J. L. Beck, who is engaged in the United States mail service as rural mail carrier out of Augusta, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Weston, and is a son of J. F. and Sophia (Wirth) Beck, natives of Germany. They came to America and located at Weston, Mo., in 1857, where they still reside; the father is eighty-four years old and the mother, seventy-nine. They were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom are living , as follows: Mrs. Carrie Lamar, Platte county, Mo.; Mrs. Louise Roberts, Jackson county, Mo.; W. C., Weston, Mo.; Miss Katie Beck, Weston, Mo.; J. L., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Clara Ford, Jefferson county, Kans.; Mrs. Rosa Smithers, Platte county, Mo.; Mrs. Anna Thompson, Platte county, Mo.; A. H., Platte county, Mo., and Chris, resides in Colorado.

J. L. Beck received his education in the public schools of Missouri, and at the age of twenty-two, engaged in farming for himself in Missouri, and five years later, came to Kansas, settling in Butler county. In 1894, he bought 140 acres of land near Augusta, where he lived for seven years, when he sold it for $1,400 and bought 160 acres two miles south of Augusta. He recently sold this farm for $8,000, the increase in value being largely due to the oil and gas development. Mr. Beck

removed to Augusta in 1901, and in February, 1902, received the appointment of rural mail carrier, and since that time has faithfully and efficiently served as carrier on rural route No. 2. During all these years in Uncle Sam's service he has discharged the duties of his office in a way that has given him a wide acquaintance, and made many friends among his many patrons with whom he comes in contact on his daily trips. He has won the reputation for not being the sordid, crusty kind of a public official who doles out public service according to metes and bounds prescribed by the department, but is cheerful and accommodating and couldn't be otherwise if he tried, because that is his nature. He has driven an automobile on his route for the past two years.

Mr. Beck was married in 1904 to Miss Maggie Treadway of Platte county, Missouri, a member of a pioneer family of that section, and a former schoolmate of Mr. Beck. To this union have been born five children, as follows: Mrs. Pearl Brown of Kansas City, Kans.; Mrs. Sophia Bornholt, Hutchinson, Kans.; George; Roy and Margaret, living at home.

Mr. Beck is a member of the Masonic lodge, Augusta; the Fraternal Aid Union, and the Kansas Fraternal Citizens, and is local deputy of the latter order. He is also a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He is a substantial citizen, a progressive man and a loyal Augustian, and says, "Augusta is the best town in the United States."

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