The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-15
VALLEY CENTER BOY
Meets His MotherAfter Twenty
Years.
SAW EACH OTHER OFTEN
But They Had Grown Up Total
Strangers.
SAW EACH OTHER OFTEN

Many Wichita people know the Beck
withs mentioned in the following story
from the Newton~Repubncan:
In Saturdays paper was the announce
ment of the meeting of Harry Beckwith
and mis- mother, who had been parted for
seventeen years. Further investigation
proves the story is stranger than that
While it has been seventeen years since
the mother saw her son to know him, it
is the first time in his life that he has
really seen his mother.
Harry Beckwith was born in Valley
Center, March % 1872, about a month af-
ter the death of his father. The mother
and child came to Newton some time af-
terward and both took sick. They were
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. w. H. Ed
erie, of this city, who took care of them
tenderly. The mother found she could not
provide for herself and babe, so she gave
the little one to Mr. and Mrs. Eberle On
November 3 1872, the adoption papers
were drawn and the child became Harry
Eberle. He learned 10 regard Mrs. Eberle
with the devotion of a child for its own
mother, and never knew bat what she was
until he was 90 There was a provision
in the document that the mother was
never to make herself known TO her son
at least before his fifteenth year. She
strictly adhered to the provision. Mrs.
Beckwith left Newton, and the next heard
of her she was in Leadville.
In May, 1880, the Eberles moved from
Newton TO Red Cliff, Colo, about twenty
miles from Leadville. Mr.. Eberle made
trips to that place quite often to get sup
plies for his store. In 1882 he took the
family over for a short visit. Harry's
mother was then running a boarding
house. She had married again, her name
being Hatton. She visited with her 10
year-old son often in those days, but
never violated her agreement. Through
one Of those strange processes which the
human mind feels but knows not, Harry
took a great fancy 10 her, and remembers
distinctly to this day the little presents,
among them pair of white rabbits, she
gave him. From Leadville she went to
Waco, Texas, and thence TO ELS county,
Kan, which is now her home.
Meanwhile the EberIes moved from Red
Cliff to Leadville. where they lived a few
years and then came to Newton. Beck
with started east, working at Pueblo and
other places till December, 1891, when he
landed in Newton. On July "a, 1892 he
married the eldest daughter of o. n. Ebo
erie, brother of W. H., who had short
time ebfore revealed to him his identity.
When Harry was married he took his
right name. He often tried to find his
mother, but finally gave her up as dead.
He worked in this city till 1885, when he
went to Kansas City. In 1898 ne went to
Leadville and was on the police force. He
boarded htree blocks from a boarding
house kept by his mother, who had again
moved to that place. Beckwith lost one
eye in his infancy, but at this time was
wearing a glass eye, which accounted for
the fact that his mother did not know
him, although they no doubt say each
other often. In January, 1897, Beekwith
returned to Newton, which has been his
home ever since. He is one of c. II. Brin-
ing's trusted employees, a member of the
Sons of Veterans and claims distinction
as the promoter of the G. a. r. drum
corps, one of the best juvenile organiza-
tons in this end of the state.
Ten years ago the mother began her
search for her boy. She mas written to
towns where she heard of the name of
Eberle or Beckwith, advertised and trav-
eled much She made one trip as far as
Sacramento, Cal At times she gave up
hope of ever seeing her first born, but
with a mothers faith kept up her search.
A letter to Red Cliff. Colo. finally brought
her a reply, stating that there was an
Eberle in Newton. She wrote to Mayor
Young, and on receiving a reply immedi-
ately started for this city. Friday even
ing she arrived in the city, and the re-
union that took place in the little home
on West Ninth street was one of the
happiest in this town. Her name is now
Gallon and her husband is a car inspector
on the Union Pacific at Ellis. She has
another son, with whom Harry will visit
in a few days. He has not had a vaca-
ton since he began work here.