Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-16
...... .... ..-. GEORGE BECKWITH, Died July 12, 1880,
 Aged 70 Yaara.


 Just below the plate was formed a semi wreath of leaves and fern, tied with 8 blue ribbon, mathematical of temperance. At the foot was the Masonic emblem the square and compass. At the head of the casket stood the deceased's tripod, and resting upon it was his transit, pointing heavenward. Against the wall near by stood his axe and crowbar, implements which he used in addition to his surveying apparatus.
 These tools were placed in the room at the request of the deceased. They had been cov- cred with flowers and presented a very pret- ty appearance. About year ago when his eldest daughter died, the room was pro- fusely decorated with flowers, which caused Mir. Beckwith to express wish that when he was taken away no such 'foolishnsss" should be allowed He said "Go into the woods, cut green boughs from the trees, and gather, if you wish, some wild flowers to decorate the room, but do nothing like this for me. Take my transit, place it at my head and point it the way have gone" And so they had fol- lowed the old mans wishes. Around the room, in corners, and fastened to the walls, were boughs and branches of the majestic oak and the few flowers that decorated his implements of trade were flowers that grew wild in the field, where he used to love to go.
 Hanging in the window just overhead was his picture, fine crayon, wearing the inevi- table white hut. Above this was placed Q motto worked in cardboard, on which were the words Remember Me" "How very appropriate" ;" said more than one, as they glanced up at the picture and then down upon the casket.
 >-The funeral services at the house were conducted by the Rev. Edward C. Winslow, a neighbor and pastor of the Taylor Congre- gational church, and were very impressive. He commenced by saying:
 "Another busy hand has ceased it's toll 1; another active brain has found it's rest; an- other familiar form will be missed from our streets another home circle mourns the fall of it's head another place is made vacant here, and another filled over yonder. In such an hour as this one has only to turn to that blessed book, the Bible, for consolation" :" The speaker then said ''Of the manner in which our brother was taken away there need be but a word For a long time it had been his desire that wAen he must die he might die quickly. Although the shock is great, better so than the long watching over dying bed Although no man in this city or in this State was probably so widely known or known of, very few knew his real inner life. What was it that gave sshim this reputation? Five out of ten would attribute it to his peculiarities. Yet there was something underneath all this pe- culiarity that impressed itself upon the mind of the public, else he would soon have dropped out of all notice. When we inquire what that something was we find that he had mind of no orCinarTy obi1itioc and that few men possessed. His was 8 living interest in the leading questions of the day. He was in advance of the age on these ques- tions. He was an aboGtionist. He was the first one to admit colored students into his school. He stood by them. And his adherence to this course suggests an- other element of his character, his con- sistency, or persistent, immovable adher- ence to what he believed to be right. What ever other faults he had, stability and fickle- ness cannot be mentioned among them. Af- ter every slave had been freed, the next question that claimed all his attention was intemperance, the next greatest curse of the land, and as 8 temperance advocate he was chiefly known to the present generation. For him there was but one course to pursue, that of total abstinence. For this he fought and died with sword in hand and his armor on. If you knew how many, suffer- ing from the effects of the evil had come to him here and been assisted and befriended by him, you would see that he had 8 warm, {, tender heart. And we find this tender heart underlying all that he did. We also see his wisdom as well as his tenderness when he turned some away. If he refused to assist them it was because they did not try to help themselves His life is now finished.
 At the close of the remarks, the body was taken charge of by Harmony Division No. 5, Sons of Temperance, and conveyed to the Evergreen Cemetery, followed by large concourse of people. The bearers were Dea. Major Moulthrop, Wales French, John G. North, Joseph Sheldon, George R. Bill and Sylvanus Butler. At the grave the ex- ercises were conducted by the chaplain, A. N. Weld, Dea. George F. Smith making the ad- dress