Robert Anderson Becket

Robert Anderson Becket, did much to promote musical talent, directly assisting many young musicians, and thus his loss was distinctly felt in musical circles, when death called him on the 6th of May, 1910. He had passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life’s journey, his birth having occurred in Scotland, December 30, 1834. His father, James Becket, came to Canada with his family in 1841 and was connected with the customs department at Montreal, where Robert A. pursued his education in private schools. He was a young man in his twenty-fourth year, when on January 11, 1858, he wedded Anne Wilson, born in Bellemeana, Ireland, a daughter of Samuel Wilson.

Robert A. Becket had made his initial step in business as bookkeeper for his uncle, J. C. Becket, on St. James Street in Montreal, but in the year of his marriage, removed to Belleville, Ontario, where he embarked in business on his own account conducting a music and stationery store, for about eight years, or until 1866, when he returned to this city and became manager for the D. Morris Ice Company. Some time passed and he became owner of this enterprise, in which connection he built up a large and profitable business. He organized a joint stock company called the City Ice Company, Limited, and devoted all of his time to the conduct of his business, carefully directing its interests. He was a progressive man and was especially active along musical lines, doing much to help young musicians. He was also a prominent figure in quartet and choir work and there was perhaps, no one who did more to stimulate among the young, a love for music of the higher class, than Mr. Becket.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Becket were born twelve children, of whom five are living: Christina A.; Dr. George C., of East Orange, New Jersey; Ralph A., of Montreal; Fred M., of Niagara Falls, New York; and Frank W., of New York. The family attend the Erskine church, of which Mr. Becket was a prominent member and elder, his religious faith constituting the root from which sprang his many good deeds, wrought along lines of continuous benefit to his fellowmen.