The family cemetery is on private land now owned by Millard Trecek of Agenda, Kan. It is fenced, but not maintained at all.

FROM A BOOK OF AGENDA, KAN., HISTORY:

Fredrick and Mary Beck homesteaded an 80 [a quarter-section], 2½ miles west 2 miles south and ¼ mile west on the south side of the road. Due to the homestead acts they lived there 3 years before date of purchase, which was June 5, 1880.

Mr. Beck went to Clyde to see a man about a business deal. He brought the dreaded disease of smallpox back to his family. As the children contracted the disease, they were moved away from the house to a grainery or chicken house, away from the rest of the family.

A Mr. Schulty who had recovered from smallpox helped care for the family. He was a Union veteran of the Civil War and lived ¼ mile east, 1 mile south and ½ mile east of the Beck homestead.

In a period of time from April 18 to May 10, 1879, seven children passed away as follows:
-- John H. died April 18, 1879, 21 years old
-- George died April 26, 2879, 23 years old
-- Katie died April 26, 1879, 19 years old
-- Rosey died May 2, 1879, 4 years old
-- Mikey died May 3, 1879, 6 years old
-- Mary died May 8, 1879, 14 years old
-- Maggie died May 10, 1879, 16 years old

Two other children are also buried there:
-- Laura died Feb. 3, 1882, 5 years old
-- Mary died July 6, 1858, 9 months old [based on that date, she must have died elsewhere but then was included on this monument]

This being such a dreaded disease, the neighbors would build boxes used as coffins and leave them on the hill west of the present burial site. They also left food and other necessities.

The children were buried on the farm in a private cemetery for fear of spreading the disease.

[There is also a marker for MOTHER in this plot, although there is no other information on Mary's death. I can't find a burial record for Fredrick Beck.]