Anthony Beck

Thanks for visiting the ancestry page of Anthony Beck, my great grandfather. He is my father's mother's father (Kevin --> Bruce Aptowicz --> Sophie Beck Aptowicz --> Anthony Beck). This is my best guess based on research. If you are curious about me, here is some information. If you have anything to correct or add (photos, newspaper clippings, stories, anecdotes, affiliations, etc.) please reach out here!

Ancestor: Anthony Beck

Born: Sept 18^th, 1882

Died: July 30^th, 1922

Parents: N/A

Siblings: Mike

Spouse: Mary Smith Beck

Children: Annie, Michael, Helen, Sophie, and Andrew

Profile of Life (this is a best guess based on research)

Antonio Beck was born on Sept 18^th, 1882, in or around Sieniawa, Poland. Sieniawa was part of Galicia but under control of the Austrian empire. Life was challenging in Galicia including wide-spread poverty. At the age of 18, he left his homeland and traveled to the U.S.. To reach the United States, Antonio boarded the S.S. La Champagne in Le Havre, France, which departed on 30th of December, 1899, and arrived in New York on the January 7th, 1900. The S.S. La Champagne was a French ocean liner.

Upon arriving in the U.S., he traveled to Luzerne County, PA, where his brother Mike had found work in a coal processing plant (coal breaker). Michael Beck arrived 2 years earlier. Antonio also worked as a coal breaker. A disproportionate numbers of new Slavic immigrants worked in the coal mining industry, where they were among the most exploited of all mine workers. There was unrest between the workers and the coal companies (see the Lattimer massacre of1897).

Based on the historical record, Antonio Beck soon left coal country for Yonkers. Antonio Beck married Mary Smith in 1903 at age 20. The marriage likely happened in Yonkers, NY, where they would live. Mary was about 15 years old. A child named Annie was born a year later but died sometime between 9 months old and 5 years old. Mary's first child to live to adulthood was Michael, born in 1908 when Mary was 20. Helen was born ~1910. Sophie was born in ~1913. Finally, the youngest child Andrew was born in ~1914.

Mary and Anthony moved around Yonkers early in their married life. During his time in Yonkers, NY, Joseph worked at the Alexander Smith Carpet Mills, which was a large industrial carpet making complex. Some indication of Anthony's physical apperance is given on his draft card. He was short with a medium build, blue eyes, and brown hair. Mary and Anthony moved into 52 Vark St around 1921. Anthony Beck died in 1922. He tragically drowned in the Hudson River saving his son. By 1925, Mary stated she owned 52 Vark St. The family lived on the first floor of 52 Vark St and rented out the other apartments. This home would remain in the family for many decades to come.

Analysis

Year of Birth and Death: On Anthony Beck's draft card, it states his birthday is September 18th, 1882. This matches well with the birth year stated on historical records. The date of his death is based on the New York Times' article about his drowning.

Anthony's arrival in the US: I believe the Anthony Beck came to the US on the S.S. La Champagne and first lived with his brother Mike in Luzerne, PA. He then later moved to Yonkers, NY. However, I'm not certain these are all the same Anthony Beck. There are a lot of similarities when looking over the historical documents: (1) same birth year; (2) same arrival time in the US; and (3) same approximate birth nation (southeastern Poland). Furthermore, after the 1900 census, there is no record of Anthony Beck in Luzerne County. In addition, there is no record of Anthony Beck in Yonkers in 1900. Finally, there are not many Anthony Beck's who came to the US from eastern Europe. Based on all this information, I've made the leap and assumed the Anthony Beck on the S.S. La Champagne, the Anthony Beck living in Luzerne in 1900 and the Anthony Beck who lived in Yonkers are the same person.

Michael Beck: In addition to his entry on 1900 US Census with his brother Anthony, I have some additional information about Michael Beck. In particular, he is listed as leaving from Szczecin, Poland, and arriving in New York (passenger lists). These passengers lists suggest Michael Beck was from the area near Rymanow, Poland. This location matches the approximate area that Anthony might be from. In addition, he was traveling to Miners Mill, PA. He was traveling with three other men and they had all the same answers for last residence and destination. Rymanow, Poland, might not have been Michael Beck's last residence, but instead the last residence of one of his traveling companions.

Address: Mary and Anthony Beck moved multiple times while living in Yonkers. Their addresses were:

1905 - 46 Clinton St
1910 - 24 Rear Washington St
1915 - 3R Jefferson St
1920 - 3R Jefferson St
1921 – 52 Vark St. (based on Yonkers City directory)
1922 – Antonio drowns in the Hudson River.

Nationality: In his Census entries, he listed his birth nation as: Austria, Russia, Austri-Russia (polish), Austria, Galicia (language Russian). On the passenger list for the S.S. La Champagne, he states he last residence was Sieniawa, Poland. It seems very likely he was from Sieniawa, Poland, or the surrounding area. Note, this is also the region that Mary Smith Beck is believed to be from.

Historical records for Anthony Beck

1900 Passenger List for the S.S. La Champagne

Line 11 - Antoni Beck (age 18)

NOTES: The S.S. La Champagne left Le Havre, France, on the 30th of December, 1899. It arrived in the port of New York on the 7th of January, 1900. Anthony lists his nationality as Austrian and his last residence as Sieniawa, Poland. Two other passengers listed above him have the same last residence. He mentions going to live with a brother in Lucerne, PA.

1900 US Census from Luzerne, PA

Line 5 - Mike Beck (age 20)

Line 6 - Anthony Beck (age 18)

NOTES: Anthony's birth nation is Austria. He arrived in the US in 1899 and is working as a laborer as a coal breaker. He is single and living as a boarder with his brother Mike. He is living on Plymouth Ave. in Hanover Township, PA in the county of Luzerne, PA.

1903 Wedding Family Photo

Photo of Mary and Anthony Beck on their wedding day. Joseph Smith and Anna Smith (Mary Smith Beck's parents) are standing next to them.

1905 NY Census from Yonkers, NY

Line 18 - Tony Beck (age 23)

Line 19 - Mary Beck (age 20)

Line 20 - Annie Beck (age 9 months)

NOTES: Address is 46 Clinton St.; Birth Nation is Russia; Tony works at a carpet factory; Tony and Mary have been in the U.S. for six years.

1910 US Census from Yonkers, NY

Line 19 - Antonio Beck (age 27)

Line 20 - Mary Beck (age 22)

Line 21 - Michael Beck (age 2)

NOTES: Antonio works at a carpet factory; Antonio and Mary have been married for 7 years; for both of them, this is their first marriage; Mary has had 3 children but only one is still living; Mary and Antonio could not read nor write; Antonio arrived in U.S. in 1899 and Mary arrived in U.S. in 1900.

1915 NY Census from Yonkers, NY

Line 46 - Antonio Beck (age 30)

Line 47 - Mary Beck (age 28)

Line 48 - Michael Beck (age 7)

Line 49 - Helen Beck (age 5)

Line 50 - Sophie Beck (age 3)

Line 1 (next page) - Andrew Beck (age 1)

NOTES: Antonio works in carpet factory; Antonio and Mary have been in the U.S. for 15 years.

1918 Draft Registration Card from Yonkers, NY

Antoni is living at 3 Jefferson St. He is a laborer at the Alex Smith & Sons Carpet Company. His boss is McCormack. He states that he was born in Austria/Galicia. He is short with a medium build, blue eyes, and brown hair.

1919 Beck Family Photo

Photo of Mary and Anthony Beck as well as their four children. The children are Michael, Helen, Sophie, and Andrew (going from tallest to shortest).

1920 US Census from Yonkers, NY

Line 89 - Antonio Beck (age 37)

Line 90 - Mary Beck (age 32)

Line 91 - Michael Beck (age 11)

Line 92 - Helen Beck (age 9)

Line 93 - Sophie Beck (age 7)

Line 94 - Andrew Beck (age 5)

NOTES: Antonio and Mary arrived in 1900; Mother tongue was polish; Antonio works at a carpet shop; Michael Smith is also listed as a boarder, but he has a deeper relationship to Mary. He might be her brother. Micheal's draft card from 1917 lists this address as his home address, but also states he has a mother and father in Peekskill, NY, where Mary’s parents live.

1921 City Directory for Yonkers, NY

This directory indicates that Antonio and Mary were living at 52 Vark St. in 1921 prior to Antonio's death.

1922 New York Times Obituary for Anthony Beck

Anthony Beck seized with cramps and drowned in the Hudson River while teaching his 10-year-old son, John, to swim off of Peene's Wharf on the afternoon of Sunday, July 30th, 1922. [Note some of this information is inconsistent with family history. For example, Anthony did not have a son named John. In addition, it is believed he died while saving the life of his son.]

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