Maria Magdalene (Beck) Plochman (1856 - 1927)

Born 4 Oct 1856 in Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Died 16 Jun 1927 at age 70 in Evanston, Cook, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Maria Magdalene "Mary" Beck was the daughter of German immigrants to the United States. Johann Gottlieb (T. John) Beck emigrated from Wurttemburg, Germany, where the Beck family had lived since at least the late 1500s. Eva Lades Beck emigrated from Bavaria. Mary was born in Trenton, New Jersey, shortly before the family moved to Glencoe, Illinois and became one of the founding families of that township.

She married Moritz "Morris" Karl Plochman on 8 September 1886 in Glencoe, Illinois. They had two children, Carl and Alice. Her husband Karl died in 1912. She died 16 June, 1927.

Parents

John and Eva Beck must have lived in or near Trenton, New Jersey in the 1850's, as their first few children were born there. George, who seems to be their firstborn, was born in Trenton September 1, 1852; then Charles was born in Trenton on June 23, 1854; then Mary, born in Trenton on October 4, 1856. Louis, the next known child, was born in Illinois in 1860 and from there on, all the rest of the known children were born in Illinois. The print source below implies that they moved from New Jersey to Illinois around 1856, although I hope they waited for Eva to recover from the birth of Mary.

From History of Cook County, Illinois: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, 1884:^[1]

CHARLES BECK of Beck & Huntoon, hardware dealers, was born in Trenton, N.J., June 23, 1834 (this may be 1854!). He came, when two years of age, with his parents, John and Eva, who were among the first settlers of Evanston, and are now living upon a farm at Glencoe. The subject of this sketch learned his trade with J.S. Heywood, the first tinner to settle in Evanston, and worked for him for fifteen years. In 1872, upon the failure of Mr. Heywood, Mr. Beck continued the business for himself up to March 10, 1883, when he formed a partnership with William Huntoon, under the name of Beck & Huntoon. He is a member of the Evanston Lodge, I. O. O. F.; also of Evanston Gun Club, and Evanston Hose Company. He was married to Miss Emma J. Douglas, of Iowa, December 4, 1878. They have one child, George.
GEORGE BECK was born in Trenton, N.J., September 1, 1852. When five years of age he came to Evanston, Cook County, with his parents, with whom he farmed up to the age of twenty-six, when he engaged in teaming for himself. He came to Evanston in 1878 and has been engaged there in teaming ever since. He married Miss Bertha Beinlick, of Glencoe, Cook County, February 14, 1878, born October 28, 1859. They have two children, Rosa and Eva, and one child deceased, Charles.

Census Records

No 1860 Census record has been identified for this family.

In 1870, Mary was not enumerated with the rest of the family. However, a record for Mary Beck, a 13 year old domestic servant born in Illinois, was identified in Camden Mills/Black Hawk, Rock Island County, Illinois, in the home of 75 year old Mariam Dickson.^[2]

The 1880 US Census^[3] found Geo Beck living in Evanston, Cook, Illinois, a married white male age 28, working as a teamster, born about 1852 in New Jersey. His father and mother were listed as being born in Germany. With him were his wife Bertha Beck, age 20, born in Illinois; sister Mary Beck, age 20, born in New Jersey; son Charlie Beck, age 2, born in Illinois; and infant daughter Rose Beck, born in Illinois.

The 1900 United States Census^[4] found Morris C Plochman, a 48 year old married white male, born November 1852 in Germany to parents born in Germany, living in Evanston Township, Cook County, Illinois. His immigration year was enumerated as 1882. His occupation was "Wholesale spice dealer". With him was his wife of 14 years, Mary, their two children, and Mary's sister Rose Beck. Mary was born October 1856 in New Jersey to parents born in Germany. She was the mother of two children, both living. Carl was born September 1887 and was attending school. Alice was born November 1889 and was attending school. Rose was born March 1874 and did not have an occupation listed.

The 1910 US Census^[5] found Morris Plochman, a 57 year old married white male, born in Germany to parents born in Germany, living in a rented home at 1137 Elmwood Avenue, Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. His employment was enumerated as "Manufacturer, Condiments". His immigration year was listed as 1881 and he was enumerated as being naturalized as an American citizen. With him were his wife Mary and two adult children, Carl and Alice. Mary was enumerated as having been born in New Jersey to parents born in Germany, and as the mother of two children, both now living. All members of the household were enumerated as literate and both children (ages 22 and 20) were enumerated as attending school.
The home at 1137 Elmwood Avenue was built in 1886 and is still standing in 2019. Real estate data shows it has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,194 square feet of space.

No 1920 Census has been identified for Mary Beck Plochman.

Sources

1. ↑ History of Cook County, Illinois: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time. Alfred Theodore Andreas. A. T. Andreas, 1884 - Cook County (Ill.) - 888 pages. Page 439.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6H1-8GB : 12 April 2016), Mary Beck in household of Mariam Dickson, Illinois, United States; citing p. 4, family 33, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,772.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXJH-J8H : accessed 2 December 2015), Geo Beck, Evanston, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district 218, sheet 301A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0201; FHL microfilm 1,254,201.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS7X-8G8 : accessed 12 February 2019), Morris C Plochman, Evanston Township Evanston city Ward 2, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1156, sheet 41A, family 750, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,292.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKH2-XWS : accessed 12 February 2019), Morris Plochman, Evanston Ward 2, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 101, sheet 7A, family 120, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 240; FHL microfilm 1,374,253.