Transcript:Indiana, United States. Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties/B/Beeson, Elwood

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Elwood Beeson (p 571)

No more honored family exists in eastern Indiana than that of the Beesons, now very numerous and influential, and from the early part of the present century intimately associated with the development and increasing prosperity of Wayne and Fayette Counties. Originally of the Society of Friends, they have followed the foundation principles of that sect, and have been noted for all worthy traits of character. Industrious, just and upright, they have merited the high esteem in which they have been universally held, and, as far as known, either in this state or elsewhere, there have been no criminals or paupers bearing the name and being descendants of the same American ancestor.

In 1682, one Edward Beeson, of Lancashire, England, immigrated to this country with one of the colonies, who, under William Penn, settled Pennsylvania. Some years later, Mr. Beeson removed to a Virginia settlement of Quakers, and still later he bought a tract of land on the Brandywine, in Delaware, a portion of this property being now included within the corporate limits of Wilmington. There he spent his remaining days and reared his four sons. Isaac Beeson, of the fifth generation from Edward, left the Delaware relatives and went to North Carolina, and from him is descended the Indiana branch of the family. His son Benjamin was the father of Benjamin, Jr., and he, in turn, the father of Thomas, who was the father of the subject of this sketch. Thomas Beeson came to this state in 1818 and four years later took up his abode upon the identical land now owned by his son Elwood. A brother, Isaac, came here first, about 1812, settling near Richmond, and another brother, Benjamin, became a resident of this township as early as 1814. To the original quarter-section of land, upon which stood a humble log cabin in a partially cleared tract of scarcely twelve acres, Thomas Beeson added land from time to time, gradually improving the same until, at the time of his death, he owned nine hundred acres of valuable property. He was very industrious, and, having mastered the blacksmith's and wagon-maker's trades, followed these, in connection with his farming. He died in 1867, when in his seventy-fifth year, beloved and honored by all who knew him. Though a zealous Democrat, he never aspired to office and quietly pursued the even tenor of his way, doing innumerable deeds of love and kindness to those with whom his lot was cast.

In Guilford County, North Carolina, his native county, Thomas Beeson married Eunice Starbuck and one child was born to this estimable couple prior to their removal to Indiana. Mrs. Beeson was the youngest of the nine children of Gear and Eunice Starbuck, who were from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Their other children were named as follows: Peter, Elizabeth, Rachel, Thomas, Ruth, Lydia, Dorcas and Reuben. The union of Thomas and Eunice Beeson was blessed with ten children, who, in order of birth were: Junius, who died in Rush County; Mrs. Arenia Knipe; Tremilius, who died in Madison County; Mrs. Mahala Jackson; Ariel, who died in Madison County; Lexemuel, whose death occurred in Hamilton County; Mrs. Luzena Wright; Mrs. Samara Leeson; Elwood and Jacob, who died at the old homestead. The devoted wife and mother survived all but three of her children, and now the sole survivor of the family is the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Beeson attained the extreme age of ninety-three, her death taking place January 11, 1884.

The birth of Elwood Beeson occurred September 16, 1832, and from his boyhood he has given his whole time and attention to farming and stock raising. He has known no other home than the one he is still managing, and success has crowned his well directed energy and fidelity of purpose. He cared for his parents in their declining years, has discharged every duty resting upon him with the utmost fidelity, and the respect and praise of the whole community has been his lifelong portion. Politically he is a Democrat, but he has persistently kept himself in private life, disliking public honors and emoluments.

March 3, 1868, the marriage of Mr. Beeson and Miss Sarah A. E. Lindsay was solemnized. She was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, June 20, 1844, her parents being William P. and Charity (Beeson) Lindsay, both likewise of North Carolina, where they reared their family. Mr. Lindsay was a son of William and grandson of Robert Lindsay, the latter of Scotland. He came to this country with his two brothers, and at New York they separated, never seeing one another again. Robert went to North Carolina, and for years owned and operated a large plantation, carried on by numerous slaves, and in addition to this, he was successfully engaged in merchandising for a long period. His children were: Mrs. Guila Fields; William; Robert, a physician; Lavina; Sarah; Henry; Andrew, a physician; and Amanda. William P. Lindsay grew to manhood upon a plantation, and learned the trade of carriage and wagon making. For several years, he followed this calling at Kernersville, Forsyth County, and at Jamestown, but subsequently to the death of his wife he sold out and in 1857 came to Indiana. He died at the home of his youngest son, at Windfall, this state, December 29, 1880. His wife, Charity, was the youngest of the ten children of David and Nancy Beeson, who lived and died in North Carolina, and of whom the father was a direct descendant of the Isaac Beeson already mentioned as being of the fifth generation from the founder of the family tree in America. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Charity (Beeson) Lindsay were Richard, David, Isaac, Betsey, Polly, Letitia, Martecia and Sally. The eldest, Richard, came to Wayne County at an early day, and is still living at the home, which he later founded in Tipton County.

Mrs. Elwood Beeson is the fourth in order of birth of her parents' six children, the others being Jessie F., who died when twenty-one years old; Robert W., who died in Kansas in the spring of 1899; Rufus P., now of this county; Thomas F., who lives in Lafayette, Indiana; and David A., of Windfall, Indiana. Two children blessed the union of our subject and wife, namely: E. L., who is an enterprising farmer of Posey Township, Fayette County and one who died in infancy.