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

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Florance R. Beeson (p 654)

Florance R. Beeson, a well-known boot and shoe merchant at Connersville, Indiana, is descended from families, which have been prominent in Indiana, in the south and in the east for many generations. He is a son of Munford G. and Louisa J. (Harvey) Beeson and was born in Wayne County, Indiana, October 5, 1857. Munford G. Beeson was a son of Hon. Othniel and Elizabeth (Wissler) Beeson. Othniel Beeson was a son of Benjamin Beeson, Jr., and his wife Dorcas (Starbuck). Louisa J. (Harvey), mother of F. R. Beeson, was a daughter of Benjamin and Nancy Harvey, and was born January 12, 1836. Benjamin Beeson was born in North Carolina and died in Indiana, March 1, 1852. His wife Dorcas (Starbuck), also a native of North Carolina, died in October 1872. Othniel Beeson was born in North Carolina, May 7, 1813, and died at his home in Wayne County, Indiana, October 10, 1897. His wife, Elizabeth Wissler, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1815, and is yet living on the Beeson homestead. The early history and much of the genealogy of the families of Beeson and Harvey appear in the biographical sketch of Marquis D. Beeson, which is included in this work. The article mentioned contains much of interest covering Benjamin Beeson, Jr., and his wife and this family. Benjamin Beeson, Jr., was a son of Richard; Richard was a son of Isaac; Isaac was a son of Richard, and this Richard was a son of Edward Beeson, who was born and reared in Lancashire, England, and was a member of the original Society of Friends founded by George Fox, and in 1682 joined the colony of William Penn in Pennsylvania.

Benjamin, Jr., first came to Indiana in 1813 and entered government land three and a half miles south of Milton. The next year he settled on it and began its improvement. Jacob and Barbara Wissler, whose daughter Elizabeth became the wife of Hon. Othniel Beeson, son of Benjamin Beeson, Jr., came with their family from Pennsylvania, in 1825. They were of Holland, Dutch and German extraction and in religious affiliation were Mennonites. Mr. Wissler, who was a prosperous farmer, died a few years after the settlement of the family in Indiana. They had five children, named John, Jacob, Elizabeth, Benjamin and Barbara. John died at Milton, Jacob at Arcadia and Benjamin in Iowa. Barbara is living in Kansas. Elizabeth married Othniel Beeson in 1835 and is now eighty-four years old. They had four children: Munford G.; Helena (not married); Barbara, who became the wife of F. Y. Thomas, a prominent farmer and one of the commissioners of Fayette County, and died August 24, 1899; and Amanda, not married.

Hon. Othniel Beeson was inured to pioneer life from childhood. His education was limited because local educational facilities were limited when he was of the school age as the law now defines it. But he grew up and ripened into a man of broad-minded intelligence --- a grand, honest man who did credit to the name of Beeson, which has not been sullied in the three centuries of its known history. After his marriage, he opened up a large farm, which he improved and upon which he lived during the remainder of his lifetime. He was especially successful as a stockman and much of his land was devoted to grazing. Reared a Democrat, he was bitterly opposed to slavery in the United States, and when he found that he could not oppose that evil successfully in his old party he joined hands with the Republicans and was one of the early and aggressive leaders of that party in Indiana, helping it with his means and his pen, and going forth as a public speaker to do battle for the right as it was revealed to him. He was delegate to the state constitutional convention and later represented his district in the state senate. When he died the country lost one of the best and greatest citizens in all its history.

Hon. M. G. Beeson, oldest son of Hon. Othniel Beeson, was born in Fayette County, Indiana, January 9, 1835, and died May 16, 1883. Eight weeks later his widow died. He was reared and educated here and achieved material success as a farmer. He early became interested in questions of public moment, was an active and progressive Republican and gained great influence in his party. His voice was heard in conventions and during the active work of many campaigns. He represented his county in the legislature and made a fine record, which would have assured him still higher political honors had not his career been cut short by untimely death. Two children were born to him: Florance R. Beeson and his sister Lulu, wife of Dr. J. E. King, a prominent physician of Centerville, Indiana.

Florance R. Beeson, born on the old Beeson homestead, in Wayne County, Indiana, remained there until his marriage to Miss Kate Richmond, October 9, 1878, when he accepted the position of station agent at Beeson Station. Mrs. Beeson, a lady of much intelligence and many accomplishments, is a daughter of George A. and Jeanette C. (Warren) Richmond. Captain G. A. Richmond, youngest son of Jonathan and Mary B. Richmond, was born in Butler County, Ohio, September 29, 1825, and was educated in the common schools. In 1846, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, and in 1847 was commissioned captain of that company and he held the commission until the close of the Mexican War. In 1849, he was appointed by Commissioner John B. Weller assistant commissioner to establish the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. In 1852, he located in Franklin County, Indiana, where he became a dry-goods merchant. September 10, 1853, he married Jeanette C., daughter of Alexander R. and Charlotte Warren, of Franklin County, Indiana, who bore him three children: Kate (Mrs. F. R. Beeson); Mary E., who died in infancy; and Lottie, wife of Mark Beeson of Wayne County, son of Bezaleel Beeson. Mark Beeson died January 25, 1888, his wife in 1879, leaving one son, George R. Beeson, who is being reared by Mrs. Richmond and is employed as salesman in the shoe store of F. R. Beeson, at Connersville, Indiana.

In 1855, Captain Richmond and his family removed to Burlington, Iowa. In 1857, they returned to Franklin County, Indiana, and in 1864 moved upon a farm in Wayne County, which the Captain had purchased. In 1881, he sold this farm and the family removed to another in Fayette County, which he had acquired. They remained there ten years, and in 1891, Captain Richmond retired from active business and located with his family at Connersville. There he died, May 7, 1895. Mrs. Richmond is now (1899) sixty-two years old and in a physical condition favorable to longevity. She receives a pension on account of service rendered by Captain Richmond in the Mexican War. Captain Richmond was a businessman of more than ordinary ability, was successful as a farmer as well, and left a good estate. For seventeen years he was station agent at Beeson Station. Politically he was a lifelong Democrat.

F. R. Beeson, who is a capable telegrapher and proved himself an active and trustworthy agent at Beeson Station, had charge of the railway interests there 1878-90, and resigned the position to remove to Connersville, where during the ensuing year he filled a similar position in connection with the Big Four System. In 1891 he engaged in the shoe trade, in which he has been successful, and his store has grown to goodly proportions. He has profitable farming interests also, and is popularly regarded as a pushing, progressive, honorable businessman who has done and is doing well and has a good future. Mr. and Mrs. Beeson have had three children: Lottie, who died in infancy; Hugh R., born December 1, 1885; and A. Wayne, born August 7, 1887. Mrs. Beeson and her two sons are members of the Presbyterian Church.