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Show wrote many feature articles for the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tr ibune, as well as for other small Utah newspapers. Although Beckwith was not a Mor mon, the official Mormon publication The Improvement Era published fourteen articles under his legal name and a further seven articles under his pen name, Mrs. Grace Wharton Montaigne, Frank Beckwith and his friend between 1925 and 1930.67 Articles published and fellow historian, Charles included “First Issue of the Deseret News,” Kelly, December 12, 1948. “Historic Old Cove Fort,” and “Recipe for a Wedding Cake,” which addressed the items needed for a successful marriage. Some of these articles were illustrated with his own photographs. Beckwith also wrote many essays and articles that were never published. He compiled numerous scrapbooks of various lengths and for a multiplicity of subjects, including one for his granddaughter, one for his daughter, and one for historical sites. He also wrote extensive essays on various topics, such as a seventeen page essay called “Thoughts on the Fossil,” and composed long letters to friends. Beckwith would have liked to have had more of his works published, a wish that stemmed from a sincere desire to share his knowledge rather than any concern about becoming wealthy, but, as noted by Charles Kelly, “Frank had one very unfortunate fault. When he became intensely interested in a subject, he seemed to take for granted that everyone else was almost as well informed as himself. Consequently…. he would dive into the middle of a discussion rather than begin at the beginning or carry through. This was the only thing that prevented him from selling various articles he wrote.”68 Nevertheless, Beckwith served as an inspiration to other writers, including Kelly, who dedicated his book Outlaw Trail to him, because he first introduced Kelly to the story of Butch Cassidy. Kelly also fashioned the character “Fossil Hunter” in Sand and Sagebrush after Beckwith.69 Frank A. Beckwith continued his work at the Chronicle and his many other projects and activities until he died from a heart ailment at the age of seventy-four on June 11, 1951, at the Fillmore Hospital. His funeral was conducted in Delta by the Tintic Lodge No. 9. Free and Accepted Masons. He was buried in the Delta City Cemetery. In 1966, Beckwith was inducted 67 It is not known why he used the pen name of Grace Wharton Montaigne or why the Improvement Era would publish his article under this name. However, one of his favorite authors was Michel de Montaigne. 68 Kelly, “Reminiscences.” 69 Kelly, “Tribute.” 185 BECKWITH PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION, DELTA CITY LIBRARY FRANK ASAHEL BECKWITH |
