A Hard Life

A while ago I wrote about Eron Jeremiah Peck & Catherine Ann Henry. Eron died in 1910 leaving his wife and a daughter behind; two children had died before 1910. 

The living daughter was Gertrude Margaret Peck and she married Charles Henry Beach, the son of Randall E Beach & Melissa Yule. Together they had 2 boys, Leon & Marion, but Charles was not well when Gertrude died and she died before her mother, the last of family.

courtesy of Linda L - Find A Grave

Lake Shore News, Thurs, 18 Nov 1920
Mrs C H Beach Dead of Apoplectic Stroke
One of the most pitiful tragedies that Wolcott has known in years was the death of Mrs Gertrude Peck Beach, wife of Charles H Beach, which occurred at about 11 pm last Sunday.  Coming like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, it shocked the entire community. Two of the survivors are to be thought of as the real victims of this visitation, the invalid husband, who needs a wife's care almost hourly, and the aged mother, Mrs Kate Peck, the last member of whose family is now gone. Truly their burdens seem greater than they should be called upon to bear. Mrs Beach was forced to submit to a serious operation a few years ago, and her life at that time seemingly hung by a thread; but she recovered and since then, had seemed to be in better than average health, all things considered. Largely as a result of the worriment over her illness, Mr Beach suffered a series of shocks from which he never has recovered. He was forced to sell his business and since then, though he has not been bedridden, it has been necessary for his wife to look after him constantly. With great courage and cheerfulness, she took up the task and if depressed at times, showed only a smiling face to the world. She was out daily and on Sunday attended church, preparing a dinner afterwards and eating it with relish. After clearing away the dishes, she went in to call upon Mrs Fred Knapp, in part of whose house the Beaches have resided since they left the store. After a few minutes of conversation, she remarked that she must get back home as she was not feeling well. Scarcely had she crossed the threshold on her return when she collapsed. Dr S W Houston was summoned, and almost from the first, gave no hope of recover. She lingered till 1105 o'clock, when she died, never regaining consciousness. Meanwhile her son, Leon Beach, now of New York, had been summoned from Keuka Park, where he had gone to attend the funeral of his father-in-law, Dr Space, who dropped dead on Friday. He arrived by automobile only a little over an hour before his mother passed away. Mrs Beach was 53 years old, having been born in Huron May 13, 1867, the eldest child of the late Eron J Peck of Wolcott. Though she had lived elsewhere, at Newark, Rochester and Keuka Park, most of her life had been spent in Wolcott. Besides her husband and mother, she is survived by two sons, Marion Beach of San Francisco, and Leon Beach of New York, and two grandchildren. She had been for many years a member of the local Presbyterian Church and had hosts of friends, which her sunny disposition won and kept. The funeral was held from the home at 230 pm on Wednesday with interment in Glenside Cemetery, the Rev Duncan Salmond officiating. It was of course, impossible for Marion Beach to cross the continent and be present.

Lake Shore News, Thurs, 2 Jun 1921
Death of Charles H Beach in Long Island Hospital
Charles H Beach, for a long time a well-known merchant of Wolcott, dead at a hospital at Smithtown, L I on Monday night of this week. The cause of death was the gradual decay of his vitality following the stroke he sustained here, which compelled him to go out of business a couple of years ago. After the sudden death of Mrs Beach on Nov 14 last, he grew markedly worse, and it became evident that he could not live along, so this spring his son, Leon, took him to Smithtown, L I, where a home had been established. Growing still worse there, it became necessary to remove him to a hospital where he passed away. Mr Beach was born in 1859 and was therefore, about 62 years of age. He is survived by two sons, Leon, already mentioned, and Marion Beach of San Francisco, Cal, and two grandchildren, besides two brothers, William Beach of Elmira and one of the Beach twins, which one is not clearly known here nor where he lives. Mr Beach learned the profession of pharmacist here in Wolcott, subsequently conducting stores in Newark, Rochester and Keuka park, before returning to this village and buying a grocery business which he ran until failing health compelled him to sell out. He was prominent in the local Presbyterian church, and was active as a Maccabee. No man in Wolcott ever possessed more agreeable manners than Charles H Beach, who was also the soul of neatness. Withal, he was kindly and generous in his dealings with his family and friends. Great sympathy has been felt for him in his affliction, and now that he has won the release of death, the grief of all who knew him is tempered by the realization that he is vastly better off than in life. The body was brought to this village by his son and family on the 931 am train today, and was taken to the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs E J Peck in Jefferson Street, where the funeral will be held at 230 pm Friday, with interment beside his wife in Glenside Cemetery. His pastor, the Rev Duncan Salmond, will officiate.