George Beckmann - 2nd son of Barthold & Christina Margaret (Reese) Beckmann

(courtesy of and written by George Beckman, The Villages, Florida)

George Beckmann (1892-1933), took over the Beckman farm in Lamstedt after his return from WWI where he spent 4 years as a German soldier. He was present at the 1st Battle of the Marne in 1914, and most likely was at the last battles fought in 1918. My father said he drove teams of horses which pulled cannons. This must have been a critical skill, because he survived 4 years at the front. He was wounded in the lung by shrapnel. After his return he said to my father "How can there be a merciful and loving God? after one has seen what I have seen". I'm sure he looked at death in the eye many times.
My father said he was an extremely hard worker, he gave my father 500 Marks to go to Hamburg to learn to be a musician, which he did. My father loved music and used these skills when he immigrated to America. Even in his 80th years, my father was often called upon to play his Cello in concerts at Germania Hall.
George married Johanna Eckoff, and took over the Beckmann farm. They had 2 sons, Barthold & Ludwig. Georg passed away in 1933, some say from the after effects of his wartime injuries.
A few years ago I met with Kathe Boerger, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a distand cousin, she told me young Barthold was an intelligent fine man, who died in Russia in 1943 at age 21.
Ludwig bore the responsibility of running the Beckmann farm, and under his able stewardship, he and his family have prospered.
Those of you in Germany, know more about Ludwig's family than I do.

George Beckman, The Villages, Florida, December 30, 2005