The eldest child of Norman and Marinda Hadley Beckwith, Lil began life no differently than her seven brothers and sisters.  But Lil, in particular, was unhappy with an existence that provided little more than the necessities. Before her journey ended, she assumed responsibility for the support and well-being of her parents, several siblings and numerous extended family members, ruthlessly championed her kinfolk against all outsiders, and provided the Joetta neighborhood with sufficient scandal and umbrage to keep tongues wagging for years.

Lillie Almeda took the family's dire poverty especially to heart.  We will venture to say that she was never a really happy, carefree girl.  She was energetic and ambitious and she did not like to be poor.  We have heard her tell of how she and Rosa Junia struggled to make their cheap clothing look nice, and of their attempts to make the old log house attractive, with virtually no means to accomplish their end.  Lillie was burdened with her relatives as long as her life lasted - a self-assumed burden.  Grandmother Marinda dedicated a lovingly grateful poem to her eldest daughter.

Lillie Almeda made her first attempt to bring money into the Beckwith family when she was 19 years old.  On October 19, 1871, she married George Rees, for whom (by her own avowal) she cared not at all.  This may well have set the stage for the ensuing disaster, in fairness to George. He was from a well-to-do family and Lillie Almeda thought she might help her own folks with some of his money.  She was badly disappointed.  According to Lillie, he wasn't a very kind husband and she soon came to regard him with a loathing that lasted as long as she lived.

Finally one night he returned from a trip to Keokuk in a state of violent drunkenness. Lillie testified later that when he came into the house he had a butcher knife in his hand, seized her and attempted to cut her throat.  She managed to wrench free of his grasp, ran out of the house and into the yard where she hid. Another man had accompanied George to the house and managed to talk George out of his murderous intentions.

George abandoned wife and home as of that evening and provided no support for her thereafter. After two years, Lil filed suit for divorce in mid-1876.  In October, she obtained a divorce on the grounds of drunkenness and abandonment, recounting this event as the ultimate evidence.  The entire experience undoubtedly hardened her character to some extent.

Many years after they parted and were old people, Mr. Rees came to visit his old home neighborhood after a long, silent absence.  Her sister said to Lillie, "Wouldn't you really like to see him and talk over old times?"

"See him?!" cried Aunt Lil, "I'll never look at him again!  I thought he was in hell where he belongs!"

Our Aunt Lillie inherited some of Grandmother Betsey's gifts of salty speech.  She could flay you alive with her tongue, using language that would certainly put a curl in your hair, or pleasantly give you a dirty dig that you would not soon forget.  On the other hand, she could flatter you foolish if she wished - and if she thought there were anything to be gained by doing so - using the most pleasing diction and tone of voice.

Lil's divorce documents are transcribed verbatim except for the addition of a few semi-colons in the following petitions and some blank lines for ease of reading on the screen. The added semi-colons follow the pattern of the Report of Oral Testimony document. Where handwriting could not be deciphered, underscores are shown.

Filed May 16th 1876
S J Davis clerk

To the Honerable Joseph Sibley judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit in the State of Illinois in Chancery sitting in Hancock County __ _____ a part of said Judicial Circuit

Most respectfully represents unto your Honer your oratrix Lillie A. Rees and showeth unto your Honer that she is a resident of Hancock County in the State of Illinois and has been a resident of said County for more than five years last part immediately before the filing of this her bill of complaint against George Rees her Husband and showeth unto your Honer that she was Legally married to said George Rees in the County of Hancock in the State of Illinois on the 19th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy Two by a Mr Walker a Presbyterian minister of the Gospel;

that soon after this said marriage she and her said Husband George Rees went to housekeping in Hancock county State of Illinois with a Smal amount of Housholds furniture and goods furnished her by her father;

that to her great estonishment soon after said marriage the first time after this said marriage that her said Husband left home; when he returned home the same evening he was much intoxicated and very drunk; that from that time her said Husband George Rees was continually in the ____ of Very intoxication and Drunk all the time they lived together from the date of their said marriage untill he left your oratrix and since that time on this the 13th day of May 1874 at the County of Hancock aforesaid he came home on the night of said day much Intoxicated and without any cause or provocation abused your oratrix in this most shameful manner and at the same time threatened the life of your oratrix and in the most fiendish and Brutal manner seized hold of your oratrix and then and there undertook to cut the throat of your oratrix with a Nife and would have acomplished his purpose had not Samuel Lenox and some other persons come to her assistance and saved her life;

that on said 13th day of May 1874 the said Defendant George Rees her said Husband without any just cause or provocation immediately after he made said assault upon the life of your oratrix and on the same night of said day left the house and residence of your oratrix and has made no attempt to Return to or live with your oratrix nor has he made any provisions for her support from said thirteenth day of May 1874 up to the date of this filing this her bill of complaint your oratrix charges that said George Rees her said Husband has willfully abandoned and absented himself from your oratrix for more than two years ___ before this filing of this her Bill of Complaint and that her said Husband George Rees has been a _____ Drunkard for more than two years before the filing of this your oratrixes Bill of Complaint;

your oratrix further showeth ___ your Honer that she was at all times a dutiful and obidient wife and an effictunate companion and was in hopes that the said defendant would reform and live with your oratrix but her hopes have all failid and been Wasted.

Your oratrix therefore pray for a writ of summons against the said George Rees that he may be summoned by the Sheriff of Hancock County to appear at the next term of the Hancock Circuit Court to answer the Complaintants Bill of Complaint; that on the first hearing of this cause your Honer may grant unto your oratrix a Bill of divorce from the said George Rees her Husband for causes set forth in this her Bill of Complaint declaring the marriage contract now existing between them Broken, null and void and divorce the parties from each other and then your oratrix may have such other and further Relief in the premises as Equity and good concience may demand and as in duly _______ will ever pray ___.

Lillie A Rees

Dennis Smith
___ for Court

Lil's original Bill of Complaint for divorce from George Rees was filed on May 16th, 1876.  On that day a court order was prepared commanding the Sheriff of McDonough County to serve George Rees with a summons to the courthouse in Carthage on the first Monday in June of 1876. The Sheriff returned it, noting that he could not find George.

A second court order was issued on June 19th, this time in error to the Sheriff of Hancock County. The wording on the document was amended to read "As we have before commanded you to summon George Rees" for an appearance at the Carthage Courthouse on the first Monday in October.  This summons was "returned, not served by order of Plaintiff's Attorney Dennis Smith".

Finally on August 4th a third court order was issued, again to the Sheriff of McDonough County. This order required George L. Rees to appear to appear in court on the first Monday in October of that year.  The Sheriff was successful, noting that he served George on the 19th of August.

No. 1922.
Lillie A. Rees
vs. Chancery.
George Rees.

Report of oral testimony.

Filed Oct 10 1876
A J Davis clk

Report of the oral testimony given in open court, upon the hearing of the above entitled cause before the Hon. Joseph Sibley

Lillie A. Rees, having been duly sworn, testified, that she is the complainant in said cause; that she and defendant were married on October 19, 1871, in Fountain Green in this county; that she has lived in this county all her life;

that after said marriage, she and defendant lived together as man and wife for a little more than one and one-half year; that defendant deserted her on May 13, 1873; he left home for Keokuk on that day and returned home that night; when defendant came into the house he had a butcher knife in his hand, and threatened to kill witness with it;

that he seized witness and attempted to cut her throat; that witness ran away from him and escaped into the yard; that witness does not know why defendant did not kill her, that he might have done so, but that there was a man with him who endeavored to persuade him to desist; that witness concealed herself in the yard and heard defendant say he would finish her; that defendant had been drinking on that day, and that when he was drunk he was brutal and abusive; that defendant deserted witness on that evening; that witness has met him since but has not spoken to him; that he willfully abandoned her; that she does not know where he went, but has been informed that he has been in McDonough County in this state part of the time since;

that witness gave defendant no cause for such abandonment and would have lived with him; that she does not think her life would have been safe if they had lived together longer; that defendant has not provided for her since he left her, and that she did not consent for him to go.

I, Charles J. Scofield, do herby certify, that the above and forgoing is in substance all the testimony given upon the hearing of the above entitled court, in open court, before the Hon. Joseph Sibley.

Charles J. Scofield,
Master's fee $5.00Master in Chancery.

Judge Sibley granted the divorce during the October term; the document was filed on October 11, 1876.  Lil's court costs totaled $11.05.

Charles J. Scofield, appointed Master in Chancery in 1875, went on to become a judge of the Circuit Court in 1885, and later edited the 1921 History of Hancock County, commonly referred to as the Scofield History.

Beckwith Family History, continued

In those days divorces were by no means as common as they are now.  A divorced woman, especially, had to be very careful of her conduct if she wished to get by in respectable society.

This did not apply to Lillie Almeda: she was a Beckwith.  After her brief and unfortunate marriage, it seems she cut loose her boat and set out for spoils.  She and a cousin, Jennie Obenchain, were companion adventuresses for the next few years.  [Jennie Obenchain, Lil's second cousin, was the granddaughter of John D. and Lucretia Lank Beckwith, and the daughter of Delphine R. Beckwith and Alfred T. Obenchain.]

Lillie must have been about 30 years old when she began a relationship with Peter E. Weakley. Mr. Weakley was a perfect victim: a wealthy older man (almost 30 years Lil's senior) with an invalid wife.  But do not think that he was lacking in brains. He was one of the most successful and intelligent men of those parts, and Aunt Lillie felt true admiration for him.  He was probably the only man in Aunt Lil's life who really cared for her, and she knew and appreciated it.  She always spoke of him with affection, and there was the fact that he let her spend his money on her family. He had had other inamoratas, but apparently no other woman ever reduced him to such a state of complete infatuation. In a word, he was besotted.  To this day when describing something outrageous, Mother [Clara Way Barb] will say, "Well, for the love of Peter E. Weakley!"

He owned quite a bit of property and was the owner and proprietor of the general store, Joetta. This little country store was named for Joel and Etta Booz, the former owners.  An amazing volume of business made it a profitable enterprise and it was the center of community life.  This lasted until the advent of good roads and automobiles.

With the children growing up, the poverty of the Beckwith family was acute.  Mr. Weakley's money provided great relief.  Jesse was, by this time, beginning to make a bad name for himself and often needed to be bailed out, sometimes literally and sometimes financially.  Crippled brother Willis received some long-needed doctoring which had been, unfortunately, too long deferred.

We have often wondered how Grandpa and Grandma Beckwith, both of good moral fiber, could consent to share with apparent content the fruits of their daughter's shame, for shame it was.  We have been told that they didn't approve, but needs must. . .  To this point, we must consider that they were growing old.  Some of their children had left home and, of those who had homes of their own, none could offer a home to Grandpa and Grandma when they became too old to work.  The things that righteous and good people will overlook, when their bread and butter are at stake, are amazing.  Above and beyond any other plausible factor, however, was Lil's character: knowing their Lillie, they probably knew that she would do as she darned well pleased, anyway.

Peter E. Weakley left Lil all of his property, real and personal, including all of his bad store bills.

The following notice, referring to Peter's and Lil's marriage, appeared in the Carthage Republican on January 17, 1894, the day before Peter died.

THE REPUBLICAN tenders congratulations to its good friend, Mr. P. E. Weakly, of Joetta. May he live a long time in his present happiness.

Carthage Republican, January 26, 1944, from the "Looking Back" column, January 1894:

Peter Weakley died Jan, 18, aged 70 years.  He farmed for 20 years after locating in the county in 1850 then became a merchant at Uniontown, later called Joetta.  His business was extraordinary, his sales averaging $30,000 a year, and a large number of clerks necessary. A few days before his death Mr. Weakley was married to Mrs. Lillie A. Beckwith.

Beckwith Family History, continued

Oh, what a commotion broke out in the community then, for Aunt Lil started out collecting right away and, as a collector, she was fierce.  She brought lawsuit after lawsuit against her neighbors and her name became an anathema.  Her actions started feuds that lasted for years.  (Getting even for gossip?  Ha!  She liked the money.)

Not all the bills were just.  Peter Weakley had apparently never refused anyone unlimited credit and, as he grew old and more careless, he often neither marked off a paid bill, nor gave any receipts for them.  Grandfather Way was one of Lil's targets, forced to repay an already paid bill. Those who did owe Mr. Weakley were prone to point out that the shameless hussy hadn't any right to his property, anyway.  Aunt Lil, of course, did not collect all of the allegedly outstanding debts, but not because she didn't try.  An acquaintance once beheld her looking over the bills and casting out the hopeless ones, "Another dead dog!"

Hard feelings between the Sammons and Beckwith families, after Jesse's attempt on the life of Charles Sammons, were augmented when Aunt Lil sued Jim Sammons for a big store bill that his daughters - without his consent - had contracted at the Weakley store.

[A colorful note on the entertwining of families in this locale, is that just a few years later in 1900, Lil's nephew, Manville Barb (Rosa Junia's son) fell in love and married Clara Lee Way, a niece of Jim and Sarah Way Sammons.  We can't help but wonder if their relationship met with some resistance.]

Click on the picture to see a full-size image.

Aunt Lil established herself and various members of the family at Joetta, and operated the store for more than three decades.  After her parents came to spend their declining years with her, Lil sold the farm she had given them and invested the money in Texas land.  The original idea was to rent it to a sharecropper, who would raise rice there while Lil stayed in Illinois.  A Beckwith is a gambler in one way or another.  But the rice scheme failed entirely and Aunt Lil's Texas land was a joke for long years; the family used to concoct wild schemes on how to use it.  (I remember that my cousin Ruth and I used to consider starting a Texas cattle ranch.  I suppose the cattle were to have materialized out of thin air.  Neither of us could even twirl a rope.  In fact, swinging the long rope never occurred to us!)  Then the oil fields crept nearer and nearer and, though oil has never been discovered on that property, she sold it for a nice sum and at last vindicated her judgment.  She used the sale money for the usual purpose: she gave it to any relative who put up a poor mouth to her.

When we first remember Aunt Lil, as we always called her, she was nearly 60 years old and the scandal which had surrounded her name for so long was dying of old age.  We used to love to go to Joetta when we were little and we spent many happy hours there. She had made her home into a pretty little place, she was a fine housekeeper and cook, and many were the family dinners she prepared for her relatives' visits.  On election days (the town hall of Hancock Township was located at Joetta), she always got dinner for the town board and a dozen or more of her kinfolk, even if some of them did vote the Republican ticket.

Since she never had any children, we suppose it is not strictly correct to call her a matriarch, but this is the position she assumed in the family in later years.  While she would have defended any of us from outsiders to the last ditch, she certainly felt free to offer any personal criticism herself and she expected it to be heeded, too.

She quarreled most bitterly with Rosa Junia's daughter, Lois, who crossed her will, and always felt that it was she who had been injured.  But at the last of her life, she surely did soften a great deal, and even forgave a well-despised enemy or two.  She would have forgiven Lois, finally, if only Lois had lived long enough.  It took plenty of age to weaken Aunt Lil's belief that to hold a grudge and to get an eye for an eye was the proper thing.  She was very angry and hurt when, in opposition to Lillie, our cousin Ruth married her first husband.  We used to listen to Aunt Lil present her side of the case so convincingly, that we would begin to feel sorry for her!  But she forgave Ruth when the marriage failed, and actually said, "This will never be mentioned between us again, if you want to come back to this home." (I, myself, had a little trouble with her when she decided I was not paying enough attention to her opinions and I was foolish enough to argue with her.  But then, she forgave me, too.)

She undoubtedly had some interfering ways; she was a most dictatorial woman.  Mother used to say she was as bad as a mother-in-law, but she had some kind ways, too.  She was a foster mother to Father and Uncle Orrin and we know that she held a place in Father's heart.  Her love for her family was a devoted, indulgent love, albeit very possessive. Another characteristic was her insatiable curiosity.  There was no use trying to have any family secrets from her, however small. "Well, I'm a-goin' to get to the bottom of it!", she would say, and she would.  If it involved such methods as reading other people's letters and asking the most personal questions, this was no deterrent.  We remember her once calmly reading our cousin Ruth's private diary, which she had managed to get into, and her extreme indignation when she found that Ruth referred to her as a "weak woman".  We would never say that of her and neither would Lil have described herself thusly - not even for a moment.  Since she did rather hesitate to admit to Ruth that she had read the diary, she was like to burst.

On her 80th birthday her relatives gathered to celebrate the day in her honor.  An old-fashioned dance was proposed and a few sets were danced to the lively music of Turkey in the Straw and so forth.  Aunt Lil, tiny and frail, worn down to a shadow by diabetes, clinging to life and a last shred of strength only by her indomitable will, insisted on standing up and going through a change of the quadrille, just to show that she was still very much alive.  When she bade us farewell that evening, she said, "I know I've got the nicest kinfolks in the world!"  Well, that was her opinion and her religion: her kinfolks. She never had any other unless one would call her strong and sincere belief in spiritualism a religion.  That her belief was strong and sincere, we do not doubt, but at the end Lil did not receive the same comfort as Aunt Lucena had had from her religion, giving her faith and courage to meet death.

In this Beckwith chronicle we have devoted more space to Aunt Lil's life than to any of the others, yet our words are inadeqate to fully record her life and character.  More than any single person, she had the most profound and lasting affect on the entire Beckwith family.  May she rest in peace.