Edgar R. Beckwith, grocery and provision merchant at Albany, was born March 29, 1838, at Chazy, Clinton Co., N. Y. His father, Ransom Beckwith, was born in Vermont, and married Lois Graves, who was a native of Greenbush, Columbia Co., N. Y. Her father was a pioneer of Clinton County, and was the found of the village of Chazy.

The Beckwith family removed about 1841 to Malone, N. Y., and after a residence there of two years, went to Madrid, in St. Lawrence County. Edgar obtained a good common-school educating at Madrid, and studied three terms at the Academy at Potsdam. At 18 he began a contest with the world on his own responsibility, and came to Illinois in 1856. His health was poor, and he passed the winter of 1856 and 1857 in travel in Jo Daviess, and counties adjoining. In the following spring he went to Kane County, and remained there during the ensuing summer. He came to Albany in the autumn of 1856. Soon after, he obtained an appointment as surveyor on the Illinois & Grand Trunk Railroad, and acted in that capacity until the second year of the Civil War. Aug. 10, 1862, he enlisted in Co. CV, 8th Ill. Cav. He served two years as a private, and in August, 1864, he was discharged by special order of the Secretary of War, to enlist as hospital steward in the regular army of the United States. He was stationed at the office of the provost-marshal in Philadelphia. June 24, 1865, he was discharged by order of the President. He returned to Whiteside County in September, 1865, and located at Union Grove. He had lived there 18 months, when, in company with his brother bought a similar establishment at Albany. In 1874, the firm style became Beckwith & Quick, by the sale of the interest of Thomas Beckwith to Benjamin Quick. The senior partner sold out to Mr. Quick in 1880, and Mr. Beckwith engaged in his present business enterprise. He sold out soon after, but a gain established his trade in 1881. He has met with reasonable success in his mercantile ventures, and is the owner of a very pleasant residence, located at a desirable point on the bluffs of the river, and commanding a beautiful view of the Mississippi and country adjacent.

Mr. Beckwith was married Oct. 6, 1873, to Jennie E., daughter of Benjamin S. and Mary A. Quick. They have one child, Edgar Q. Mr. and Mrs. Quick are pioneer settlers of Whiteside County.

Portraits & Biographical Pg 749 Contributed by Marji Turner