Moses Washington Beights, son of James and Mary Beights, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, September 9, 1854, and departed this life on August 31, 1938 at the age of 83 years, 11 months, and 22 days.
When a youth he moved with his parents to Henry County, Iowa, and continued to reside with his parents until he reached his majority. On March 12, 1879, he was united in marriage to May Jane Morrow who preceded him in death on January 29, 1934. No children were born to this union.
Mr. Beights and his wife resided in Henry County, Iowa, until 1882 when they moved to Omaha, Nebraska and in July 1889, they came to Alta, Iowa which was maintained by them as their place of residence until the times of their respective deaths.
Mr. Beights is survived by one brother, Mr. Menno Beights of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. During the years Mr. Beights resided in Alta, he followed various pursuits of labor for a livelihood, chief among which were paining, auctioneering, and paper hanging.
Mr. Beights was a member of Hercules Loge, No. 375, Knights of Pythias and of Alta Lodge, No. 388, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His lodge membership in the Order of Knights of Pythias covered a period of over forty-five years and he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty-three and one-half years. At one time, for a period of many years, he was a member of Summit Rebekah Lodge, No. 121, Alta, and Storm Lake Encampment, No. 86, Storm Lake, lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; but, in later years, he ceased to be a member of these branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Among the members of the fraternities to which he belonged, he was always held in high regard for his integrity and his loyalty to the principles of fraternal fellowship.
The passing of Mr. Beights removes from the Alta Community, one of the early, worthy citizens; a man who strove to do his duty to his fellows; a man whose sole throughout his life reflected a noble spirit ever ready and willing to do all possible to better humanity.