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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]

Beckwith Havens 7
Early Curtiss Exhibition Pilot 15

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Beckwith Havens was born in New York City May 29, 1890. He attended school there until his parents moved to California due to his father's ill health. The move was not beneficial and his father passed away in a short time. His mother returned to New York but Havens chose to stay in California and live with an aunt. 

At age 18 he quit school and tried to get a job but had difficulty finding work. He loved automobiles and hung around garages where he occasionally found some employment. In this way he became acquainted with John W. Gates, a wealthy Los Angeles man who owned a stable of race cars and had Arch Hoxsey driving for him. Gates and Hoxsey took a liking to Havens and eventually gave him a full time job helping with their operations. At this time Hoxsey was anxious to get into the flying game, and Gates arranged through some of his New York friends who were financially interested in the Wrights to have Hoxsey go to Dayton to take flying instruction. This left Havens to race for Gates, which he did for a short time, but his aunt and uncle objected to this and, as a result, he was given a job as a salesman with 

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