After he completed his education, he was a schoolteacher for several years and he studied the law. He moved to
LaSalle County, Illinois and was admitted to the bar in Illinois on November 6, 1861. He practiced law in Mendota and
Ottawa, Illinois. He and Byron L. Carr represented the 4th District. Beck was a
Republican. Beck operated a law firm with George D. Reynolds named Beck & Reynolds until November 6, 1876, because Beck had accepted a seat on the bench of the
First Judicial District. He became an
associate justice of the
Colorado Supreme Court January 13, 1880. serving in this position until January 8, 1889. He was then appointed reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court tribunal until his death. ==Death==