Beecroft/Becraft Ancestors

Edgar Franklin Becraft

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Husband Edgar Franklin Becraft [3539] ¹

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           Born: 11 Oct 1897 - Palisade, Mesa, Colorado, United States 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 Nov 1915 - Tulare Co, CA 1 2
 Cause of Death: Murdered, case was never solved.
         Buried: 17 Nov 1915 - Lindsay-Strathmore Cemetery, Lindsay, Tulare, California, United States 2
FamilySearch ID: 9F9N-Y3N
Find A Grave ID: 244281757

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         Father: William Harrison Becraft [1934] (1850-1921)
         Mother: Nancy Catherine Shook [3529] (1859-1947) 1

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       Marriage: Did Not Marry

Events

• He appeared on the Federal census in 1900 in De Beque, Mesa Co, CO. Name: Edgar Beecroft
Titles & Terms:
Residence: De Beque town, Mesa, Colorado
Birth Date: Oct 1897
Birthplace: Iowa
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Spouse:
Spouse's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Father: W H Beecroft
Father's Titles & Terms:
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother: Nancy C Beecroft
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Mother's Birthplace: Missouri
Race or Color (expanded): White
Head-of-household Name: W H Beecroft
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Years Married:
Estimated Marriage Year:
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year:
Enumeration District: 0072
Page: 2
Sheet Letter: B
Family Number: 43
Reference Number: 73
Film Number: 1240126
Image Number: 00861
HouseholdGenderAge
Parent W H Beecroft M
Parent Nancy C Beecroft F
Edgar Beecroft M.

• He appeared on the Federal census in 1910 in Tulare Co, CA. William H Becraft, born about 1851; "Harey" Nancy C, born about 1860; Edga, born about 1899.

• His obituary was published in the Porterville Evening Recorder in 1915. [rootsweb.com reference].

• Event: 15 Nov 1915. Auto Driver may have been murdered

Investigations regarding the death of Edward Becraft of Lindsay, who was found dead in his auto near this city last week, indicate that a murder may have been committed. A dispatch from Lindsay last Sunday says:

"It has been practically established by the authorities that Edward Becraft, who was found dead in his car near Merced last Monday morning, met his death through violence. Word was received here this morning from San Francisco, where an analysis had been made of the contents of his stomach, that about three-eights of a grain of morphine was found. Local physicians are of the opinion that Becraft was given the drug by enemies, and that his entire body contained the same pro rata of the morphine.

"It was established today that Becraft purchased gasoline in Fresno last Monday morning about 2 o'clock. As the curtains to his machine were up, the garage keepers said they were not sure whether or not he had any passengers. The local authorities are inclined to believe that he was attacked by passengers and drugged, as relatives and friends declare he was not a user of morphine.

"A coroner's jury at Merced Tuesday rendered a verdict of death by accident. Friends and releatives thought otherwise and through them the San Francisco experts were invited to make an investigation, which resulted in the finding of the morphine in the dead man's stomach. Police in all the valley cities have been called upon to produce any evidence they might have that could lead to a clew to the alleged murder."

• Event: 15 Nov 1915. Young Man Found Dead in Auto

Edgar Becraft, aged 18 years, who resides at Lindsay, Tulare county, was found dead in his automobile at the side of the State Highway near Bear Creek, just beyond the city limits, Monday afternoon. The discovery was made by a passing autoist who had noticed the machine along the road in the morning and who made an investigation when he saw the car in the same position in the afternoon. The lights of the car were burning and the engine still running when the body was found. The body was brought to the morgue in this city and an autopsy y dr. Brett Davis showed that death was due to an enlargement of the thymic gland. The surgeon informed the coroner's jury that this affliction was usually caused by extreme physical or mental excitement and results in sudden death.

Jessee Becraft, a brother, and J.S. Jurdy, a brother-in-law, who came from Lindsay on being notified of the death, were unable to account for young Becraft's presence here at the time of his death. They state that he made his home with his relatives in Lindsay and was employed in a garage conducted by his brother-in-law. SUnday evening he drove to Tulare and visited a young lady friend, leaving her home about 10 o'clock that night. Nothing more was heard of him until his relatives were notified of the finding of his body. The remains were taken to Lindsay Tuesday afternoon for burial.

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Wife

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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Sources

1 dad1037@yahoo.com (Emails, etc from her sources.).

2 Amy Rummelhart (azureami@hotmail.com), "Amy's Tree" (http://www.gencircles.com/users/daygirl/5/data/4565).