A Father's Letter

​"The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again."
​-Charles Dickens
(a quote from Nicholas Nickleby)

For most of these “Stories in Stone,” I am seldom fortunate enough to come across a portrait, or photograph, of subjects who died in the 1700s and 1800s. Sometimes, a family member, or long lost descendant, will send me an image after discovering my story online. I’m always excited about inserting these into the previously published works that live in perpetuity on the MountOlivetHistory.com website you find yourself on now as you read this. Regardless, it’s always more satisfying to research and write with an image of my subject staring back at me. Usually, I have to use a gravestone as the only surviving "image" of a decedent. I guess you could say that it’s great to put a face with a name when that name appears on a gravestone within Mount Olivet.

This week, I have a firm sense of my subject’s face as this was my introduction point, not knowing anything more about him, or seeing his gravesite in Mount Olivet. My interest stems solely from seeing his picture, and in said photo he is not doing anything particularly interesting or noteworthy. I must admit that, if anything, he looks somewhat peculiar in my opinion, and gives off vibes of being a stern, “no-nonsense” kind of guy. I don’t know if that assessment is anywhere near the truth, but you can judge for yourself the possible temperament of Mr. George Beckenbaugh.

Photo of George Beckinbaugh (courtesy of contributors Lisby and Harvey Kligora on Findagrave.com)

​My second thought, upon seeing George Beckenbaugh’s face for the first time, was that he seemed to belong in a Charles Dickens novel. The great English writer lived from 1812-1870, while our subject, Mr. Beckenbaugh, lived pretty much the same time period being born a decade prior in 1801 and dying eight years after the man who published A Christmas Carol in 1843. I’m sure our Mr. Beckenbaugh was quite familiar with the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, and I would find through my research that he was certainly no Ebenezer Scrooge as he seemed to embrace happiness throughout his life.

George Beckenbaugh was born on the 5th of December 1801 in the sleepy hamlet of Creagerstown in northern Frederick County. Residents take pride in the fact that they are “four miles from everywhere.” Now Creagerstown wasn’t always “sleepy,” as it was at one time a bustling crossroads during the American Revolution period. As a matter of fact, its founder, John Creager, was also the man who gave us Mechanicstown which later changed its name to Thurmont. Creager was a son of Lorentz Krieger, one of the early German immigrants to our county and an early leader in the Moravian Church in Graceham.

1808 Charles Varle's map of Maryland showing Creagerstown dating back to 1794

Frederick Hornet/Republican Advocate (April 17, 1811)

​George was the son of Jacob & Eve Catherine (Zimmerman) Beckenbaugh. His father was a store owner in Creagerstown. George was raised in Creagerstown, and eventually married Martha Vaines (Ligget) Beckenbaugh and was father to six children: Isabella Catharine, Jane Elizabeth, George William, James Jacob, John Michael, and Thomas Ligget Beckenbaugh.

Our photogenic subject owned a 19-acre lot adjacent town and operated stores in Creagerstown and a hotel which he would turn over to his brother Michael at some point in the 1840s. Michael appears as “M. Beckenbaugh” on Isaac Bond's Map of Frederick County, published in 1858. 

This is an inset of the 1858 Isaac Bond Atlas Map showing Creagerstown and vicinity. Note "M. Beckenbaugh (top-middle) as the site of the former home property of the family. In the lower left, "M. Zimmerman" marks the site of the Zimmerman Farm (George's maternal grandparents and childhood home of his mother)

The hotel location would be destroyed in the great fire of 1914, which took most of the buildings in town after an accidental blaze started in the Monocacy Valley Creamery.

On this Isaac Bond inset map from 1858, George's first cousins Dr. William Zimmerman (1816-1882) and Lewis Alonzo Zimmerman (1832-1912) are shown along with George's brother Michael L. Beckenbaugh (1816-1865)

Views of Creagerstown c. 1909 (above and below) before the devastating fire of 1914. The south view below shows the former Beckenbaugh store location on the left and the hotel location on the right.

The existing structure of the town hotel following the fire of 1914

​George would move to Frederick in the early 1840s and eventually operate the Temperance Hotel here. This was the site of the former Bartgis' Hotel, located on the corner of West Church Street and Court Street. Beckenbaugh began leasing the establishment in 1855 which would later be bought by John Stemmel, who made extensive repairs and re-opened his endeavor as the Central Hotel. Upon this event, the local newspaper commented that Beckenbaugh’s former hostelry “has recently been thoroughly repaired and for the beauty and convenience cannot be surpassed by any public house in Frederick.  Being located near the courthouse, persons having business to transact will find this most convenient.”
-Frederick Examiner January 10th, 1855

1854 lithograph inset showing location of hotel in Frederick at southeast corner of W. Church and N. Court streets (today the Temple and M&T parking lot)

As if I wasn’t lucky enough to have a photo of George Beckenbaugh, an online search soon presented me with a letter written by Mr. Beckenbaugh, himself, to other family members in 1867. At the time Beckenbaugh was widowed, had left Frederick County and was living in Baltimore. On this occasion, he took the time to share his genealogy and own life story with his children.
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The following communication is copied from pages 69-79 of Edwin T. and Atha (Peckenpaugh) Brace's book entitled Peckinpaughs, Pickenpaughs, Beckenbaughs, Peckipahs, and Peckenpaughs: Descendants of Johann Adam and Anna Maria Beckenbach. The letter was written by George Beckinbaugh in Baltimore on November 23rd, 1867 and reads as follows:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To my dearly beloved Children,
​
    Today is the 50th anniversary of the death of my beloved Father, it having occurred on the night of the 23rd Nov 1817.

     I believe not a single anniversary of that heart-rending occasion has since come around in the cycle of time, that the scene around his dying bed has not been vividly brought to my mind, to me, the eldest of seven children (then living) and not quite sixteen years of age, it was overwhelming.  Never shall I forget it whilst memory endures, and had it not been for the bright evidences he gave in his dying hour, of a blissful immortality beyond the grave, I know not how I could have been reconciled.

     The recollection of his many virtues, and the high character which he left as an enduring legacy to his children, has been to me, throughout my whole life one of the sweetest recollections, that cluster around the memory of my idolized Father.

     I have thought this a fit occasion, to put you in possession of some of the particulars, of the History of my father's and my mother's families, of which I am not aware that you have any knowledge, I do this, that when I am gathered to my fathers, you say not be ignorant of your ancestry.

     From information derived from reliable sources I have learned that my Grandfather Beckenbaugh (whose Christian name was George Leonard) and two brothers, emigrated to this country from Germany, before the war of the Revolution, my Grandfather and one brother, whose name was Caspar, settled in the Middletown Valley, Frederick County, Md., they were farmers. One of the brothers whose name I do not know, I was informed by one of my aunts, kept the Ferry at Shepherdstown, and upon one occasion after having taken over the river some person or persons was drowned upon his return to shore, the river being high at the time.  My Grandfather and his brother Casper are buried in the German Reformed grave yard in Middletown.  I found some years ago in searching in this grave yard for the grave of my Grandfather, this inscription upon a grave stone, "In Memory of Caspar Beckenbaugh, Born July 10th 1722.  Died January 18th 1790", at the time, I thought it might be my Grandfather's, but upon inquiry, I learned that his Christian name was George Leonard.

Christ Reformed Cemetery in Middletown holds the graves of George Beckenbaugh's grandfather (George Leonard 1730-1799) and great-uncle (Johann Caspar 1722-1790) however no gravestones can be found for them here

     My father (whose name was Jacob), was one of twelve children, 6 sons and 6 daughters that arrived to the age of maturity, of which all married and left families, except two, one a son, the other a daughter.  Their names as far as I now know them, were Leonard, Peter, George, Jacob (my father), John and Michael, Sons; and Barbara, Elizabeth and Catherine, Daughters; the name of three daughters I do not now remember, perhaps, never knew.  John and Catherine never married; John died when a young man, Catharine at old age.

     The five sons that married all left children, so did also the daughters.  The names of the daughters' husbands were Marteney, Keafauver, Darner, Campbell, and Critzer.
​
     My father and his brother, George, came to Creagerstown as single young men previous to the present century, married sisters, daughters of George, and Catharine Zimmerman, (my recollection is that my Grandfather Zimmerman's Christian name was George, and my Grandmother's, Catherine), and that my Grandfather came to Maryland from Pennsylvania, and my Grandmother (whose maiden name was Crist) came with her parents from Germany, when a child.  My Uncle George Beckenbaugh was married some years before my father, he died in the year 1800.  (My father and mother were married in February 1801.) Both men were merchants in that village, both died of consumption, and are both buried in the grave yard of that town.  My Grandfather Zimmerman's family that arrived at maturity consisted of eight children 4 sons and 4 daughters viz: Jacob, George, Michael and John, Sons; Elizabeth, (whom my Uncle George married) Eve Catharine, (my mother) Mary, who married Thomas Draper, and Barbara, who married Richard C. Campbell, and whose son is the present Rev. John F. Campbell.

The grave of George's father, Jacob Beckenbaugh (1775-1817) in Creagerstown Cemetery also known as St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery

Gravestone of George's mother, Eva Catharine (Zimmerman) Beckenbaugh (1780-1851) in Creagerstown Cemetery

St. Johns Lutheran Church and graveyard in Creagerstown

Ledger/Tablet grave marker of George's uncle, John George Beckenbaugh (1760-1800) in Creagerstown Cemetery

     Of my father's Brothers, I only recollect having known Leonard and Michael; and of his Sisters all, except Aunts Marteney and Darner.  I knew all of my mother's Brothers and Sisters, all were married and left children.  Of my Grandparents, I only knew my Grandmother Zimmerman.  She lived to be quite aged, I believe was in her 84th year when she died, they are both buried in the grave yard near Little Hunting Creek, on the road leading to Lewistown, Frederick Co., Md.

George's uncle, Michael Beckenbaugh (1767-1855), is buried in Middletown's Christ Reformed Cemetery

Beautiful photo taken by expert grave and cemetery finder/documentarian Bryan Main of what remains of the Licklider Family Cemetery near Lewistown on the former Zimmerman family farm property

Gravestone of George's grandmother, Maria Catharine (Crist) Zimmerman (1745-1828) at Licklider Family Cemetery near Lewistown

George's maternal grandfather, George Zimmerman (1738-1793) in the Licklider Cemetery

     The farm owned by my Grandfather Zimmerman, where I believe all his children were born, is still in the family, and is now owned, and occupied by my Cousin Michael Zimmerman.  The first year after the marriage of my father and mother, they resided in the Brick house known as the "Creagerstown Hotel,” this property then belonged to the Estate of my Uncle George Beckenbaugh, in this house I was born on the 5th of Dec. 1801.  My father and mother had eight children, six sons and two daughters, named George, John, Jacob, Wm. Washington, Peter Alexander and Michael Leonard, Sons, Catharine and Mary daughters, four of whom only, now are living viz: myself, Wm. Washington, and my two sisters, not a single one of all my parents' family are now living, they have all passed away, but it is a source of much pleasure to me, to know that they were all (so far as I know) members of Christian Churches, mostly of the denominations, Lutheran, and German Reformed; were honest, and upright in all the relations of life; and raised their families in the principles of the Christian religion, and mostly they too, became members of the churches of their parents.
​
My father was a member of the German Reformed Church and my mother of the Lutheran, my mother's brothers were members of the German Reformed and her sisters of the Lutheran Churches, my father's family were principally members of the German Reformed.  When I look back over my past years and remember my youthful days, my visits to my uncles and aunts, and my intercourse with my numerous Cousins, and enumerate those that are now living, I find that but few comparatively remain.  It is a sorrowful reflection, but the time is fast approaching when I too shall have to go the way of all flesh, and be joined as I trust to my fathers in that better world; where trouble and sorrows never come.

Creagerstown's Old Lutheran Church

     Believing, and indeed feeling confident, that some of the particulars of my own life will be a source of comfort and pleasure to you, and in years to come, may not only be referred to by yourselves, but by my Grandchildren with much gratification, I will commence it with my first departure from my home.

     In the spring of 1818, then in the 17th year of my age, my Uncle Jacob Critzer, then a resident of Middletown, Frederick Co., Md., procured for me a situation in the store of Messrs. H. G. O'Neal & Co., who at that time were doing an extensive business in that place, I remained however, but a few weeks with them, never having been separated before from my family, I was very unhappy and returned to my home, and during the year, aided my father's executors in the settlement of his Estate.  In the spring of 1819 this same Uncle, Adam Lorentz, and Walter F. Gill opened a new store in Middletown, and my Uncle engaged my services to fill his place in it, I was then in my 18th year, I remained until the following fall when I again returned to my home, and took charge of the store then owned by my mother and my Uncle Michael Zimmerman, which I conducted until the spring of 1821, when they retired from business, during the summer of 1821 and winter of 1822, I taught school.  (I believe 9 months.)

     In the spring of 1822 my mother and myself opened a small store in partnership in the house in which my father done business, our capital being small, our business was also small, the succeeding year I was appointed Post Master at Creagerstown, which office I had been solicited to accept previous to my arriving of age, during this year, two other stores were opened in the village, small as it previously had been.  The following spring one store was not continued; the other remained until the spring of 1826.  When the gentlemen owning it moved to Middleburg in Carroll County, after which a friend of mine (to whom when a boy I went to school) kindly offered without solicitation the loan of one thousand dollars to enable us to enlarge our business, after consultation with my mother we accepted a loan of Five hundred dollars; and from this time forward our business greatly improved.  It was during this spring I made the acquaintance of your dear and excellent mother.  The following summer she again visited her brother, Dr. James Ligget, who resided next door to my place of business, and previous to her departure for home, we were engaged in marriage, which event was consummated on the 29th of Nov. 1827, in the town of Sharpsburg, Washington County Md. and next Friday will be its 40th anniversary.

1830 US Census showing household of George Beckenbaugh in Creagerstown

     The following spring I purchased my mother's interest in our store, and went to housekeeping in the Brick house opposite the "Creagerstown Hotel" where we lived 4 years, during which my daughters Isabella and Jane were born, in the spring of 1832 I moved to this "Hotel" which I previously purchased, where we lived until the beginning of the year 1838, during which time my sons George and James were born.  We removed to our first abode then, in the beginning of 1838, in which time, my son John was born, then moved to the house now owned by Mr. Otto, where we lived until the spring of 1840, in which time my son Thomas was born, in the spring of 1840, we again removed in our first residence which property, I took in part payment for the "Hotel" property, here we resided until our removal to Frederick City in the month of Dec. 1841.

     Whilst a resident of Creagerstown, I was engaged in the mercantile business, and during the time we resided at the "Hotel" conducted it, in connection therewith.  In politics I was a Whig, and supported the candidate of that party from the time of the election of John Quincy Adams to the Presidency in 1824, until the rise of the "Know nothing Party,” not approving of some of the principles of that party, I did not formally connect myself with that organization.  Whilst a resident of Creagerstown, I was twice appointed one of the Justices of the Peace, and was also appointed one of the Associate Justices of the Creagerstown District Court, from which office I was removed (as were all the Whig officers in Frederick Co.) by Gov. Grason, who was the first Governor of Maryland elected immediately by the people, under a change of the Constitution.  (He was a Democrat.)

Gov. William Grason (1788-1868) was Maryland's 25th governor who served from 1839-1842 and was the namesake of Grasonville, MD

 In the year 1837, I was nominated as one of the delegates on the Whig ticket for the Legislature of Md., but in the contest (which was not warmly prosecuted) the Democratic ticket was elected I had the honor, however, of receiving the largest number of votes for my ticket and consequently led the ticket.  In 1838, I was again nominated by the Whig party for Legislature, this year the contest was animated, it being the first time that the people voted, directly, for a Governor and State Senators, the result of that election in Frederick County, was the election of Richard Potts (Whig) to the State Senate, and to the House of Delegates, two Whigs, Geo. Schley and Grafton Hammond, and two Democrats, Col. John McPherson and Daniel S. Biser, and a tie vote as to myself and the late Dr. Jno. W. Geyer (Democrat).  We both went to Annapolis upon the meeting of the Legislature, each claiming a seat in the House of Delegates upon the ground of illegal votes polled and votes claimed and not counted by some of the Judges of election, after a protracted investigation on, I believe, the 60th day of the session, the Legislature decided that neither of us was duly elected, the Speaker of the House then issued an order for a new election to fill the vacancy, at my request, I was exonerated from being a candidate at this special election, by my party, and my contestant elected without opposition. 

Baltimore Patriot (July 7 1837)

Baltimore Advocate and Commercial Daily Advertiser (Oct 5 1838)

Baltimore Patriot (Feb 18, 1839)

In May 1841, I was appointed by a Whig Levy Court, Collector of the County taxes, after which I sold my store to my brother Michael and my Cousin, James A. Zimmerman, and entered upon the duties of Collector about the beginning of September.
​
     In December following I moved my family to the City of Frederick as before stated.  In 1842, I was reappointed Collector in connection with John Sifford (who was assigned to the collection of the state taxes by a Democratic Levy Court.)  In 1843, I was appointed by a Whig Levy Court, Collector of both state and county taxes, but in consequence of the refusal of the Court to fix what I deemed a fair commission for their collection, I declined to accept the appointment.  In the fall of 1843 Col. Geo. M. Eichelberger, the then Register of Wills proffered me a situation in his office which I accepted, and upon the appointment of Col. Thomas Sappington, his successor, I was retained as his Chief Clerk, in which capacity I continued until May 1847 when I was elected Teller, in the then "Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Frederick County" which position I occupied until January 1856, when I resigned.

1850 US Census showing Beckenbaughs living in Frederick on West Patrick St

      In the year 1857, I was a candidate, before the people of Frederick County, for the office of Register of Wills for Frederick County, Col. Thos. Sappington the then Register was also a candidate (we were independent candidates and both Whigs) George Hoskers Esq. was the Democratic candidate, nominated by a county convention of his party, and was elected by a minority vote, the Whig vote being divided between Col. Sappington and myself.
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     On the 31st day of January 1857, I came to this city having previously engaged to become Book Keeper and Paymaster for Ross Winans Esq. at his "Coal Burning Locomotive Engine Works.” Eleven years have since almost passed away, I still occupy that position, and may for ought I know continue to do so, until He or I, are called to render up our stewardship in the world to come.

1860 US Census showing George Beckenbaugh and family living in Baltimore in the boarding house of Eliza McKinley

The Camel No. 217, a production of the Ross Winans Locomotive Works at Mount Clare in Baltimore. Winans was a Baltimore inventor who patented railroad wheel bearings and experimented with early railroad equipment. He became the B&O's Assistant Engineer of Machinery at the Mount Clare Shops.

​     The foregoing embraces the main facts in the History of my parents and their families, as well as of myself, your own recollections after our removal to Frederick City, to the present time, makes it unnecessary for me to go into further detail of many things, that might otherwise be interesting to you, during this period of time (as you know) we have had many joys, and many sorrows, but the most grievous sorrow of all, was the death of your beloved mother, yet when we recur to it, (as I hope we often do) how sweet is the consolation to know, that she died fully sensible that the time of her departure had come, and in the confident hope of a blissful immortality.  She has gone to Heaven, where I trust we shall again meet her.  The recollection of her happy and triumphant death, and of her love and devotedness to me, and our dear children, are consolations that cluster around her memory which you, nor I, never, no never can forget.

     God grant that when our departure comes, we too, may leave behind, the same consolation to our loved ones, is the sincere and fervent prayer of your fond and affectionate father.

                                                                                                              Geo. Beckenbaugh
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
What a great documentation to have, one I wish I myself had from one of my own ancestors. We all could hope for a Jacob Engelbrecht in our past, but this was a holiday gift indeed featuring a great autobiographical effort by Mr. B. including his feelings towards his grandparents, parents, siblings and most importantly, wife. Speaking of which, Martha died on January 17th, 1862 in the midst of the American Civil War. I presume she was buried in Baltimore. 

George would continue his work in "Charm City" and can be found here within the 1870 census. I wish the letter was written a decade later as to provide me with more details of his last years of life. He would die on April 14th, 1878 at the age of 77 and had a funeral service in Baltimore. He was buried in Mount Olivet three days later in a lot found in Area F/Lot 69.

Baltimore Sun (April 15, 1878)

Baltimore Sun (April 16, 1878)

George Beckenbaugh, unlike Dicken’s Ebenezer Scrooge, would not find a neglected tombstone bearing his name if he was to visit today. In 2025, it will be cleaned by our "Stoners" crew and it already appears to have been repaired in the past. 

Martha’s body would be disinterred and brought to Mount Olivet for reburial next to him on September 11th, 1878. George and his wife are also not buried alone in this lot atop the former Pumphouse Hill in the middle of our historic burial ground. Their son, Dr. James J. Beckenbaugh (1836-1869) was the first of the family to be laid to rest here. However, he too was originally buried elsewhere, coming to Mount Olivet on November 22nd, 1873, nearly four and a half years after his death, and four years prior to his father’s death. Naturally, this loss must have had a major impact on George Beckenbaugh like all the others he had endured.

Maryland Union (May 20, 1869)

Gravestone of Martha Beckenbaugh

Grave of Dr. James J. Beckenbaugh

​Two of George’s other children are buried here in the family plot in Area F. These include Dr. Thomas L. Beckenbaugh (1840-1881) and daughter Isabella Catharine (Beckenbaugh) Lynch (1829-1901). Isabella’s husband, Judge John Alexander Lynch (1825-1904), was Judge of Circuit Court for Frederick and Montgomery Counties for thirty years. He was also a leading member of Frederick’s Columbia Masonic Lodge, but broke away to start a rival chapter of the fraternal organization. The Lynch Lodge No. 163 A.F. & A.M. was chartered in 1873 and formed not because of a desire to have a lodge closer to home but because the Masons were in danger of violating one of the two taboo subjects that aren’t discussed in a lodge—politics and religion. These subjects tend to create hard feelings between people and the Masons are about brotherhood.
 
Although the Civil War had ended in 1865, differences still existed between those who supported the Union and those who supported the Confederacy. The two lodges remained separate until 1994 when they merged back into the Columbia Lodge. This organization is still active today as Lynch Lodge No. 163 A.F. & A.M. Note that both of Isabella's brothers were Masons as well based on the carved symbol  of the compass, a carpenter's square and a capital "G" with the latter thought to represent either geometry or a Christian God.

Dr. Thomas Beckenbaugh

Isabella C. (Beckenbaugh) Lynch

Grave of John A. Lynch (pictured left)

Frederick News (Dec 28, 1883)

Beckenbaugh family plot in Mount Olivet (Area F/lot 69)

A few hundred yards away from the Backenbaugh family plot is the grave of William Luther Wesley Seabrook (1833-1916), George Beckenbaugh's nephew (son of his sister Mary Catharine (Beckenbaugh) Seabrook (1807-1893). You may recall this gentleman from a Story in Stone written last year entitled "A Newspaper Sentinel," and better yet, if you journeyed with me in October 2024 for my "Unsettling Candlelight Walking Tour." This former Creagerstown resident had a fine newspaper career and was a friend of Abraham Lincoln. He helped raise his grandson William "Willie" Seabrook (1884-1945), who introduced us to the concept of zombies with his 1929 book The Magic Island. 

William Luther Wesley Seabrook

William "Willy" Seabrook (1884-1945)

​One more Beckenbaugh connection of note features George and Martha’s son Dr. John Michael Beckenbaugh (1838-1873). This gentleman spent much of his life in Sharpsburg, and is buried in Shepherdstown’s Elmwood Cemetery. His wife was Nancy “Nannie” Cowan Douglas Beckenbaugh, a daughter of Rev. Robert Douglas. Nannie grew up in a house overlooking the Potomac River on the Maryland side of the river opposite Shepherdstown. This is the 700-acre Ferry Hill Plantation, the former park headquarters site for the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. The house and Douglas family go back to the Blackford and Swearingen families that originally operated a ferry that carried travelers over the Potomac. You may have heard of Nannie Beckenbaugh’s brother, Henry Kyd Douglas.

Vintage photo of Ferry Hill Plantation on the east side of the Potomac River across from Shepherdstown and the current day Bavarian Inn

​Henry Kyd Douglas was a Confederate staff officer during the American Civil War. Capt. Henty Kyd Douglas participated in most of the battles of the Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia and served on the staffs of Stonewall Jackson and his successors. Severely wounded on the third day of the battle of Gettysburg, Douglas became a prisoner of war for almost ten months. At the end of the war, he commanded a brigade at the last battle of the war.

​After the war Douglas returned to his civilian occupation as a lawyer, got involved in state politics, and became an officer in the Maryland National Guard, eventually holding the appointment as Adjutant General. Today, Henry Kyd Douglas is foremost known for his wartime memoir, “I Rode with Stonewall,” first published in 1940. I wonder if he was influenced in any way to put pen to paper by his sister’s father-in-law George Beckenbaugh?

​Captain Douglas was quite familiar with Frederick and visited here during the war. Of key significance was his time spent in the company of Gen. Stonewall Jackson in September 1862. In his memoirs he tells the story of attending a church service with Jackson at the German Reformed Church in which Rev. Daniel Zacharias offered up prayers for Abraham Lincoln and the Union soldiers during his sermon. Jackson apparently slept through this, but heartily congratulated the minister afterwards on delivering a most thoughtful sermon.

​Henry Kyd Douglas also was a staunch critic of the Barbara Fritchie poem as told by Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Douglas claimed that he was at Jackson’s side throughout the general’s famous exit of town on September 10th, 1862. Douglas always maintained that the pair bypassed the grand Dame’s house, and did not have an altercation with her as was purported.

Houston Daily Post (April 25, 1900)

​Dr. John Michael Beckenbaugh’s son, Capt. John Kyd Beckenbaugh (1874-1940), was responsible for getting his uncle’s colorful memoirs published as the book "I Rode With Stonewall,” after a challenging period of 35 years. Captain John, George Beckenbaugh’s grandson, would die later the same year and he, his mother and "Rebel" Uncle Henry are residing in Shepherdstown’s Elmwood Cemetery.

Grave of Henry Kyd Douglas in Shepherdstown's Elmwood Cemetery

Nannie Douglas Beckenbaugh

Capt. John Kyd Beckenbaugh

​What a wonderful photograph we have of George Beckenbaugh, and other family members to boot thanks to them being shared by descendants and genealogists on FindaGrave.com. Like George Bailey, it appears that our subject (George Beckenbaugh) had a wonderful life as well, despite the stern look in his image. Come to think of it, most all those early photographs have uncomfortable looking subjects because photographers told them to hold still for an awkward amount of time while snapping the photo.  Perhaps that’s how the tradition of saying “Cheese” came about?

Happy Holidays!