Joel Wesley BECKHAM, son of Mr. and Mrs. Green BECKHAM was born in Tennessee, November 28, 1848 and passed away at his home near Waltonville, IL, on Wednesday, August 15, 1923 at 9:30 a..m.

When a young man he was married to Miss Emaline MARTIN. To this union eight children were born of whom all but four have died. These are Edward, died in infancy; Mrs. Ollie PETERSON, died 1903; Sam, died 1917; Mrs. Loren HICKS, died 1918. The companion of his youth having died Aug 15, 1919.

He was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary JONES on June 25, 1920.

He leaves to mourn his death his bereaved companion, four children, Mrs. Nevada MARTIN of Waltonville, Mrs. Jennie WELLS of Valier and John and Frank on adjoining farms, 26 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

He never was a member of any church but had often talked of being a Christian and asked for the prayers of Christian people, and had been at the altar of prayer a number of times. He had been in poor health and had experienced a very severe attack a few weeks ago, but had gotten up again and seemed much better. The day before he died he told his wife that that would be his last day with her. He was taken with a hemorrhage the next morning and lived only a short time. He called her telling her to come quickly for he was almost gone. She took him up in her arms and carried him into the house, put him to bed and held him until the end. He realized that he was going, looked up at her and said, "Good-bye Mary." "Uncle Joe" as he was called, was an honorable, honest, industrious man and loved and respected by all who knew him.

Source: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Submitted by: Mary Zinzilieta