Frank Beckman
known as Frank
also written Frank Beckman, Frank, John Franklin “Frank” Beckman in the book
Biography
Said to have squandered most of Adah’s inheritance on a failed Brainerd furniture store venture with two unnamed partners described as crooked. Widowed with eight surviving children. Had Clara arrested immediately upon discovering her abuse of Edith. Later married Mary; they had no children together. Squandered Adah's inheritance in a bad business deal. The family blamed him for the tragedy and concealed Clara's imprisonment with a brain-tumor story. The passage calls his establishment the first 'booze' bar in Minnesota.
Timeline
date not given
Adah’s inheritance lost in a furniture store venture
Frank is said to have squandered most of Adah’s inheritance in a failed venture with two crooked partners.
History of the Guild FamilyAt age 38; Floyd was 9
Sophrona dies of tuberculosis
Left eight surviving children.
History of the Guild FamilyAfter Sophrona's death
Frank marries Clara
History of the Guild FamilyEdith was 18 months old
Edith's abuse and Clara's imprisonment
Frank had Clara arrested upon discovering severe abuse of Edith. Clara was tried and imprisoned; the family concealed this with a brain-tumor story.
History of the Guild FamilySoon after Clara's imprisonment
Mary joins the Beckman family
Mary lovingly raised Frank's children and helped Edith heal. Frank and Mary had no children together.
History of the Guild FamilyLater
Frank's bar and resort on Wabedo Lake
The passage calls it Minnesota's first 'booze' bar and says it is still there.
History of the Guild Family
Stories mentioning Frank
- Inventive Hands and the Fortunes of an InheritanceNewton’s mills, repair shop, patents and royalties illustrate what the family calls the Guild tinkering trait. The account also credits Thaddeus Fairbanks and Mr. Morse with scale and engine innovations. After Newton’s death, Dan supported his family with his inheritance, Bernal became a traveling salesman, and Frank Beckman lost most of Adah’s share in a failed furniture store venture.
- Sophrona's Children and the Love That Helped Edith HealAdah Sophrona Guild Beckman died of tuberculosis at 38, leaving eight surviving children after Samuel's fatal poisoning at two. Her widower Frank married Clara, who severely abused little Edith and was imprisoned after Frank discovered the abuse. The family concealed the imprisonment with a brain-tumor story. Frank later married Mary, whose love helped Edith recover. Edith became a tender mother, and her daughter Gerri supplied details. The account also recalls Adah's lost inheritance and Frank's later Wabedo Lake resort.
Referenced in
Family corrections
Notes sent in by the family and approved on review. They sit alongside the original record — the book's wording is never changed.
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