Moritz Georg 'George' von_Beschwitz

b 31 Jan 1867, Alt-Hörnitz, Hörnitz, Saxony, Germany
d 08 Mar 1945, Chicago, Cook, Illinois			Johann Christoph von_Beschwitz	>
bur 12 Jul 1945, Skokie, Cook, Illinois		Christoph Moritz von_Beschwitz	Johanna Eleonore von_Feilitzsch
	Hans Christoph Moritz von_Beschwitz	b 16 Apr 1742
	\| b 29 Sep 1780	Carolina Friederica von_Leubnitz
Wolf Leopold Moritz von_Beschwitz	d 23 Nov 1848	b 17 Jan 1753	Karl Gottlob von_Gersdorff
\|b 14 Nov 1826	\|	Wolf Christian Ludwig von_Gersdorff	Henriette Sophie Eleonore von_Nostitz	>
\|d 27 Nov 1888	Henriette Agnes von_Gersdorff	b 23 Sep 1765	Carl Rudolf von_Liebenau
\|	b 17 Mar 1791	Karoline Sofie Charlotte von_Liebenau	Sophie Eleonore von_Metzradt
Moritz Georg 'George' von_Beschwitz	d 05 Jan 1863	b 27 Dec 1769
\|Maude Eleanor Elizabeth Wheeler
\|m 22 May 1900	D. Ernst von_Schwemler
\|Chicago, Cook, Illinois	\|
Johanna Maria Magdalena von_Schwemler
b 27 Nov 1834	\|
d 07 May 1914	Emilie Krummel

Children

1		Willard Francis von_Beschwitz
2	<	Milton Miles Beckwith
3		George Lester Beckwith

Moritz Georg 'George' von Beschwitz about 17 or 18 years old

Notes

Born in knight estate Alt-Hörnitz which is now a luxary hotel two miles West of Zittau, Saxony, Germany.

Georg performed Felix Mendelssohn's violin concerto for a command performance before the King of Saxony at the age of twelve.

While in Vienna studying under the Hungarian violinist and composer Joseph Joachim (28 June 1831 - 15 August 1907), Georg was asked if he would like to join Joachim in a visit to the home of a close friend. The two descended steps to a basement apartment where they were greeted enthusiastically by Joachim's friend. The friend, in excited voice, asked the two to please be seated so he could play for them something he had just composed. The friend went to the piano and played "Brahms Lullaby". Thus Georg was presented a unique introduction to Johannes Brahms, one of the great classical composers of Europe during the latter part of the 19th century.

Georg migrated to the middle of the United States to the booming railroad city of Chicago. The reason for his migration is unknown but many at this time left for the new world to seek their fortune.

George, as he was known in the U.S., was an accomplished violin and violist. He was first chair viola and one of the founding members of First Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also played for the Chicago Opera house.

During the interim between concert seasons, George was concertmaster at the Majestic Theatre in Chicago (now the Shubert Theater). The Majestic played vaudeville. George felt a great challenge in playing vaudeville since all music direction was in accordance to what the performers were doing on stage rather than from the music score. Every performance was unpredictable, particularly those involving animals. This presented a real challenge to the concertmaster, a challenge George enjoyed.

'April 4th, 1932

Dear Sir:

As per your request, the Board of Directors in session, Friday, April 1, 1932, placed you on the Old Age Limit List of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, commencing with the second quarter of 1932.

I am enclosing herewith your Life Membership Card.'

Buried in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Source: Maude von Beschwitz notes. Chicago Federation of Musicians letter. Naturalization Papers, 13 Feb 1919. Memorial Park Cemetery Records. 'Genealogisches Handbuch Des Adels', Band 34 der Gesamtreihe, Adelige Hauser A Band VII, 1965, p 9.

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