Edgar Charles Beecroft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 16 Feb 1876 - Oak Park, , IL
Christening:
Death: 26 Aug 1939 - Pelham Manor, Westchester Co, NY
Burial:
Cause of Death: heart attack
AFN :
Events
• Biography
Judge Edgar C. Beecroft of Pelham• Biography
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Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Recently I have been involved in a project that has required me to review the three biographical volumes that form part of the five volumes that comprise the "History of Westchester County New York" edited by Alvah P. French and published in 1925. During the course of my work I have collected biographies of Pelham residents that appear in those volumes. Making such biographies available online, of course, furthers the study of local history and genealogy related to the familes of those who are described in the biographies. Thus, for the next several days, I will use my blog postings to provide the biographical data available from the five-volume set for a number of notable Pelham residents from the early 20th century.
Today's posting will provide biographical data for Edgar C. Beecroft who served as Supervisor of the Town of Pelham from 1907 to 1913 and Village Attorney of Pelham Manor for two decades, among other things. Below is a post card view of Judge Beecroft's home (shown in about 1910). Below that is the biography of Judge Beecroft taken from Alvah French's work.
Home of Edgar C. Beecroft Shown on Post Card Printed in About 1910
"EDGAR C. BEECROFT -- In the continuous choice of Judge Edgar C. Beecroft as legal counsel and adviser in township and corporative affairs in Pelham and Westchester County, public utilities and the interests of community advancement have had their claims presented and adjusted with most substantial and lasting results. His appointment to legal and supervisory offices was the outcome of a wise discernment on the part of Pelham Manor and neighboring townships; while the general practice of Judge Beecroft in this section and throughout a considerable part of the State is sought by important and influential organizations. He is son of John R. Beecroft, of Keston, Kent, England, who came to the United States, and for several years was Chicago manager for the Scribner Publishing Company, and Elizabeth (Corbett) Beecroft, who was born in Chicago.
"Judge Edgar C. Beecroft was born February 16, 1876, in Oak Park, Illinois. His parents removed to Pelham Manor when he was about one year old, and there he attended public school and Trinity School, where he graduated in 1893. Afterwards he graduated at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, in the class of 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He prepared for his profession at the Law School of New York University, where he graduated in 1899, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Establishing himself in the practice of his profession in New York City, he so continued for a year, and in 1900 he formed a partnership with Charles W. Rodman, under the firm title of Rodman & Beecroft. This partnership was maintained to the time of Mr. Rodman's death, which occurred in 1907, when Mr. Beecroft continued practice under his own name at No. 59 Liberty Street, New York City. It was while he was at that location, and when he was but twenty-one years of age, that Pelham elected him as its town judge, an office that he held for three terms, or ten years; and, meantime, for six years he held the office of supervisor. It is believed that Judge Beecroft has the unique distinction of having been the only man to have held two elective offices at the same time, having established his right locally to do so.
"Appointed as counsel to the Bronx Valley Sewer Commission, which constructed Westchester County's largest sewer. Judge Beecroft was also counsel to the Pelham Board of Sewerage Disposal Works; he served as corporation counsel of the village of North Pelham ten years; he was appointed special counsel by the town of Pelham in Westchester County tax law proceedings, and he was the father of the movement that resulted in the framing of the present Westchester County tax laws. At present he is corporation counsel of the village of Pelham Manor, where he also has a lucrative law practice.
"Judge Beecroft's fraternal affiliations are with Winyah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Pelham; and he is a member of Pelham Country Club, Manor Club, and Alpha Delta Phi Club.
"Judge Edgar C. Beecroft married, July 2, 1903, in New York City, Grace Lowery, of Virginia, daughter of Walter Lowery, of an old Virginia family of the name, and Ida (Haveland) Lowery, of a long established Long Island family, and descendant of a Revolutionary patriot. Judge and Mrs. Beecroft are the parents of: 1. John R. Beecroft, born August 29, 1905. 2. Lavinia Lowery Beecroft, born March 15, 1911. 3. Dorothy Dent Beecroft, born July 15, 1912."
Source: French, Alvah P., ed., History of Westchester County New York, Vol. V, p. 102 (NY, NY & Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Co. 1925).
Edgar C. Beecroft died of a heart attack in his home on August 26, 1939 at the age of 63. The New York Times published his obituary the next day. It read:
"EDGAR C. BEECROFT
Village Attorney of Pelham Manor for Last 20 Years
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.
PELHAM MANOR, N. Y., Aug. 26. -- Edgar C. Beecroft, village attorney of Pelham Manor for the last twenty years, died of a heart attack in his home here today. His age was 63.
A native of Chicago, Mr. Beecroft attended Trinity School in New York, and in 1897 was graduated from Trinity College at Hartford, Conn., and later from the New York Law School. He conducted a general law practice in New Rochelle and Pelham Manor for many years, and was active in local Democratic party affairs. He was Town Supervisor of Pelham from 1907 to 1913, a member of the Bronx Valley Sewer Commission from 1911 to 1914 and a Justice of the Peace here.
Surviving are a son, John R. Beecroft of Pelham Manor; two daughters, Mrs. George Schlegel 3d of Hartsdale and Mrs. George Benson of Scarsdale; a brother, Chester Beecroft, and a sister, Miss Mary Beecroft, both of Westport, Conn."
Edgar C. Beecroft, N.Y. Times, Aug. 27, 1939, p. 35.
Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/
posted by Blake A. Bell @ 5:50 AM
"EDGAR C. BEECROFT.• Census, Federal, 1880 in Flushing, Queens, NY
Edgar Charles Beecroft, lawyer, Supervisor, Counsel to the Bronx Sewer Commission, Corporation Counsel, former Justice of the Peace, etc., was born in Oak Park, Ill., on February 16, 1876, a son of John R. and Elizabeth Beecroft.
He graduated at Trinity College (Hartford, Conn.) and at the New York Law School.
He was admitted to practice at the bar in 1899, and early took a prominent place in the profession. His advance was steady and honorable. A studious analysis of all the rules and practices of law, a knowledge of the very best productions of distinguished jurists, enables him to retain the honorable position he holds in the legal fraternity.
The chief characteristics of Mr. Beecroft, as an official as well as a lawyer, are his great industry and his unbending integrity. In personal appearance he is commanding; his features wear the stamp of intellect; he is cool and self-possessed under every circumstance, and never finds himself in a situation for which he has not adequate resources.
When he was three years of age his parents came to this State, settling in Pelham. He has since resided in that town, his present abode being in Pelham Manor.
Mr. Beecroft has acted with the Democratic party, and has always been a conspicuous and able defender of the principles it was established to maintain. His influence in his own town added to his personal popularity has resulted in his repeated election to public office when the town was normally largely Republican; he is certainly appreciated where he is best known.
He served as a Justice of the Peace for eight years, from 1901 to 1909; while holding the position of Justice he was, in 1907, elected Supervisor of the town of Pelham, holding both offices until 1909. In 1909 he was re-elected Supervisor, and again re-elected in 1911, notwithstanding a strong opposition determined if possible to defeat him by the usual Republican majority given at a general election. The re-election of Supervisor Beecroft proves that the people can be trusted when it comes to approving the acts of a faithful official.
In 1910 at the urgent request of leaders of his party he consented to accept the Democratic nomination for District-Attorney, when there was not the slightest possibility of success, so great was the opposition party's majority in the county. His loyalty to the principles of his party justified his making a sacrifice. As was expected, he was defeated; yet he had the satisfaction of knowing that the number of votes he received far exceeded that given any other nominee of the party for that office in recent years.
He was chosen Corporation Counsel of the Village of North Pelham in March, 1911, and he still retains the position.
On the reorganization of the Bronx Valley Sewer Commission, under special act of the State Legislature, by Commissioners appointed by Governor Dix, in 1911, Mr. Beecroft was unanimously chosen to hold the highly responsible position of Counsel to the Commission. [Page 189 / Page 190]
He is counsel to the Pelham Board of Sewage Disposal Works.
He is a member of the York Lodge, F. and A. M., and of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
Mr. Beecroft was married July 2, 1904, to Miss Grace L. Lowry, daughter of Clarence and Ida (Haviland) Lowry, of New York city. They have two children, John Robert, aged six years, and Lavinia, aged five months."
Source: Smith, Henry T., Westchester County in History Manual and Civil List Past and Present - County History Towns, Hamlets, Villages and Cities - Truly This People Can Say, We Have Made History - 1683-1914, Vol. III, pp. 189-90 (White Plains, NY: Henry T. Smith, Publisher, 1913).
Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
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Labels: 1913, Edgar C. Beecroft, Town Supervisor
John R Beecroft, age 33, born ENG, Clerk in Store; Elizabeth, wife, age 31, born PA, Keeping House; Frederick J, son, age 7, born IL; William G, son, age 5, born IL; Edgar C., son, age 3, born IL; Albert A, son, age 1, born IL.• School, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, 1896-1897
Page 15, Undergraduates, Seniors• School, Phi Kappa, 1897
Edgar Charles Beecroft (s.) Pelham Manor, N. Y., Room 33 J.H.
J.H. = Jarvis Hall
S. = Course in Science
Edgar Charles Beecroft. Pelham Manor, N.Y., Student N.Y. Law School. Cotswain N.Y. Naval Militia, on U.S. S. "Jason", 1898.• Census, Federal, 1900 in Pelham Manor, Westchester Co, NY
Beecroft, John R, head, born May 1849, 51, married 29 years, born in England, both parents born in England, immigrated in 1869, occupation publisher;• Census, Federal, 1910 in Pelham, Westchester Co, NY
Elizabeth, wife, born June 1850, 50, born Penns, both parents born Penns;
F J, son, born Dec 1873, 27, born Illinois, occupation Lawyer;
Edgar C, son, born Feby 1875, 25, born Illinois, occupation Lawyer;
Albert A, son, born Oct 1877, 23, born Illinois, occupation Promoter;
Roswell C, son, born Jun 1880, 19, born New York, occupation Student;
Mary C, dau, born June 1883, 17, born New York.
Ross, Annie M, servant, born May 1877, 23, born Virginia;
German, Stephen, servant, born June 1873 27, born S. Carolina.
Edgar C Beecroft, age 32y, born NY; wife Grace E, age 28y, born NY; son John R, age 4y, born NY; mother-in-law Ida L Lowry, age 48y, born NY, widowed.• Census, Federal, 1930 in Westchester, NY
Edgar C Beecroft, born abt 1876; wife Grace L, 1879; John R, 1906; Levinia, 1911; Dorothy, 1913.• Obituary, New York Times, 29 Aug 1939
30, at 3:30 o clock. l -Edgar C., at Pelham Manor, beloved father of John R. Beecroft, Lavinia Schlegel and Dorothy Benson. Funeral Tuesday, Aug. ...
Parents
Father: John Robert Beecroft
Mother: Elizabeth Corbett
Spouses and Children
1. *Grace Edna Lowery
Marriage: 2 Jul 1903 - New York City, NY
Status:
Children:
1. John Robert Beecroft
2. Lavinia Lowery Beecroft
3. Dorothy Dent Beecroft