The Prudhomme Fort Chapter of Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century commemorated David Beck, prominent in the founding of Chattanooga, on Friday. A historical marking was held at the Beck Cemetery at the corner of Dorchester and Devonshire streets in North Chattanooga, which adjoins Chattanooga Golf & Country Club.
David Beck, born in Pennsylvania in 1765, served in the Revolutionary War in Mecklinburg County, N.C., before moving first to Washington, then Rhea, then Hamilton County about 1800.
At that time, land south of the Tennessee River belonged to the Cherokees. White settlers had begun to encroach on lands north of the river. David Beck bought extensive properties, including what is now Riverview, Dallas Heights and North Chattanooga, and built a home where the clubhouse of the country club now stands.
Family lore has it that Cherokee Chief Joe Vann admired a jacket with epaulets that David Beck wore and told him of his dream that Beck had given him the jacket … which Beck did.
Some time later, Beck told the chief of his dream that the chief had given him land north of Beck’s home. The chief felt obligated to do so. That gift amounted to about 160 acres along the river.