H.F.P. Beck, like many of his countrymen, left his native land to secure a home in America. He was born in Denmark in 1853, and is a brother of Fred Beck. At the age of eighteen years he emigrated to this country and reached his destination, Solomon City with less than five dollars where he worked as a day laborer on a farm, on the railroad as a section hand, and in the livery stable of McGraff & Hollingsworth. In 1875, Mr. Beck bought the filing of the Kimball claim, which he homesteaded. About the only improvements were a log house with a dirt floor, where they continued to live nine years and where six of their children were born.

Mr. Beck was married in 1877, to Karen Peterson, a young woman who came over from Denmark with Fred Beck, a brother of her intended husband. Her parents came to America in 1883. Her brother died twelve days after their arrival and her father four years later. Mrs. Beck is one of four children, three of whom are living. Jens Peterson, a farmer of Mitchell county, just over the Cloud county line, is a brother, and Mrs. Halder Halderson, who lives near Glasco, is a sister.

To Mr. and Mrs. Beck nine children have been born, seven of whom are living - all daughters, estimable and prepossessing young women. Martha, wife of Edmond Bennett, an Oklohoma[sic] farmer. Mary, wife of Herbert Dalrymple. Kjerstine, Anna, Emma, Serena and Rosa. Frederica, a young woman of nineteen years died in 1900.

Mr. Beck's farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres situated in the remote south-west corner of Cloud county. His land corners with both Mitchell and Ottawa counties. His chief products are wheat, corn and Kaffir corn, cattle and hogs. In 1886, he erected a large and substatianl[sic] stone residence. He built a barn in 1890, 20 by 36 feet in dimensions, with corn cribs on either side.

Mr. Beck is a Populist in politics. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen lodge of Glasco and the Royal Neighbors. The family are members of the Lutheran church.