Civil War Soldier - Robert Beckington

     Robert was five years old when his family immigrated from England in 1847 and settled in Spring, Boone County, Illinois. He was born on May 18, 1842 in Kewstoke Parish, in Somersetshire, England. I have written about this family, or certain members, in previous posts on this blog, and in an article about the family's journey to the United States which appeared in the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 46, No. 4, Winter 2014 issue.

     Robert's Civil War Service started at the age of 19, on May 5, 1861, when he enlisted in the Union Army in Lyons, Clinton County, Iowa. He may have been living with his older sister, Anna, her husband, Henry J. Wright and family, at the time. He served as a Private with Company I, 2nd Infantry Regiment, Iowa. This regiment mustered in on May 28, 1861 at Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. Robert was promoted to Full Corporal on July 28, 1861 and discharged on July 29, 1862. Highlights of this regiment's service include distinguished actions at the Battle of Fort Donelson and at the Battle of Shiloh (both in Tennessee), where 80 members of the regiment either died or were wounded. The regiment then fought in the Battle of Corinth (Mississippi) and later in the Atlanta Campaign. The regiment was at Camp Montgomery, Corinth, Mississippi, when Robert was discharged. According to his physician he was found "incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of tubercular disease of the right lung caused by Pneumonia from exposure while in the service of the United States and his condition being so far affected by the disease as to totally destroy his health and render him entirely unfit for strenuous labor and which has become a permanent disability."

     There is quite a detailed history of the service of the men of the 2nd Infantry Regiment on: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Iowa_Volunteer_Infantry_Regiment.  Guy E. Logan has provided great detail on this Iowa Infantry in Roster and Record of Iowa Troops in the Rebellion, Vol. 1, and at: http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/books/logan/mil302.htm.

     But, despite the disabilities described above, Robert re-enlisted as a Private on May 7, 1864 with Company K, 141st Infantry Regiment, Illinois. This regiment, was part of the "hundred-days men," an effort to augment existing manpower for an all-out push to end the war within 100 days. They were mustered in on June 16, 1864, at Elgin, Kane County, Illinois and mustered out on 10 October 1864 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The 141st moved to Columbus, Kentucky for garrison duty in that district. They remained there for the 100 days. During that time, they lost 21 (some sources say 30) soldiers to disease. 

     Robert received a pension for his service. Under the Pension act of June 27, 1890, he received a pension of $6.00 per month for partial inability to earn a living. Under the Pension act of 1900, his pension increased as did his inability to work. Robert first applied for a pension on December 31, 1891 at age 49 (received January 2, 1892). He requested an Increase of Pension and provided additional information to the Bureau of Pensions on July 29, 1902, June 15, 1904 and January 2,  1915.  In July 29, 1902, was his physical description: Height 5' 9 1/4", weight 160 lbs, blue/gray eyes, brown (now gray) hair, light complexion. On October 29, 1923, he applied again for an increase of pension under the Pension Act of  May 1, 1920. This application now included his fourth wife, Helen. On February 12, 1926, Helen, as the widow of Robert, applied for the pension which had accrued to her husband now deceased.

     Included with the pension papers was an affidavit from his son Robert Clare Beckington sent after Robert's death stating that Robert had been married four times. It also stated that Robert had his pension checks sent to his son's house because Robert did not trust his 4th wife, Helen. Robert Clare thought that Helen poisoned him.

     After the war, Robert became a lawyer, practicing in Chicago. He did not have an easy life, including probably four marriages. In the 1870 Census, we see him with "Laura." Since it does not give us a relationship, we are not sure Laura is his wife although she is listed with Robert under the name Beckington. No marriage record can be found. They are living in Chicago and she is from Maine and works as a dressmaker. By the 1880 Census, he is married to Jennie Scoville and has a son, Robert Clare, age 1. They married on September 5, 1878  and divorced in 1892. They had three children, Robert and sisters, Maud and Grace.

     The following article was found in a newspaper regarding Robert and Jennie and a scuffle with the law, but NOT as a lawyer. The Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois) · Fri, February 21, 1879 · Page 8:

            

                       

     A newspaper notice dated February 11, 1891, under "Divorces," filed the day before, states: Beckington, Jennie A. against Robert, for cruelty. Then there is an article, dated January 12, 1892 under "Divorces" states: Beckington, Robert from Jennie, for adultery.

     In 1895, Robert and a woman named Anna E. Beach took out a marriage license in Chicago. They probably did not actually marry as the "return" was not filled in.

     On December 31, 1901, Robert and Mary A. (Rogers) Seymour, married. She was 10 years his senior, born in New York on September 25, 1832. Mary's first husband was Charles H. Seymour, a physician, as was Mary. They had two children who died in early childhood. After their move, they practiced together in the Belvidere, Illinois area for 20 years. Charles died in 1896 shortly after they took up residence in Chicago. Mary was active in many public matters including as a worker in the W.C.T.U. (Women's Christian Temperance Union). She was the author of the anti-spitting ordinance for Chicago and suggested the establishment of the Chicago Tuberculosis hospital. She was also prominent in the campaign for woman suffrage. Mary died on January 17, 1921, some months after having fallen and suffering injuries to her hip and spine, which may have led to her death. Mary is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Chicago.

      Then Robert married a final time on July 3, 1923, to Helen (Wheaton) Tibbitts, who was 30 years younger. Helen was previously married to Edward Tibbitts, and was probably divorced. She had two children, Nadine A. and Frank Wheaton Tibbitts. Robert passed away February 1, 1926 in Chicago. Helen died a few months later in September. Robert was buried by the G.A.R. in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Helen is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery as well.