#1 18 May 1835 – 31 Oct 1925

Pilot 4 Nov 1925

Mrs. Cecelia Beekmann passed away at the home of her son, C. J. Beekmann, at 9:30 last Saturday morning at the advanced age of almost 90 years. Seventeen years ago she suffered a paralytic stroke that affected one side and her speech, so she hadn’t been able to speak during all that time. She had gradually failed, not being able to get out of bed for the past two years. She wasn’t sick otherwise and just passed away of old age. The funeral was held at the house at 2:30 Monday afternoon. Father Byersdorfer officiating. Burial was in the Blair cemetery by the side of her husband, Chas. H. Beekmann, whose death occurred in 1890, and their eldest son, Hans, who died at the age of 16 years. The surviving children are Mrs. George Rohwer of Ft. Calhoun, Mrs. Ellis Price who lives just south of Blair, F. W. Beckmann, of Pisgah, Ia., and C. J., of this city. There are 18 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Cecelia Forbeck was born in Plohn, Holstein, Germany, May 18th, 1835. She was married to Chas. H. Beekmann in April of 1866 and they came to this country the same year, settling first in Omaha. They came to Blair the following year and lived for a time in a little old log house that stood on the side hill just south of the Cunningham place. With Alex and T.M. Carter he owned about all of the town sight of Blair at one time. Later he bought the farm east of town, where he lived until his death in 1890. Nine years later Mrs. Beekmann sold the farm and moved to Blair, going to make her home with her son, Charles, seventeen years ago. For all that time she had been unable to talk, but her hearing was good and she enjoyed music and the conversation of others up to the last few weeks of her life. She was patient with her condition and surroundings, thus revealing a sturdiness of character few possess. A rather strange occurrence is that she came to America on the same boat with George Kuhr, whose death occurred Friday at the age of 81 and her Saturday at the age of 89. The bereaved family bare the sincere sympathy of many friends, and the memory of a beautiful life that they will cherish always.

#2 Enterprise 5 Nov 1925

County Pioneer Passes

The death of Mrs. Cecelia Beekmann occurred last Saturday morning, Oct. 31, at the home of her son, C. J. Beekmann of this city.

She had passed her eighty-ninth birthday and had spent most of her life in and around Blair where she had made many lifelong friends.

Since she has been confined to her bed during nearly two long years, she had been tenderly cared for and made as comfortable as possible by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. C. J. Beekmann, who has given her a daughter’s loving care.

Cecelia Forbeck Beekmann was born May 18, 1835 at Plohn in Holstein Germany. She was married to Carol H. Beekmann on March 20, 1866. In May of the same year they came to America and arrived in Omaha in 1866 where they lived. About one year later they came to Blair and lived in a log house for awhile in the southwest part of Blair.

They lived and owned land where Dana College now stands and owned part of the land in the northeast part of town which they sold to the Sioux City and Pacific R.R. Company which was afterwards sold to John I. Blair and is part of the town site. Most of her life was spent in the old home just east of Blair.

Seventeen years ago she had a stroke of paralysis and from then up to her death she made her home with her son, Charles. She had been bedfast for nearly two years. She leaves two daughters, Mrs. George Rohwer, of Calhoun and Mrs. Ella Price, of Blair; also two sons, F. W. Beekmann, of Pisgah, Iowa and Chas. J., of this city. There are eighteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held from the Beekmann home, Monday afternoon and interment was made in the Blair cemetery beside the husband, Chas. H. Beekmann, who passed away in 1890.

#3 Tribune 5 Nov 1925

Another Pioneer Woman Is Called To Her Rest

The passing of Mrs. Cecelia Beekmann of this city, is one of the important events of the week.

Mrs. Beekmann was born in Holstein, Germany, May 18, 1835, and died at the home of her son, Charles, October 31, 1925 at the ripe age of 91 years, five months, and 12 days.

She with her husband left Germany April 24, 1866, coming direct to Omaha where Mr. Beekmann secured a position. A year and a half later they moved to this county and lived in a small log house west of where Blair now stands. In the year 1868 they purchased the land where Dana college is now located and later purchased the land which is now the northeast part of Blair. This same land was sold to the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Company and later to John I. Blair. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Beekmann were among the early settlers and took an important part in the founding of this city and in its subsequent growth. Mr. Beekmann died April 14, 1890, and for the past many years this mother has made her home with her son, Charles Beekman, in this city. For the past seventeen years she has been an invalid, a lovely and loveable patient, and for the past two years her time has been spent in bed. She had the tenderest care and devotion from her daughter-in-law, a thing so rare and beautiful as to be a subject of much favorable comment.

Mrs. Beekmann was devoted to her family, an affectionate mother and a true friend and neighbor. She was the mother of five children, the eldest having died at the age of 16 years. Surviving to mourn the loss of their truest earthly friend, are two daughters and two sons: Mrs. George Rohwer of Ft. Calhoun, Mrs. Ella Price, and Charles Beekmann of Blair, and F. W. Beekmann of Pisgah, Iowa. There are also eighteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted from the Beekmann home Monday afternoon by Rev. Father Beyersdorfer and the frail form laid away in the Silent City to sleep the sleep of the just. She is gone but never will be forgotten by those who loved her in life.

Beekmann, Cacelia 10/30/1925 Note: the tombstone has the death date of October 30 (the newspaper had an error) Printed in the November 5, 1925 Tribune, Blair, Nebraska ANOTHER PIONEER WOMAN IS CALLED TO HER REST The passing of Mrs. Cacelia Beekmann of this city, is one of the important events of the week. Mrs. Beekmann was born in Holstein, Germany, May 18, 1835, and died at the home of her son, Charles, October 31, 1925, at the ripe age of 91 years, five months and 12 days. She with her husband left Germany April 24, 1866, coming direct to Omaha where Mr. Beekmann secured a position. A year and a half later they moved to this county and lived in a small log house west of where Blair now stands. In the year 1868 they purchased the land where Dana college is now located and later purchased the land which is now the northeast part of Blair. This same land was sold to the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Company and later to John I. Blair. Thus, Mr. and Mrs. Beekmann were among the early settlers and took and important part in the founding of this city and in its subsequent growth. Mr. Beekmann died April 14, 1890, and for the past many years this mother has made her home with her son, Charles Beekmann, in this city. For the past seventeen years she has been an invalid, a lovely and loveable patient, and for the past two years her time has been spent in bed. She had the tenderest care and devotion from her daughter-in-law, a thing so rare and beautiful as to be a subject of much favorable comment.

Mrs. Beekmann was devoted to her family, an affectionate mother and a true friend and neighbor. She was the mother of five children, the eldest having died at the age of 16 years. Surviving to mourn the loss of their truest earthly friend, are two daughters and two sons: Mrs. George Rohwer of Ft. Calhoun, Mrs. Ella Price, and Charles Beekmann of Blair, and F.W. Beekmann of Pisgah, Iowa. There are also eighteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted from the Beekmann home Monday afternoon by the Rev. Father Beyersdorfer and the frail form laid away in the Silent City to sleep the sleep of the just. She is gone but never will be forgotten by those who loved her in life.

~~~The first name spelling on her headstone is Cacelia; the death date is October 30, 1925~~~

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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