CHAPTER VI
WILLIAM, THE FOURTH HOUSE,
AND THE FINAL YEARS

would inherit the farm. He was born in 1827 and showed

an early interest in taking over the Beck homestead. He
never left home and gradually took control of the farm from his fath-
er, and took care of both parents until their deaths. William was also
a bit of an entrepreneur. He owned the first threshing machine in the
area and travelled throughout the surrounding area helping farmers
with their harvesting.

William was married twice, and both wives were descendants of
the Guernsey settlers. Two Beck daughters and four Beck sons mar-
ried children of the Guernsey group. Sally Lomas did a lot of research
on the female members of the Guernsey settlers and wrote a piece
for the Beck Bulletin on the Guernsey women who married into the
Beck family. Her story was carried in the June, 2011, edition of The
Beck Bulletin. She explained their relationship in great detail.

Williams first wife was Jane Windsor Hawkins (b. Nov. 13, 1830),
daughter of Giles Nicholas Hawkins and Harriet N. LeLacheur. His

A t some point it was decided that their tenth child, William,

57