My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES F. BECK. Few of the citizens of Lehigh County are more widely, and none more favorably, known than the gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch. At the present time he is engaged as traveling salesman for the R. J. Allen Son Company, Philadelphia, dealers in oils and crockery. He has been a resident of this city since the fall of 1855, and no enterprise has been originated in this community since that time to which he has not given his cordial support.

Born in Nazareth Township, our subject is a native of Northampton County, his birth occurring March 14, 1831, to George H. Beck. His father came from Germany, and made his home in the above county, where he lived and died. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and owned one hundred and thirty-four acres of land in Northampton County, which he cultivated to good advantage until his decease in his eighty-first year. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics was a true-blue Republican.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Johnson) Beck, the mother of our subject, was likewise born in Nazareth Township, and was the daughter of a farmer in that locality, and of Scotch descent. She reared a family of eleven children, and died in 1876. Six of the family are still living, of whom C. F. is the youngest. He remained on his father’s farm until seventeen years old, and then, going to Easton, found a position as clerk in a grocery store. He remained there for a while, after which he returned home for six months, and then went again to Easton, this time as. an employe in a lumber-yard. In 1852, however, in company with his brother Jacob, he removed to Nazareth, and for two years owned and operated a general merchandise store.

The lady to whom our subject was married in this city, June 6, 1854, was Miss Catherine, daughter of Solomon Biery. The latter was born in this county, and his father, Frederick Biery, originally owned the site where now stands the flourishing city of Catasauqua. The Biery family was a very prominent one in this locality, and the father of Mrs. Beck at one time owned the Catasauqua Mills in partnership with his brother. He also was the proprietor of the American Hotel, which he operated as “mine host” for sixteen years and then lived retired until his decease, January 20, 1874. His wife, Mrs. Mary M. (Frederick) Biery, was born in Bucks County, this state, and was the daughter of George Frederick, a farmer, who formerly lived where are now located George Johnson’s Steel Springs Shops. There her father located in 1831. He departed this life in this city, when eighty-two years of age. Mrs. Beck was the only child of her parents, and received a good education in the Moravian schools of Bethlehem.

After his marriage our subject took charge of the American Hotel, which was owned by his father, and operated it for nine years. In 1856, however, the postoffice was located in South Catasauqua and our subject’s father-in-law was made Postmaster, and he was selected as his assistant. The office was located in their hotel, and the gentlemen held the position until the election of Lincoln in 1861. That year they both resigned, but our subject continued to manage the hotel until 1864, when he retired from active business for two years. At the expiration of that time he formed a partnership with Thomas Frederick, and the firm known as Frederick & Co. started the car shops in Fullerton. The panic of 1873, however, caused them to close out their business, and the next year Mr. Beck was given the position of traveling salesman for the Allen, Son & Co., of Philadelphia. He left their employ after eight months and became general agent for the McKee & Fuller Car Works, of Fullerton. He remained with them until 1879, when he again associated himself with Allen, Son & Co., with whom he has remained ever since. He travels over a large territory and is on the road every day, visiting his customers every five weeks. The house for which he travels is one of the finest in the Quaker City, and does a large business, handling oils, all kinds of lamps, crockery, queensware and glassware.

The five children who were born to Mr, and Mrs. Beck are George F., an accomplished musician and a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Boston; David J., who makes his home in Catasauqua; Franklin C., engaged as a newsdealer in this city; and Henry S. and an infant, deceased. Mr. Beck is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and in politics is a strong Democrat.