Obituaries as printed in newspapers of an earlier day were frequently historical narratives because the life of the deceased was interwoven with the development of the fledgling nation.
The March 7, 1913 edition of the "Panhandle News" carried the obituary of Mrs. Rachel Beck, widow of John Beck and member of the Beck family prominent in the early history of both Ohio and Brooke counties.
Mrs. Rachel Beck relict of John Beck deceased many years, passed away at her home near Bethany, Friday morning at about 1 a.m. in her 88th year.
The deceased was the mother of Pres. Calvin Beck of the county court deceased but a few days before his mother. Her condition had been such that she was not apprised by his death.
The deceased was born July 16, 1825 on the Humphrey homestead about 2 miles from West Alexander, Pa. in Ohio county VA, (now WV) where her early life was spent. Her grandfather Robert Humphrey was a pioneer settler, who took up large tracts of land in the vicinity, about 400 acres, including the present site of West Alexander. In 1778 he laid out what is not the town, donated land for the Presbyterian Church and burying ground, the consideration being one-third of a seat in church. The present site of the Presbyterian Church and other church buildings were in the donations.
Her grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution, was in the heat of the fight at the battle of Brandywine, and carried Gen.Lafayette off the file when he was wounded, making a bed for him of brush and blankets, watching, caring for him and keeping him out of the hands of the enemy until assistance arrived.
Gen Lafayette have him credit for saving his life and in 1828 when visiting this county, visited Robert Humphrey and together rode on horseback through West Alexander at a public demonstration in their honor.
These instances with many others were often related my Mrs. Beck to her children and friends, her memory being most acute in historical events.
The deceased was long a member of the Presbyterian Church, a devout Christian and most charitable in opinion as to other churches. The deceased, in case of sickness or distress, was always read to give and no matter what creed or race of how humble the surroundings she was a home loving woman and cared not for public notoriety.
We knew the deceased since our boyhood. In our teens as a clerk in our father's store we felt high compliments by her confidence in us as a salesman and she often surprised us by her knowledge of politics from the foundation of the government. We never met a person with a greater knowledge of political issues of the several campaigns from Washington down too Grover Cleveland's. She was most remarkable women in every way, was devoted to her life work on the farm, her family, friends and neighbors and reared a large family to maturity of worthy men and women.
