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Show JOHN BECK DIES WRETCHEDLY POOR John Beck, a resident of Utah for a half century and for manv years one of the prominent figures of the west, died at 7 40 o'clock yesterday morning at his home. 321 South Sixth Kast street, Salt Lake. His death was due to blood poisoning poison-ing resulting from a scratch Inflicted Inflict-ed sesen weeks ago on a toe b a nail In one of his shoes Two weeks later the too was amputated and on Tuesday the surgeons found it Qeces-Ban Qeces-Ban to amputate the leg. but his vitality vi-tality was too weak to permit his rallying from the shock Mr. Beck is survived by 17 children, chil-dren, a large number of grandchildren and several groat-grandchlldren. He was 70 years of age at the time of his death. John Beck was one of the most picturesque figures of a time and environment which produced some of' the most striking figures In American Amer-ican histors lie made several large fortunes, frittered them away aud died practically penniless. Coming to America in Mav of ISfii at the head of a party of :.'(i converts to the Mormon faith, ho roon became-a became-a prominent factor In the development develop-ment of Utah. Engaging in various pursuits for about six years, he became be-came identified with the mining Industry In-dustry In 1870 when he purchased an interest In the Eureka mine in the Tlntie district. In mining Mr Book had discovered discov-ered his forte and despite an unfortunate unfor-tunate ptart he soon earned the title of the "luckiest man In the west " Although his original Investment of $6000 iu the Eureka mine was lost through vexatious litigation and he j was left poor, his courage and faith were undaunted. Ono day while examining n large rock in Tlntlc he discovered Indications Indica-tions which led him to record the claim, although it was thought by more experienced men to be valueless. value-less. Development proved it to bo one of the best mines In that, rich district dis-trict It was named the Bullion-Beck Bullion-Beck mine, which has paid millions in dividends to its stockholders. But the famous "Beck luck" did not avail to preserve to the discover discov-er the golden flood which poured into in-to his coffers. His unconquerable failing fail-ing was to put entire trust in False and unscrupulous friends who would easily persuade him to invest large sums in worthless and Impracticable schemes. "He spent money faster than he I could make it faster than the prin-i prin-i clpal ownership In even such a rich I mine could bring It In " said one of his staunch friends last night In discussing dis-cussing this trait of the pioneer's c haracter. Not all of Mr neck s investments were bod, but his profits were swallowed swal-lowed up by his poor ones A striking generosity was another of his ebar-! ebar-! acteristlcs I-arge sums went to philanthropic phil-anthropic enterprises. He built at ni,. own expense the first Mormon meeting house in Euroka, when branch of the church was organized at that place, ssilh himself M pres- ident. He built a school house at Ku-i Ku-i reka, a meeting house and theater at Lehi, helped to found the deaf mute institute of Utah Mr. Beck was a pioneer In the sugar su-gar Industry In this state. He built at I.ehi the first sugar factory to be erected In Utah This, like a majority major-ity of other Investments, resulted in a loss, a reduction in the tariff at that time proving most costly. However, How-ever, he had the satisfaction of blazing blaz-ing the day In an industry which has done so much to build up the state he lovod. Goes on Mission. In 1887 Mr Beck undertook a voluntary vol-untary mission to Germany. He established es-tablished a branch of the church at Stuttgart and directed the immigration immigra-tion to Utah of 200 converts, giving the heads of families employment In his mine Returning to America in 1889, ho spent much of the next three years in California Mr Beck had married In 1865 Sarah Sa-rah Beck, a third cousin He later espoused four other wires, Louisa Mattl, Bertha Gobs, Matilda Goss and Louisa Goss The movement agalnsr polygamy started about tile time of his return from Europe and he suffered suf-fered fines, but not Imprisonment About 1890 he took up his permanent perma-nent residence In Salt Lake City, where he purchased five handsome homes, among them the famous Do Golyei home on Fifth East drive, now owned by T It Cutler lie continued contin-ued to Invest his large Income In va-lioUS va-lioUS properties, among them the hot springs which still bear his name He invested heavily In the breeding of fine horses and cattle, planted large orchards and vineyards and gave lavishly to all public move ments. Mr. Beck was a native of Alchel-berg, Alchel-berg, YVurfembcrg, Germany, where he was born March 19, 1843. At the age of 14 years he went to Stuttgart, and in 18fi0 removed to Switzerland At this place in 1861 he was converted convert-ed to Mormonism and accomplished much for the cause in that country and later In Wurtemberg and Baden. W hen Archibald Claverlng Gunter. i the successful novelist, who was at one time an assaver in Salt Lake j City, wrote his famous novel ' Miss Dividends." he portrayed John Beck' In one of the principal characters Those who base read the story say that the portrayal Is an excellent one. W S McCorntck, who has known Mr Beck for many years, say6 of him "He was a faithful and loyal citizen citi-zen and his constant wish was to do something for the good of the state. He was a good soul, who always did the best he could, and was his own worst onemy. Although he had several sev-eral large fortunes, he died wretchedly wretched-ly poor." |