The following is taken from a document produced by Vi (Flatau) Johnson: Vi asked her mom, Elsie Flatau, many questions in January of 1988 when she was visiting Port Angeles. The account was compiled by Vi in March 1988. Minnie (Beckman) Heilman read it over in February 1988 to add a note or two.

Henrietta "Marie" Sophie Husen

August was a seaman and when Prince Wilhelm (later Kaiser) was in training he worked side-by-side with him. August was engaged to be married and his bride to be drowned in a storm.

Marie's family lived by the water and it is possible that that is how they met. They were married aboard ship on April 1, 1882, when August was 26 and Marie 17 and came to the United States with her parents. After arriving, they lived with relations and friends until a claim issued to her parents came through. This was at Spruce Grove Township Becker County or Red Eye (post office name). Both families lived in a log cabin built by August.

The men found it necessary to find work away and did carpenter work near Perham. August also worked a short time on the railroad. Neither man was a farmer. The women stayed at home, Anna was a midwife and Marie a seamstress.

Twins Albert and Martha were the first white children born in Spruce Grove Township. They lived a short time and probably died of teething complications. They were buried on the homestead.

Soon the families forfeited their claim and moved to Perham. August did a lot of carpenter work in the area building several barns and was the contractor when building Grandview Heights by Big Pine Lake. He also built several cottages on Little and Big Pine Lakes. He then started building a house near Devils Lake for him and his family. Those helping with building lived in tents in the country and the rest of the family in Perham. It was the fall of 1911, the family moved to the farm even though the house wasn't completely finished. It was a cold winter.

August had asthma and that was his reason for wanting to live near the water. He would spend days sitting on a boat on the lake when the pollen count was high. He had a stroke in the summer of 1917 and was never able to talk or communicate even though trying to. He died in September 1917.

Marie lived on the farm for a time and then made her home with her youngest child, Elsie, and her husband. She died in 1954 at their home.

The following is written by Marian Flatau.

August and Marie Beckman first came to Perham in April 1882 and there wasn't much of a town here. In fact, when they looked out of the train window all they saw were the tents of an Indian village.

They had married in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and came to America on their honeymoon. Her parents, the Husen's, had taken a homestead in Spruce Grove Township, Becker County. The Beckman's first children, a pair of twins, were born there. They were the first white children born in Spruce Grove Township but they only lived a few months and were buried on the homestead. August Beckman worked as a carpenter. They moved to Perham and after their first house in Perham burned in 1903 he built a new home for the family near the Old Wagon Factory. This house still stands. About 1910 they built a home on the south shore of Devils Lake and the family lived there for many years.

Their children are Emma, Louise, Bill, John, Marie, Clara, Minnie, Emil, and Elsie (Mrs. Albert Flatau).

Other structures that he built include the dance hall at Grand View Heights and the house and barn for Ernest Koppert (for years the Wilseck farm) in Perham Township. He helped build the church building which is now Zion United Church of Christ.

One time while living on the claim there was a forest fire. It travels quickly in the woods, much of it pine trees. They put their precious belongings into the well and ran. Suddenly they realized that the wild animals, deer, rabbits, etc. were running with them so they followed the animals until they got to the river and we're safe.

The following is taken from a booklet that was written for Albert and Elsie’s 65th Wedding Anniversary celebrated August 14, 1983. Their actual 65th anniversary was January 15, 1984. The booklet was written by Vi Johnson and Kristin Peterson from information supplied by relatives. Susan Flatau provided much of the information from the great records that she keeps. The majority of the information from the booklet has not been modified, but more photos (and some text) has been added.

John "August" Beckman III & Henrietta "Marie" Sophie Husen

Elsie’s father, John "August" Beckman III, was born in Bolstedt, Germany on May 25, 1855. Elsie’s mother, Henrietta "Marie" Sophie Husen, was born Aug. 13, 1864, in Kiel, Germany.

August and Marie were married on June 17, 1882, in Belfort, Ofemeimde, Germany and they came to America on their honeymoon. August was 27 and Marie was 18 years old when they married.

Marie’s parents, the John Husens (John and Anna), had taken a homestead in Spruce Grove Township, Becker County, MN and this is where August and Marie were to make their home. Upon arriving by train, about all they saw were the tents of an Indian village.

The Beckman’s first children, a set of twins, were the first white children born in that township. The twins, Albert and Martha, only lived five months and were buried on the homestead.

August died on Sept. 12, 1917, at the age of 62. Marie died on October 18, 1954, at the age of 90.

Beckman Family (home) - Kinstories (home) - Johnson Family - Susag Family - Flatau Family
Granquist Family - Anderson Family - Stout Family - Walker Family - Peterson Family - Morris Family - Cauble Family