Oscar Eugene Beck Family - Family Histories

      Oscar Eugene Beck, the third child of John Louis Firmin Beck, was born October 11, 1885 in Coleman (see Firmin Beck). He spent his childhood on the ranch and attended Coleman grade school. His higher education was attained at Saint Edwards Academy in Austin, where he played football and baseball. He received highest honors for his academic achievements and he was most interested in mathematics, or just plain arithmetic. On his return to Coleman, he and his brother-in-law, J. Arthur Horne, formed a partnership and called it Horne & Beck. They sold International Harvester farm implements, wagons, hardware and operated a funeral parlor.

     It was during these years that his sister, Margaret, "Maggie" was attending Ursuline Academy in Dallas with an attractive, lovely young lady, Kate Jackson. They became dear friends, and when Kate stopped in Coleman to visit Maggie, she met Oscar Eugene Beck. Kate and Oscar E. were married December 24, 1913 in the Grace Hotel in Abilene, where Kate was teaching school. Soon after Kate and Oscar married, he dissolved the partnership with Arthur Horne. Oscar took a position with the Valera State Bank in Valera, and worked there for several years. Afterward, he worked with Central State Bank in Coleman, until his father's death, December 28, 1923. During the years between 1908 and 1923, Oscar would travel north and south, even into Old Mexico, on freight trains, delivering sheep his father had sold. The Delane-Merino sheep raised by the Becks were in great demand everywhere. On December 6, 1914, Katherine Aline was born to Kate and Oscar. Ellen Elizabeth arrived September 13, 1920.

     F. Beck left Oscar as executor of his estate, which was extensive, but much in debt. After selling off cattle and sheep to pay a large debt acquired during the 1918-1919 drought, Oscar was able to divide the land and stock according to his father's will. Oscar never went back to work in town, but took over his 1½ sections of land and the stock left to him by his father. He and Kate lived in town, but "camped out" at the ranch. In the early 1930's Kate and Oscar added a section of land to their holdings.

     Aline and Ellen grew up, each having many friends and taking part in school, social and civic activities. They attended Coleman schools. At age 5, Aline began piano lessons, which continued for 20 years, Ellen took dancing lessons beginning at age 3 and continued equally as long. Both girls loved their talents and did well. Ellen began her dancing school when the teacher from Brownwood could no longer come to Coleman, and Aline played accompaniment for the dancers. Kate belonged to the Thursday Bridge Club and was active in P.T.A. besides teaching catechism for Sacred Heart Catholic Church, which the Beck family attended. The first Catholic Church was built on land donated by F. Beck, but mass was held only once a month in the early days.

     In the fall of 1932, Oscar and Kate and their daughters moved from Coleman to San Angelo, where Oscar had accepted a position with the Regional Credit Corporation. The family returned to the ranch and Coleman, where Aline graduated from Coleman High School in 1932. Oscar accepted a position as appraiser for the Federal Land Bank. Ellen graduated in the class of 1937 and attended school in San Antonio prior to her marriage to Eldon Morris Knox, February 2, 1939 (see Eldon Morris Knox). Aline married H. A. Thompson, Jr. of Vernon, October 18, 1942. They have four children, Nancy Schultz, Mary Schultz, Lewis Thompson, all of Houston, and John, of Victoria, and six grandchildren.

     Oscar Beck passed away on December 6, 1957 and is buried in Coleman. Ellen died August 1, 1972 and Kate died February 22, 1977. Kate and Ellen were honored by Pope Pius XII and named Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre for their contributions to the betterment of the Catholic Church in the San Angelo Diocese.

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Kate Beck

Oscar Beck