The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-01-16
ROMANCE In REAL LIFE.

county, which may result in hundreds OF
thousands of dollars worth of property
changing hands. 1t has grown out of the
complicated condition of the affairs of the
late Major George f. Won Beck, who died
last spring, leaving an immense estate,
which was in dispute between the children
of dead wife and living wife and her
children. The circumstance leading to the
affairs of the family-Or these two families,
rather-are as follows George Fredrick
Won Beck came to this country from Ger
many in 1880. He was graduate of one
of the German universities, and a descend
ant of that nobility. He was a civil en-
gineer, and previous to his leaving his ma
tive country was person of great distinct
ion. lie, in company with three others, was
appointed to survey the boundary line be-
tween France and Germany, and at the conf
pletion of the task was the recipient of many
favors at the hand of the King of Bavaria
He afterward fought in the Spanish army,
on the staff of the commanding officer, in
the war between that country and France.
Being wounded in an engagement he re-
turned to Germany where he was married
to Marie Ann de Ruyter, daughter of the
wealthy burgher. He was shortly after
ward made mayor of Salzburg, holding the
position some years. In one of the German
revolutionary wars he took an active part
on the losing side, and was compelled to
fly the country. He went to London, Eng
land, and soon thereafter embarked for
America, landing in New York with very
little money. His wife and children he left
in Germany, and his property there was
confscated. 1t is said that he tIamped the
streets of New York for six months, with
a hand organ and monkey, subsisting on
the pittanco thus obtained. About this
time the Hudson canal company had been
completed, and Won Beck thinking that
his knowledge of engineering might some
day be of use to him on that work, hired
out as a canal hand. For two or three years
he followed this life, occupying his spare
time in adding to his other accomplish
ments the knowledge of the English Ian
guage. When once this was acquired, he
began to look out for chance for advance
ment, and one day his scientific attain
ments laid foundation for promising
future. This was about the year 1888.
Russell f. Lord, then the head aud front
of the Delaware and Hudson Canal com
pany, but who died few years since over
burdened with domestic unhappiness, was
inspecting large break in the canal, and
preparing to slowly measure its dimensions,
in order to have it repaired. Won Beck's
boat CHANGED to be lying near, and the am
bilious boatman stepped up to the break,
and making calculation on scientific
principles, informed Mr.. Lord its extent in
a few seconds. The superintendent at once
made up his mind that this was too valu-
able an aid to have running on boat, and
gave him a position very much adyanc-
ed. Won Beck's services soon made him
paymaster of the company position then
of great Importance.
in all these years Won Beck had kept his
old-country marriage a secret, and soon
after his promotion to the position Of pay
master, he was married to Miss Jane Dem
ing, of Eddyville, daughter Of a leading
citizen. After he had been several years in
the eompany's employ, certain suspicious
inaccuracies were discovered in his ac-
counts, and he was compelled TO resign,
which he did with large fortune. After
leaving the Company, Won Beck engaged
in various speculations, all Of which added
to his wealth and inhuence-so much so,
that in 1874 he induced the Legislature of
this State to pass an act legalizing his
second marriage and making his children
by it legitimate. This he considered neces-
sary, as having heard that his first wife
was dead, he had the children by her sent
to this country; but, still keeping his first
marriage a secret, introduced them into his
second family as servants, and they finally
marrying and becoming estrangcd from
their father, revealed the fact of his first
marriage, and that their mother was still
living. The latter fact was demonstrated
in the spring of 1869 by the arrival Of the
first Mrs. Won Beck at Rondout, where
the Major (having been appointed q Major
of militia few years ago. had taken his
abode. The strangest part of this "strange,
eventful history is that when his first
wife appeared upon the scene, Won Beck
Immediately took up his abode with her,
and transferred his affections to her chill
dren. This action on his part was the sig
nal for the commencement OF legal proceed
ipgs, and, upon petition, of the children cf