Emil was born in Posen, Germany, now known as Poznañ, Poland. He married Maria Hermine Borman in 1856 at Nairne, South Australia.

Obituary in the Great Southern Herald (Katanning) of Jan. 24, 1914: Death of E. R. Beeck. A KATANNING PATRIARCH. At four o'clock on Thursday morning there passed away peacefully a Katanning patriarch in the person of Emil Robert Beeck, leaving a widow and twelve grown up sons and daughters, and a strong force of grandchildren. Mr Beeck was born in Posen, Germany, in 1832, and was in his 82nd year. He came with his parents to South Australia in his 14th year, and was soon at work at the North Adelaide lime works. His next venture was a hotel at Lobethal where he married a compatriot, Miss Hermina Borman. From there he moved to Monarto on the road to Melbourne, where he essayed the precarious work of farming and met with reverses. Going a little further on the same road he went farming at Mobelong where the conditions were much more promising, and he might have made a success had not his son William gone to Western Australia, and sent good reports of the new country. Mr. Beeck came over 22 years ago and made a start at Capemont, the present residence of Mr. H. O. Beeck, but not being content with the slow processes of rural industry, Mr. Beeck opened a butchering business in Albion-street, Katanning, and later on built a store in Carew street, opposite the recreation ground. Finding business was too heavy for him he returned to Capemont for a time, and later on he sold out that property to his sons H. O. and J. A. Beeck, and retired to his cottage residence in Katanning where he spent the remainder of his days. But this bare outline conveys but a meagre idea of the energy and enterprise of Mr. Beeck. At an early stage of his West Australian career he sent back to Monarto, the scene of his hardest struggles, the money necessary to make good the deficiency incurred there. Then he turned his attention to public spirited efforts for the encouragement of high-class farming in this district. Before the time had arrived, in the opinion of his fellow agriculturalists, he urged the establishment of an agricultural society, and as he could not enlist sufficient support he decided to show the way by carrying out an exhibition all on his own. He engaged the Agricultural Hall and filled it with a really excellent collection of exhibits representative of farming and domestic industries, and thus prepared the way for tbe society that was soon afterwards formed and has had such enormous influence for good on the industries of the district. In this and many other ways Mr. Beeck showed himself a man of strong convictions, and sometimes his unwillingness to take what seemed an easier course caused him to fall back on his own resources and his own companionship. But he won and held the confidence and esteem of all who came in contact with him as a man of simple life and business honor. Although his health had been failing for some time he was briskly moving about a very short time before his death. Complications of asthma and bronchitis were the immediate causes of death. He had, however, the consolation of having a number of his daughters and sons around him, and in knowing that they were all following his example of industry thrift and integrity. The funeral took place in the Katanning cemetery yesterday afternoon. Rev. W. Gilmour read the solemn service, and the funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr. J. Squiers. The pall-bearers were: Messrs. A. E. Piesse, M.L..A., R. L. Richardson, C. F. Wanke, W. J. Rogers, F. M. Gare, J's. P., and W. L. Rhodes. Mr. Beeek's widow is 74 years of age and in somewhat delicate health, and the family consists of Mrs. J. H. Webs,e Mrs. Pym. Mrs. A. Prosser, and Mrs. Truslove, Messrs. G. A. Beeck, F. W. Beeck, C. F. Beeck, M. E. Beeck, P. A. Beeck, E. R. B. Beeck, H. O. Beeck, and J. A. Beeck.