Memorials › PVT Sanford J Beck

PVT Sanford J Beck

1802 – 11 Jun 1871

Birth	1802
Death	11 Jun 1871
Cemetery	Murphy Cemetery Murphy , Collin County , Texas , USA
Added by	William on 30 Apr 2003
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6579367

Bio

Sanford Beck fought as a private under Captain Solomon Pruitt; the "Odd Battalion of Spries" of the Brigade of Mounted Volunteers commanded by Brigadeer General Joseph Duncan in the "Black Hawk Campaign" in Illinois (1831-1832). Probate court records of Collin County, Texas which was filed Aug. 11, 1871 notes that Sarah Francis Tucker as Sanford Beck's surviving wife. After a scouting expedition to Texas, Sanford went back to fetch his family and returned with them in 1845 or 1846. Peters Colony records show only that he came before 1848, but in 1946 Sanford held a Republic of Texas poll tax reciept in the Fannin Land district. Sanford was issued a Peters Colony certificate for 640 acres which he sold unlocated. Beck bought land in what is now downtown Plano, Texas, but some descendants believe that the Becks settled from the beginning in the Dublin community. It has been claimed that his daughter, Matilda Kate Beck, Mrs. Francis Luther Hardwick, was the first child born in Plano, Texas. Sanford and Matilda divorced at some point and Sanford remarried a young woman by the name of Francis Tucker. Sanford died at the home of his daughter, Sarah Ann and her husband John Salmons, in Dublin in 1871. He is thought to be buried in the Old Decatur Cemetery although no stone remains to mark the grave. (pg. 8 of the book, Plano, Texas The Early Years-1986) Sanford J. Beck is a 3X great-grandfather of mine and, as you correctly stated, he is an elusive character. I have census data on him and some family history. Let me share what I have to see if it helps and to get any contradictory information you might have. I show him as born about 1802 based on his age of 48 as shown on the 1850 Collin Co., TX census. One transcription of that census shows his birthplace as TN, another says KY. "Kentucky Colonization in Texas-A History of the Peter' Colony" by Seymour V. Connor says Missouri. Sanford may not have known for certain himself. I found him on the 1830 Greene Co., IL census, page 50. Also on that census is a Henry Beck who may have been his father. I found a Samuel Beck who may have been a brother. Sanford is shown to have married Matilda Roundtree on Mar 14, 1827 in Madison Co., IL by whom he had seven children: 1. Manly S., b. about 1829 in IL; married Frances Louise Fitzhugh June 22, 1852; died March 24, 1862 and buried in Forest Grove Cem., McKinney, TX. 2. Sarah Ann, b. Jan 29, 1832 in Greene Co., IL; married John Madison Salmons; died Jan 31, 1893; buried in Murphy Cem., Murphy, TX. 3. John M., b. Apr 24, 1837; died Sep 23, 1862 "in hospital in Oakolona, Mississippi member of Co. C, 6th Texas Cavalry, CSA. 4. Elisabeth, b. about 1841 in Greene Co., IL; married William McDonald Jan 5, 1855 in McKinney, TX. 5. Julia Ann, b. about 1843 in Greene Co., IL; married William S. Sanders Aug 13, 1856. 6. Margaret G., b. Apr 24, 1846 in Plano, Collin Co., TX, married J. Robert Hagins Apr 12, 1873; died Mar 30, 1885; and buried in Forest Grove Cem., McKinney, TX. 7. Matilda Katherine (Cate), b. Feb 5, 1847 in Plano, Collin Co., TX, married Francis Luther (French) Hardwick Oct 31, 1866 in Collin Co., TX; died Oct 11, 1932 in Little Elm, Denton Co., TX. ("First white child born in Collin Co." according to "History of Collin County, Texas" by L.J. and Lillian Stambaugh. Sanford also married Sarah Francis Tucher on May 6, 1868 in Collin Co., TX. Sanford and Sarah had a son Frank born in March 1869. The "History of Collin Co., Texas" says that Sanford "Settled in Texas about 1845 with the Peters Colony on No. 2 Contract. Arrived first at Dublin [east of Plano] on 640 acres... moved to Collin Co.... Owned first hotel in Dallas." According to "Kentuckian Colonization in Texas" "Beck, Sanford, married, migrated to Texas from Illinois between July 1, 1845 and July 1, 1848, settled in Collin Co., sold his original certificate but remained in Collin Co., born in Tenn." Sanford was in the Black Hawk War in Illinois in 1831-1832. There are a series of deeds recorded in Woodville Township, Greene Co., IL: 11 Feb 1839, Book K, page 519 18 Jun 1839, Book L, page 182 18 Jun 1839, Book L, page 183 28 Jul 1840, Book M, pages 189-190 Matilda Roundtree Beck was born Dec 13, 1814 and died July 29, 1876 [or May 29, 1876 according to "Collin Co. Cemetery Inscriptions" Vol I by Alice Pitts, 1975]; buried in Forest Grove Cemetery, McKinney, TX. I hope some of this is useful in building a more complete picture of the life of Sanford J. Beck. James F. Seagraves Estate of Sanford Beck--- http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth10827/m1/7/ http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth10780/m1/3/ about his marker above thanks to Find A Grave contributor Al Moore #48167199

Inscription

U.S. Army

Photos

Family

Spouse

Matilda Rountree Beck 1814–1876

Children

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