The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-06-08
Obituary.

Announcement has already been made of the
recent death, at the residence OF his son-in-law,
Henry F. Spaulding, ESQ.,, Parkside, Riverdale,
N. Y, of that Christian gentleman, DIR. JOHN
BECKwITH. The intelligence has brought pro.
found sadness and regret to many in this com.
munity, who knew and loved the dead, and VINO
feel keenly for the living in their bereavement.
The writer asks few lines in the Sentinel to pay
a feeble tribute to the eminent worth Of the good
man gone. t.H s
Dr. Beckwith was born in Poughkeepsie, New
York, and was the son of Captain John Beck.
with, OF the Revolutionary Army. He graduated
in the School of Medicine at the early age OF II
or p years, aud came South to reside. He mar,
ried Margaret, sister Of the distinguished John
Stanly, of Newbern,-a lady of most estimable
character and shining virtues, who died a Jew
years since,-and subsequently settled at Sails
bury, in this State. Thence alter a short resi-
dence, he removed to Raleigh, where he lived
for more than thirty years, adjoining the walks
of social and domestic life, and illustrating his
Profession by skilful and successful practice.
About the year 1915, he removed to Petersburg,
Virginia, where his eldest son, DIR. I. Stanly
Beckwith, resided living there until 1865,
when, at the close of the war be transferred his
residence to the beautiful home of his son-in.
law, on the Hudson, where, at the ripe old aye Of
81 years, he breathed his last, in the full posses.
sion of all his faculties, surrounded by sorrow
ing daughters and sympathizing friends, In the
blessed hope of blissful hereafter. and crowned
with the halo of well.spcnt life.
These, in this community, who remember DR.
Bcckwith, Us he was when he dwelt among us
will recall, with pleasure, his affable and agree
able manners, his scrupulousIy tastidious dress
his intelligent, cheerful and benignant counter
ancc, and his gentle and skiiul offices in the sicf
chamber or by the couch of the suffering. Thu
writer remembers him as. one of those courtly
gentlemen OF the "Old School," of whom so few
survive, and of whom the last must, unfortu
nately, soon disappear, leaving behind the fra
grant memory of a class of men, who were prout
without being arrogant, -dignifed, without be
ing over austere,-genial and blithe. indeed
without frivolous pious, without being puri
tanicalf tolerant always, kind TO all, just ant
liberal, without fear and without reprOach!
Dr. Beckwith, when among us, cnjoyedth
high regard of such men as George E. Badger
Thomas P. Devereaux, Weston r Gales, an
others of our leading. citizens, and the friend
ship, particularly, which existed between hin
and the three above-named, was of the most en-
during and tender character. siiu.l
An almost lifelong commitment of the Pro
testant Episcopal Church, and an earnest love
of her Liturgy, his declining days we're blesse
| by the spectacle of his youngest son worthil
wearing the Episcopal robes of the Church {
| his faith, and presiding, with marked efficiency
| over one of the largest and most fourishin
| Dioceses in the South.
| His end was calm and full OF serenity an
| peace He grew, at times, in his fast illness
ecstatic, at the idea of reunion, In the Heayenl
| country, with the loved ones gone before; anc
| finally, he went through the dark portals victG
rious and triumphing! .e u.
Raleigh, N. e. a#f