of by his numerous patients.

Dr. Beck is a native son of this county, having been born December 20, 1850, to Jacob and Susanna (Reinheimer) Beck, who, like their son, were natives of this county. The Beck family early settled in this vicinity, and did much in promoting the development and prosperity which it now enjoys. For a number of years Jacob Beck, the father, engaged in mercantile pursuits at Nazareth, Pa. However, the greater portion of his life was spent in farming in Lower Nazareth Township.

The subject of this sketch received a general education and was reared to man’s estate in the county of his birth. On leaving the common schools he entered the Moravian Parochial School at Nazareth, where he pursued his studies for a time, after which he was enrolled as a student at the select and classical school at Bethlehem taught by Rev. John H. Sykes. Subsequently he took a preparatory college course at the famed Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, where he continued for over one year. Thence he went to Allentown, and entered Muhlenberg College, being a member of the first Freshman class of that institution. After concluding a four-years course at this college he was graduated therefrom in 1871. Deciding to enter professional life, Dr. Beck next devoted his untiring energies to the medical field, and after taking a full course at the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania was graduated in 1874.

In his first practice of medicine the Doctor was fortunate in becoming a partner of Dr. J. G. Scholl, at Hecktown, Pa., with whom he received a thorough training in the practical duties of the profession. Thus thoroughly equipped, both theoretically and practically, he concluded to embark in business for himself, and in furtherance of that design came to Newburg, arriving here in 1875. Since that time this city has been his field of work, and he has in the time that has elapsed built up a fine practice. The Doctor is a member of the Northampton County Medical Society, also of the Lehigh Valley Medical Society, and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. Moreover, he belongs to the American Academy of Medicine, and is an attending physician at the Northampton County Almshouse Hospital, having officiated as such since 1881. It is needless to say further that the Doctor is one of the foremost in his profession, nor that he is numbered among the most successful practitioners of the county, but such is the fact.

A marriage ceremony was celebrated in 1876 by which Miss Annie Herman, daughter of Rev. A. J. Herman, of Maxatawny, Berks County, this state, became the wife of Dr. Beck. Mrs. Beck is a graduate of the Allentown Female College, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, Charles G., Florence C., Edwin H. and Sem G.

Dr. Beck is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he votes with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle.