Notes
Note for: Laura Hollenbeck, 2 AUG 1859 - 13 FEB 1950 Index
California Death Record: SEAVER LAURA HOLLENBECK 08/02/1859 HOLLENBECK F
MICHIGAN LOS ANGELES(19) 02/13/1950 90 yrs
Notes
Note for: William H. Beeson, 25 MAR 1829 - Index
WILLIAM H. BEESON
Portrait and Biographical Record, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago,
1893, pages 760-762
WILLIAM H. BEESON. Cass County numbers among its citizens none who occupy
a higher position in the regard of their neighbors and friends than the
subject of this notice, who is a practical and successful farmer residing
on section 20, LaGrange Township. The family of which he is an honored
representative was represented in America during the early Colonial days,
and has, since that time, been closely connected with the progress of the
country. In an early day three brothers of this name emigrated from
England to the United States, one of whom located in Virginia, while John
settled in Pennsylvania, and Richard went to North Carolina.
Of these three brothers the biographer is especially interested in
Richard. He married, reared his family and passed his entire life in
North Carolina, where he followed farming pursuits. He was a Quaker and a
strong anti-slavery man, possessing the peaceful, liberty-loving and kind
characteristics of that society. Among his children was a son Isaac, who
at the age of seventeen removed to Kentucky, residing there for one year.
Thence, about 1795, he went to Indiana and made settlement in Wayne
County. After his marriage to Miss Mary Rambo, he located on a farm four
miles from Richmond, in the midst of a heavily timbered section of
country, where the principal inhabitants were Indians. He operated a
distillery for about twenty years, but became disgusted with the business
and turned his attention exclusively to stock-raising and farming,
becoming one of the most extensive stock-raisers in that part of Indiana.
Politically, he was a Whig, and was strong in his opposition to sl
avery. A member of the Society of Friends until marriage, and a man of
great piety, he was highly esteemed throughout the community where his
active life was passed. His death occurred in 1840, at the age of
sixty-four years.
The father of our subject, Jesse Beeson, was born December 10, 1807, and
remained in the parental home until his marriage at the age of twenty
years, his wife being Ann, the daughter of Henry Renesten. In his youth
he worked in his father's distillery, but at the age of seventeen years
his father abandoned the business and he afterward conducted farming
pursuits. Upon establishing domestic ties, his father gave him sixty
acres of unimproved land, but he remained upon it only a short time,
removing thence to Michigan in 1833. In 1830 he had made an excursion to
this State on horseback, with a view to selecting a suitable location,
and returned to Indiana via Chicago, at that time a military post. In
1833 he located with his family near Niles, but about the same time
purchased two hundred and forty acres in Cass County. In his journey to
Michigan he traveled with four ox-teams and two horses, his wife riding
one of the horses and carrying her infant in her arms. In February, 1
834, he removed to his farm in LaGrange Township, but after five years
spent there, he moved a few miles further south and purchased two hundred
and five acres. This property he lived to see improved and mostly under
cultivation.
While devoting his attention principally to his farming pursuits, Jesse
Beeson found time to inform himself upon all topics of general interest,
and was a man of broad information upon all subjects. In religious belief
he was non-sectarian, and to some extent believed in the teachings of
spiritualism. His first wife died in 1869, at the age of sixty-six years.
They had been the parents of nine children, one of whom died in infancy.
The others are: William H., of this sketch; Isaac N.; Benjamin F.; Mary
J., Mrs. David Huff, who died February 17, 1893, Lurany, Mrs. Austin
Dixon; Eliza A., the wife of Nathaniel Defoe; Laura, who married Robert
Cameron; and Anderson G. Mr. Beeson married for his second wife Mrs. Mary
Blue, daughter of Hugh Gardner and a half-sister of his former wife. A
stanch Whig in his political belief, he was prominently identified with
political affairs in his section. In 1852 he was elected to the State
Senate, and during his term opposed the railroad fran
chise bill, which defeated him for a second nomination. He also held many
local township and county offices, in which he served with fidelity to
the interests of the people. His death occurred on the 19th of February,
1888.
The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne County, Ind., March 25,
1829. He received his education in the district schools of Niles and
Albion, and in 1851 made his first trip away from home. He had been in
poor health for some time, and, thinking to benefit himself physically as
well as to make a fortune in the El Dorado of the Argonauts, he went to
California, making the trip via New York to Aspinwall and thence to San
Francisco and Sacramento. For four years he worked in mines at various
places, meeting with excellent success in his speculations. In addition
to mining, he engaged to some extent in the stock business. He returned
home via water, reaching Michigan in 1856. He remained at home for two
years, then traveled through Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.
The first marriage of Mr. Beeson occurred in 1861; at which time he was
united with Margaret, daughter of George Finley, of Kalamazoo. One child
was born of this union, Jesse, now deceased. The second marriage of Mr.
Beeson united him with Miss Maria, daughter of Fredrick Churchill, and
they became the parents of Isaac. After the death of this lady, our
subject married Mrs. Melissa Shingledicker, the daughter of Clayburn
Shingledicker, and a native of Cass County. They have reared five
children: George; Anna A., the wife of Rhett Gould; John, Charles; and
Laura. Delia died at the age of five years. In his political beliefs, Mr.
Beeson is non-partisan in local affairs, and Democratic in his support of
national issues. In former years he was first a Whig and later a
Republican. He is a man who is highly regarded and enjoys the esteem of
his large circle of acquaintances.