The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-10-30
HOUCK SPEAKS AT
BECKWITH OPENING
Tells Normal Audience How
Pioneer Searched For Relics
In Southeast.

Genealogical Collection at the Normal
Auditorium last evening marked one
Of the most interesting and important
events thatshas ever occurred in con-
nection with that institution. The hall
was crowded to its capacity, and a
program well beftting the occasion
was offered.
The exercises were opened with a
vocal solO-Jean, by Miss Elizabeth
Beach, whose excellent rendition was
greatly appreciated and greeted with
applause.
The first annual address was de-
livered by Hon. Louis Houck, Presi-
dent of the Board of Regents, in which
he entered into and interesting and
detailed discourse en- the life of Thorn
as Becllwith, the man, who had spent
thirty years in diligent search for the
posed, and which at time of his death
was bequeathcd to the State Normal
was beGueatler 10 the State Normal
School in this city.
In his recital Of the life Of the
donor, Mr.. Houck stated that the par
ents Of Thomas Beckwith came from
Fairfax County, Virginia, in the year
1910, and settled in Mississippi Coun-
ty.
Later they moved to Wolf Island,
and did their trading at the little
town of Smithton, about so miles be-
low the island, and that all commerce
at that time was carried on by means
of fiat boats.
"The elder Beckwith owned a plan
tation of 5000 acres of land, which was
operated with 81 slaves. Thomas
Beckwith was born in the same year
of his parents arrival in Missouri.
During his boyhood days he was a
great hunter and was an excellent
marksman, and brought down many
elk with which the country abounded
until 1860. He was also especially
fond of the sport Of trapping wild
hogs at which he was very successful
When young man ne figured prom
inently in big bear hunt in the tim
Der about ten miles south of the pres
ent site of Sikeston, on which Occa-
sion he killed four bears in a day and
half
'In 1850 fiat boat trade disappear
ed and steamboats, took theirplace. The
boats burned wood and for q long time
young Beckwith managed a large
wood yard which his father owned.
The elder Beckwith did not approve
of education to any great extent, and
for that reason Thomas had no oppOr-
tunity to acquire a finished education.
He attended school in little log
school house near his home, and in
1858. attended Bright's Academy in
this CITY. Later he took a commercial
course in a business college in st.
Louis.
In 1861 a great food came late in
the season. after the corn was laid by
and wheat was ready to harvest, and
lust a little later cane the Emancipa-
ton Proclamation. In 1862 his father
died and he was left with this great
ruined estate on his hands, and he i'm
-mediatcly began the wOrk-Of restor-
ing. In 1863 he. was married.
at is not known when he first be-
came interested in the collection OF
Indian relies, but probably when q
small boy on his fathers plantation
When young man a Professor Norris
from the Smithsonian Institute visited
him and they went together on nu,
merouS exploring trips.
''He was greatly impressed with the
Eastern professor and from the tims
of his visit until his death more thar
= wear ago Mr.. Beckwith added to his
collection, which is now considered the
most complete display Of its kind il
existence.
Before the death of Mr.. Beckwith
his collection had attracted much at
tention, and both the St. Louis Uni
versity and Washington University
and the State University as well, trieC
for several years to acquire this val
liable and rare possession.
at was his desire, however, thai
each article of his treasured collec
ton be kept in Southeast Missouri
and never at any time would he eX
change a relic with anyone for feal
that he would acquire something from
some outside section" =
In bequeathing his collection to the
Normal, before his death, he made the
request that an annual address bt
made by some notable speaker in or
der that the subject might be kept be
fore the public. and the proper inter