In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1908) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1843
From Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908), History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881)
J. MARTIN BECK, Akron Varnish Works, Akron, Ohio, is a son of Adam and Christina (Hoefer) Beck, and was born in the town of Selb, Bavaria, Germany, Oct. 14, 1843. At 14, he entered as an apprentice in a wholesale grocery and drug house, and served four years without compensation, and paid over $300 to learn the business. He passed a regular examination, and came to the United States in 1862, and to Akron in August of the same year. Here he first entered the employ of M. W. Henry & Co., Mr. Wolf, his half-brother, being a partner. He remained six 3'ears, when his health failed, and he changed his location to Cleveland, where he was employed by E. I. Baldwin & Co. as a salesman for one year. In the spring of 1869, he went to Europe and remained till fall, and returned to the United States in improved health. He entered into partnership with John Wolf and H. J. Church, in the dry goods business, until 1878, when he sold out, and shortly after formed a partnership with E. G. Kubler, and established the Akron Varnish Works, the first and only factory of the kind in the county. The business has largely increased since its establishment. Jan. 12, 1871, he married Miss Kate J. Buchtel, daughter of William Buchtel, Esq. They have two sons and one daughter.
As printed in History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
J. MARTIN BECK, president and a director of the Home Building and Loan Company of Akron, and one of the founder,* and vice-president and treasurer of the Akron Warnish Company, is identified with numerous other successful enterprises of this section, and is a very important factor in the city's commercial life. He was born October 14, 1843, at Selb, Bavaria, Germany, and came to America in 1862. He is a son of Adani and Christina ( Hoefer) Beck the former of whom died in 1890.
Mr. Beck was trained to business in a wholesale grocery and drug house, in his native land, and after an apprenticeship of four years, satisfactorily passed a difficult examination. As his half-brother, John Wolf, was a partner in the firm of M. W. Henry and Company at Akron, Mr. Beck came to this city and entered the employ of that firm, with which he remained for six years, and then was with the house of E. I. Baldwin, of Cleveland, for one year. In the spring of 1869 he visited Europe, returning to Akron in the fall, much improved in health. Soon after he entered into partnership with John Wolf and H. J. Church, under the firm name of Wolf, Church and Beck. In 1878 Mr. Beck sold his interest in the firm and formed a partnership with E. G. Kubler, in the establishment of the Akron Varnish Works, a concern which is the oldest of its kind in Summit County and one of the largest in the country. The busine.s of the Akron Varnish Company is the making of varnishes and japans, and its plants are located at 254 South Main and Canal Streets, Akron. The industry Ls a leading one in this city and the products of this concern have a world-wade sale. The officers of the company are: E. G. Kubler. president; J. M. Beck, vice-president and treasurer; E. M. Beck, secretary; F. M. Whitner, assistant treasurer, and F. A. Fauver, superintendent.
Mr. Beck was married January 12, 1871, to Kate J. Buchtel, who is a daughter of William Buchtel, of Akron. They have four children, namely: William B., Edward M., who is secretary of the Akron Varnish Company, Martha Louise, and Carl. Fraternally Mr. Beck is an Odd Fellow and an Elk. The family residence is at No. 640 West Market Street.
As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John Wolf (b. 1837) William Buchtel (b. 1822)
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.