BECKMAN FAMILY GENEALOGY

Carl Ferdinand August Beckmann (1835-1908), known as August or Gus, learned the milling trade from his father in Germany. His first mill in the United States was in Juda, Wisconsin near Monroe. After operating the Juda mill from approximately 1860 to 1863, he moved to Hanover near Janesville to take over the mill there. In 1882 he moved 12 miles south to Newark to run his third and final mill, now known as the Beckman Mill.

The Beckmann family history has been traced back to the late 1700s in Germany to an area approximately 45 miles southwest of Hannover. At that time the name was spelled Beckmann with the double “n”. The villages in which various branches of the family resided included Wellentrup, Waddenhausen bei Lage, Pyrmont, Entrup, Lothe, and Niese. Others lived in Amelgatzen about 25 miles southwest of Hannover. Amelgatzen is near Hameln (Hamelin) of Pied Piper fame. Known surnames of those who married into the Beckmann family include Pieper, Schneehage, and Piewitz. Research suggests that several of the families were involved in milling.

August’s father, Simon Carl (1805-1874), was the miller at Entrup, Germany from the late 1830s to 1857. In 1857, he moved with his family of seven from Entrup to Benkhausen about 40 miles to the southwest. Benkhausen is near the city of Korbach. Around 1859 son August emigrated to the United States with his sister Josephine (1845-1897). In 1868, Simon Carl also made the long journey to Wisconsin to reside in Hanover with his son and family. He died in 1874 and is buried in the Plymouth Cemetery near Hanover.

In a study of the Beckmann family in this country, it was learned that while in Juda August married twice. First to Dena Hoffmeister in 1860 and second to Catherine Ehrlinger of Hanover, WI in 1863. Very little is known about the first marriage. The Ehrlinger family came from Schornweisach, Germany northwest of Nürnberg.

Beckman Family c1900

At the time of their move to the mill in Newark in 1882, the August and Catherine Beckmann family numbered seven. Their children were: George Henry (1866-1939), Charles August (1868-1916), Augusta Albertina Marguerite (1870-1960), Josephine Wilhelmina (1878-1978), and Katherine Emma (1881-1963). Those born at Newark included: Amelia Agnes (1884-1959), Charles William [baptized Carl Friedrich Wilhelm](1886-1966), and Gertrude Anna (1889-1981). Three children died in infancy.

Charles Beckman

With the exception of George Henry, the offspring of August and Catherine married and established their own households. Henry, being the eldest and a bachelor, continued to live in the Beckmann home assisting with mill-related work including being the Newark Postmaster in the mill from 1890-1892. In subsequent years he operated a general store and ran a grain threshing business in addition to being a partner with Charles in the mill. Charles married Elizabeth (Bessie) Reichard in 1921. Charles and Elizabeth had 5 children: William (Bill) 1922-1999), Howard (Bob) (1923-1961), Myron (Bud) (1927), Ralph (1932-2002), and Harold (Buzz) (1935).

Benkhausen Mill

Assisting with the Beckmann family’s genealogical research was the Fischer family of Benkhausen, Germany. Karl Fischer, the father of Klaus Fischer who oversaw the research, is the great-great-grandson of Simon Carl August Beckmann. The Benkhausen mill, which unfortunately burned in 1961, was a part of the Fischer family’s property. A cattle barn now rests on the foundation of the mill.

Karl Fischer

Klaus Fischer

The Beckman family wishes to thank the Fischers and Benkhausen area historians Karl Baus and Alfred Emde for their superb research efforts.

Those with an interest in the genealogy of the Beckman/Beckmann families may contact Harold (Buzz) Beckman, 1019 N 17th Street, Manitowoc, WI. Phone 920-682-6229 or e-mail stude14@sbcglobal.net