Beswick, Henry C.

Henry C. Beswick

1842-1920

TAPS SOUND FOR H.C. BESWICK

Well Known Citizen and Civil War Veteran Succumbs to Heart Attack

            Death removed a prominent pioneer resident of Niles this morning when Henry C. Beswick succumbed to a heart attack and passed away as he slept.  Mrs. Beswick was aroused about 2 o’clock by a strangling sound, which she recognized as a symptom of a heart attack similar to that which Mr. Beswick had suffered before, although it has been nearly three years since he was similarly attacked.  Mrs. Beswick gave the usual restorative while awaiting the arrival of the family physician but Mr. Beswick was dead within a few minutes.

            Mr. Beswick was born on a farm in Cass county, April 2, 1842. He had practically spent his entire life in Niles and vicinity.  He enlisted for service in the Civil war before he had reached his 17^th birthday anniversary, enlisting while engaged in work in the iron mountains of Northern Michigan.  Recruiting officers passed through the mines and Mr. Beswick promptly responded to the appeal of his country, while several hundred feet below the surface of the earth.  He was mustered in at Detroit and assigned to Custer’s brigade of which William T. Graham and John H. Stead are now probably the only survivors in Niles.  Mr. Beswick was twice wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, once in the wrist and once in the back of the head, the wounds disqualifying him for further service and he returned to Niles.

            Fifty-two years ago last November Mr. Beswick was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Albertson at Richland, Mich.  Two years ago the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.  For several years Mr. Beswick taught school successfully in the public schools of Cass and Berrien county.  Later he engaged in the business of a stone mason and in time became a contractor and builder, many Niles homes and mercantile buildings being monuments to his industry.  For the past two years, or since Mr. Beswick suffered a fall and sustained a broken  hip he has been unable to engage in active business, but even up to yesterday he was always busily engaged about his home nad yard, and last night retired in apparently good health.

            Three children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Beswick who survive their father.  They are D.W. Beswick, Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Gurman Hoppe of Fullerton, Calif., and Mrs. Edythe Bready of Kalamazoo. The funeral arrangements have not been made, pending word from the daughter and son in the west.  Besides the widow and children, Mr. Beswick is survived by one sister, Nrs.[sic] Cornelius Wood of Niles; a brother, Richard Beswick, aged 81 years of Ashland, Ore.  By two grandchildren, Frances and Lowell Bready, and by two nieces, Miss Gertrude Wood and Mrs. Harry Scott of Buchanan. 

            Mr. Beswick was a stalwart Democrat and had served the party as chairman of the city committee for a number of years and also in other capacities. He was highly respected and many mourn his death.