Milton Miles Beckwith^{[1, 2]}

1901 - 1981  (79 years)

• Name	Milton Miles Beckwith
  Born	27 Sep 1901	Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	Milton Morris von Beschwitz
  Census	1910	2729 Racine Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [3]
  Census	1920	537 Arlington Place, #60, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [4]
  Census	1930	1516 Ardmore Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [5]
  Census	1940	537 Arlington Place, #60, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [6]
  Died	25 Aug 1981	Dunedin, Pinellas County, Florida   [7, 8]
  Buried	10 Oct 1981	Elmhurst Memorial Cemetery, Joliet, Will County, Illinois   [9]
  Person ID	I45	Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest
  Last Modified	20 Aug 2015

  
  

  Father	Moritz Georg "George" von Beschwitz,   b. 31 Jan 1867, Alt-Hörnitz, Hörnitz, Sachsen, Germany ,   d. 8 Mar 1945, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 78 years)
  Mother	Maude Eleanor Elizabeth Wheeler,   b. 29 Aug 1873, Spencer Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York ,   d. 3 Sep 1961, Mercer Island, Washington  (Age 88 years)
  Married	22 May 1901	Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [10]
  Family ID	F48	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Marjorie Ruth Mateer,   b. 8 Jan 1904, Joliet, Will County, Illinois ,   d. 12 May 1994, Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee  (Age 90 years)
  Married	24 Sep 1927	Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  Children	+ 1. Robert Milton "Bob" Beckwith,   b. 9 Jul 1928, Grant Hospital, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 96 years)
  Family ID	F13	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 27 Sep 1901 - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Census - 1910 - 2729 Racine Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Census - 1920 - 537 Arlington Place, #60, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Married - 24 Sep 1927 - Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Census - 1930 - 1516 Ardmore Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Census - 1940 - 537 Arlington Place, #60, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Died - 25 Aug 1981 - Dunedin, Pinellas County, Florida Buried - 10 Oct 1981 - Elmhurst Memorial Cemetery, Joliet, Will County, Illinois  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos		JeanetteBeckwithAlbum0052.jpg
  		JeanetteBeckwithAlbum0096.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Milton changed his name from Milton Morris von Beschwitz. The Morris was probably an Anglicized Moritz. Rescue Three Canoeists. Most spectacular of the lake rescues was that of three youths, whose sailing canoe was capsized by high waves half a mile out from the foot of Pratt boulevard. Three life guards from the Toughy beach, Sommers, Van Beschwirtz (sic), and Tresch, rowed out at the risk of their own lives to save them. The rescued canoeists, numbed by the cold and the lashing of high waves are Harvey Cohen, 1110 Pratt boulevard; Albert Levin, 5474 Harper avenue, and Major Lawrence, 1311 Farwell avenue. All are about 18 years old. Saturday, October 10, 1981 Elmhurst Cemetery, Joliet 11 AM Memorial service of Milton M. Beckwith. Born Sept. 27, 1901 - Chicago, Illinois Died Aug. 25, 1981 - Dunedin, Florida Married Sept. 24, 1927 to: Marjorie Mateer Beckwith One son: Robert M. Beckwith Three grandsons: Robert, John and David Beckwith Two great granddaughters: Crystal and Yvette Beckwith One surviving brother: George L. Beckwith Milton Miles Beckwith was the eldest of three sons born to George and Maude von Beschwitz. As a teenage youth he became interested in a relatively new organization, the Boy Scouts of America which was rapidly growing throughout the nation. Milton was one of the organizers of Boy Scout Troop 87 at the Fullerton Avenue Presbyterian Covenant Church in Chicago. This initial interest in helping other people through a youth organization was to become the ultimate cornerstone of his life. More than 20 years later he returned to the same troop with his son as scout and he as scoutmaster. It was this service to youth during World War II which helped fill the gap left by younger scout leaders engaged in military defense of their country. During his youthful days and continuing into his college years, Milton and his brothers became excellent swimmers over the vigorous objections of his mother who always feared the water. A strong believer that anyone could learn to swim with just a pail of water, Milton spent many summers as a life guard at the beaches of Chicago or the YMCA camp at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin ... again typical of his concern for the welfare of others, primarily youth. During his years at Northwestern University from which he earned his degree in Business Administration Milton continued swimming. He won many honors as a member of the University's swimming team. Later while obtaining a law degree from the Chicago Law School he became a member of the Illinois Athletic Club swimming team. During this period he sharpened his competitive spirit by joining a team mate in lively pursuit of ducks swimming in one of Chicago's boat harbors. While the team mate, Johnny Weismueller, went on to Olympic fame and movie stardom as "Tarzan", Milton settled down to marriage, raising a family and joining the credit department of Marshall Fields. But the memorable experiences Milton had swimming with, and sometimes against, "Tarzan" have become legendary to his family and friends. Following his interest in scouting, Milton turned his career from the field of credit management to the field of youth development. To help young people gain an appreciation of the free enterprise system and learn how to successfully operate their own small businesses, Milton became manager of a Junior Achievement center on the northwest side of Chicago. Working with boys and girls of all backgrounds and religious beliefs and with the schools and business leaders, Milton built a J. A. youth program that lacked a counterpart anywhere in the city. His life, his love for youth, his words of wisdom and counsel to the young, his knack of stimulating youth's creative spirit has been imparted in the minds and hearts of thousands of former J.A.ers who are today's adult leaders. For seventeen years Milton, known affectionately as "Mr. B" by his J.A.ers, served the teenagers of Chicago's northwest side ... and he served to help build in others an appreciation of our economic system which has helped make this a nation great. Upon his retirement Milton entered what may be regarded as the most beautiful and rewarding phase of his life. The time had come to serve as elder statesman ... to impart the family heritage and fulfill all the other important responsibilities of being a grandfather. And the time had come to enter into a closer spirit with the creator and those He created. As a young man Milton was very active in church work and served as Sunday school superintendent ... now as a retired citizen he returned to an active role in the Presbyterian Church of Evanston. As trustee of the church he found many ways to be of service. While his working years left no time for Milton to join organizations for his personal fulfillment, he now made up for this neglect by joining the Masonic Lodge of Evanston. His commitment to this brotherhood, as to his work in Junior Achievement, resulted in exceptional achievement and advancement. His unselfish service and the deep respect he held for others brought about a deep inner sense of self esteem. Shortly after becoming a Shriner, Milton and his wife, Marjorie, left the confines of Chicago area and for the next ten years "to the day", August 25, 1971 to August 25, 1981 established a new life in Dunedin (Dun nee' din), Florida. A happy ten years, he found many wonderful new friends and time to travel and enjoy a relaxed social life. This was the time of life when Milton's keen sense of humor and love to engage in hilarious antics showed at its finest ... and warmed the hearts of all ... and filled the air with howls of laughter. And till his end on this Earth, Milton Beckwith never stopped swimming ... like a fish under water, or a porpoise cresting the surface, his graceful form never aged. Milton competed in life as he competed as a swimmer ... always with grace, determination, and poise. He did not become an Olympian nor a cinema star, but he did become "our" Tarzan ... and for this he will swim in the heavens of our Lord and we shall follow his wake. ---------- Reference: Newspaper article. "Milton Miles Beckwith Eulogy", Robert Milton Beckwith, 1981.

  
  

• Sources

  [S142] Newspaper Article, The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, 16 Mar 1923. U. W. NOTES Kappn Alpha Beta Dinner and Dance Kappa Alpha Delta fraternity will entertain at a formal dinner dance in the Elizabethan room of the Park hotel this evening. The decorations will be sprir.g flowers with jonquils predominating. Out of town guests will be Fred J. Burkort, Donald T. Corey, J. Frank Jewett, George A. Graham, Harold P. Miller, Edward J. Czekala, Lester C. Jacobson, Milton Von Beschwitz. Robert R. Justus, William W. Edwards from Northwestern university and Rendall C. Wetzeil of the University of Illinois. Dean and Mrs. S. H. Goodnight, and Lieut, and Mrs. E. M. Sutherland have accepted the invitation to chaperon. [S142] Newspaper Article, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City, Iowa, 13 Feb 1923. MID-YEAR TESTS HIT PURPLE TEAMSs TEN ATHLETES FLUNK OUT EVANSTON, Feb. 13—Ten athletes, including six swimmers, two wrestlers, one track man, and one basketball player, constitute the list of ineligibles at Northwestern university as the result of semester examinations, according to information, from faculty authorities yesterday. Several more of the star Purple performers, including Capt. Harold McKenzie of the cage team and Capt. Elect Billy McElwain of the football squad have tottered back from the ragged edges. Tom Robinson's water outfit is the hardest hit. Henry Penfield, Milton Beschwitz, Bob Phillips, Art Winslow, Lester Wheeler, and Richmond Corbett are lost. Penfield and Phillips cripple the water basketball team, while Winslow was an important cog in the relay quarter. Beschwitz was dependable in the 100 and 220 and Wheeler was a breast stroker. Larry Horton, 175 pounder, and Howard Berolz'neimer, heavyweight will be forbidden to enter the remaining wrestling meets. Horton was a good bet for a fall against any man in the conference. Berolzheimer is a fair heavyweight. Coach Frank Hill's track team, preparing for the Gopher meet in Evanston Friday, will be without its star weight man, Ole Dahl. Dahl neglected to put the proper heave on the examinations. The basketball quintet loses Bob Blythe, reserve forward. [S112] Census, 1910. Name: Milton M Von Beschwitz Birthplace: Illinois Relationship to Head of Household: Son Residence: Chicago Ward 25, Cook, Illinois Marital Status: Single Race : White Gender: Male Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: Germany Mother's Birthplace: New York Family Number: 144 Page Number: 7 Household Gender Age Parent George M Von Beschwitz M 43y Parent Maud E Von Beschwitz F 36y Milton M Von Beschwitz M 8y Williard F Von Beschwitz M 6y George Von Beschwitz M 2y [S112] Census, 1920. Name: Milton Vonbeschuitz Residence: Chicago 23rd Ward, Cook, Illinois Estimated Birth Year: 1902 Age: 18 Birthplace: Illinois Relationship to Head of Household: Son Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Single Father's Birthplace: Mother's Birthplace: Film Number: 1820334 Digital Folder Number: 4300485 Image Number: 00968 Sheet Number: 3 Household Gender Age Parent George Vonbeschuitz M 51y Parent Maud Vonbeschuitz F 42y Milton Vonbeschuitz M 18y Williard Vonbeschuitz M 16y George Vonbeschuitz M 12y Elanor Wheeler F 68y [S112] Census, 1930. name: Milton M Beckwith event: Census event date: 1930 event place: , Cook, Illinois gender: Male age: 28 marital status: Married race: White birthplace: Illinois estimated birth year: 1902 immigration year: relationship to head of household: Head father's birthplace: Germany mother's birthplace: New York enumeration district number: family number: 377 sheet number and letter: 17A line number: 39 nara publication: film number: 2340229 digital folder number: 4584295 image number: 00290 Household Gender Age Birthplace head Milton M Beckwith M 28 Illinois wife Marjorie Beckwith F 26 Illinois son Robert M Beckwith M 1 Illinois [S112] Census, 1940. name: Milton Beckwith titles & terms: event: Census event year: 1940 event place: Ward 44, Chicago, Chicago City, Cook, Illinois, United States gender: Male age: 38 marital status: Married race (original): race (standardized): White relationship to head of household (original): relationship to head of household (standardized): Son birthplace: Illinois estimated birth year: 1902 residence in 1935: Same Place enumeration district number: 103-2799 family number: 65 sheet number and letter: 61A line number: 22 nara publication number: T627 nara roll number: 1009 digital folder number: 005459765 image number: 00681 Household Gender Age Birthplace head George Von Besch Wetz M 73 Germany wife Maude Von Besch Wetz F 68 New York son Willard Von Besch Wetz M 36 Illinois son George Beckwith M 32 Illinois son Milton Beckwith M 38 Illinois wife Majorie Beckwith F 36 Illinois son Robert Beckwith M 11 Illinois [S1] U. S. Social Security Death Index, 387-05-1504, Aug 1981. Applied in Wisconsin, last residing in Florida [S87] Death Certificate. Name Milton Miles Beckwith Event Type Death Event Date 25 Aug 1981 Event Place Pinellas, Florida, United States Gender Unknown Age 79 Race White Affiliate File Name Fdi10-1980.txt Affiliate Line Number 65839 Affiliate CD Number FDI10 Certificate Number 74109 [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 94414683). [S58] Marriage Certificate.