Multnomah County OR Archives Obituaries.....Beck, Aaron October 3, 1904 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com February 10, 2008, 1:48 pm Morning Oregonian October 4,1904 Pioneer Dies Suddenly Aaron Beck, Aged 77,Stricken With Paralysis Came To Oregon in 1854 And Was Identified With City's Life For Many Years After onlt ten minutes warning that his end was near, Aaron Beck,77 years old, a pioneer of '54 and on of Portland's best known merchants in his day,died at 5 o'clck yesterday morning at the Beck homestead at the northwest corner of Seventh and Oak streets,where he and his family have continually resided for 30 years. His death was caused by paralysis and worrying over the death of his wife,who passed away June 21,1901. Mr. Beck's funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. Bavaria was Aaron Beck's native ountry,where he was born July 29,1827. In the year 1852 he emigrated to the United States. Two years later he strated for the Oreogn Country,proceeding by way of the Isthmus o fPanama, and began in the general merchandise business at Salem.In 1863 he moved to this city and started in business on Front street,between Alder and Washington. subsequently Mr. beck formed a co partnership with A.Waldman,and afterward sold out at a good profit to Mr.Waldman,who is now a bailiff in the Court Circuit. It was about 1886 when Mr.Beck retire from the cares of business,but his life was byno means an idle one. he performed many charities and delighted in works of private benevolence,although very few knew the donor. A member of the committee which superintended the construction of the Temple Beth Israel, he was active in church life, and was also a member of the First Hebrew Men's Benevolent Society. Portland was Mr.beck's home and ideal city and very few citizens were so proud of their adopted home,or so patriotic concerning the land of their adoption as he. Friends used to sya"Aaron beck thinks more of the Forth of July than any other day of the year" He was quick to notice any improvements in Portland, and often astonished people by the correctness of his information concerning new buildings and current events.Every morning he used to awake before the different members of the family were about,and ususlly sat on the veranda of his residence,reading the newspapers. The great sorrow of his life came when his wife died and it ws remarked that he was never the same man again.If Mrs.Beck had lived 11 months longer, she and her husband would have been able to celebrate their golden weding . Mr. Becl often latterly said to friends" I wish I were with my wife" Mr.Beck who was a great grandfather had five osns and four daughters born to him: Samul,Emmanuel,William,Harry and Jacob, and Mrs.Ella Eisenbach,Mrs.Sarah Strauss,Mrs.Clara Levey and Miss Mabel Beck. All his family live in this city except Mrs.Strauss whose home is in Santa Cruz,Cal., His great grandson is the infant son of Mrs.Jesse Neubauer,of San Fransisco. Mr.Beck is etimated to be worth $100,000 at the time of his death. H eowned three lots where he lived and also property on Sixth street, near Washington.in politics Mr.Beck was a Deomcrat, but he never aspired to the public office,and was rarely known to talk politics, although often asked to do so. Additional Comments: A photo accompanies this article File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/obits/b/beck3794gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb