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Georgia Katherine Beck, 'Granny Beck', is the answer for Week 442 of Orofino History Trivia a special feature to celebrate the history and heritage of Clearwater Country. Watch each day for another clue.

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Monday: Born 1891

Tuesday: Married at age 15

Wednesday: Raised eight children and one grandson

Thursday: Her grandson describes her as the best 'left over' cook he ever knew.

Friday: Her husband logged with horses.

Saturday: Came to Orofino in 1924

Monday: Their home had a covered porch on two sides.

Tuesday: Born of Irish parents in Missouri

Wednesday: Loved people, related or not

Thursday: Had a ranch three miles out of Orofino

Friday: Always had a big garden and a milk cow

Saturday: She always wore print dresses.

Monday: Always had a Guernsey cow

Tuesday: She went all out to prepare lunch and then what was leftover was added to and served for dinner.

Wednesday: She baked almost everyday, usually pie.

Thursday: She was a very hard worker.

Friday: They made Sunday a family day and always had company for dinner.

Saturday: Lived to be 96 years old and passed away in 1987.

Georgia Katherine Beck was born in 1891 in Missouri to Irish parents, Dan and Clara Sullivan. The family made their way to the Northwest when she was small, ending up in Cunningham, WA. According to Coal Oil Lamps and Cattle in the Crops: A History of Northen and Mountain West Idaho complied and edited by Tom Blair and Karen Garvey, Georgia met her husband-to-be, Charles Alonzo Beck in 1906 and they married in 1907 when she was 15 years old. That was not uncommon at that time. Lon and his brothers were custom farmers going from farm to farm helping with whatever crop happened to need harvesting. About 1924, Georgia and Lon ended up in Orofino and decided to stay.

Lon made a living logging using horses while Georgia stayed at home to raise their eight children and one grandchild. They didn't have an indoor toilet until sometime in the 1950s. They did take baths inside in a washtub. There was always big garden and a milk cow.

Her grandson said she was no gourmet in the kitchen, but could put out a great meal for as many people as she could seat. The big meal was lunch and whatever was leftover was added to for dinner. She baked everyday, usually pie. She would always busy herself doing something whether it was cooking, cleaning, tending the garden, canning or such things. Sometimes she would go shopping or perhaps visit someone.

The thing that Georgia and Lon had in common was a love for people, related or not. They always ejoyed a conversation with a stranger. There was always company for dinner on Sunday. That was a family day and they took time away from work.

Georgia lived to be 96 years old. Lon died when he was 88.

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P.O. Box 2444
Orofino, ID 83544
Orofino 476 0733
Fax: 208-476-4140
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