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

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O.H. Beeson (p 613)

One of the oldest and most honored families in the United States is that to which the subject of this article belongs. Generations before it was founded on the western continent it flourished in France, and later in Wales and England. The immediate ancestor of the Wayne County Beesons was Edward Beeson, who with his wife, Rachel (Remington) Beeson, left Lancashire, England, about 1682, accompanying one of the Quaker colonies started in Pennsylvania by the celebrated William Penn. They resided in the vicinity of Nottingham, Chester County, for some time, subsequently removing to Berkeley County, Virginia, where a settlement of Quakers located. Some of the descendants afterward purchased a tract of land on the Brandywine, and upon a portion of this property the ninth ward of the city of Wilmington now stands. Edward Beeson and wife Rachel reared four sons --- Edward, Richard, Isaac and William --- and the line is traced downward to our subject from Richard by his son Edward, grandson Henry, great-grandson Richard, great-great-grandson Henry, and Benjamin, Sr., the grandfather of O. H. Beeson.

In 1814 Benjamin Beeson, Sr., emigrated from North Carolina, where several generations of his forefathers had dwelt, to the territory of Indiana. His brothers, Thomas and Isaac, came here at about the same period, and the numerous descendants of the three brothers have taken a very important part in the development and promotion of prosperity in this section of the state. Benjamin Beeson, Sr., entered land in Washington Township, Wayne County, and thenceforth was identified with the fortunes of this locality. The farm that he improved is still in the possession of the family, it being owned by his son and namesake. He was master of the trade of wagon making and was an excellent blacksmith, following these occupations in addition to tilling and improving his farm. To himself and wife, who was a Miss Dorcas Starbuck, eleven children were born, the two eldest ones, Bezaleel and Othniel, in North Carolina. The others were: Templeton; Mrs. John Patterson; Mrs. James Harvey; Guelma, wife of William Dick; Cinderella, wife of William Harvey; Benjamin F., Jr.; Amanda M., wife of Thomas Emerson; Marquis D., and Charles. With the exception of the last mentioned, who died when young, all of the family grew to maturity, married and had children. After coming to this state, the family was not associated with the Society of Friends.

Benjamin F. Beeson, Jr., was born in this township about 1825, and is yet living at the old homestead, which he assisted in clearing and improving when a boy. He early learned what it was to endure the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and acquired strength of mind and body in his struggles with wild nature. For a companion along life's journey he chose Catherine, youngest daughter of John Howard, a pioneer settler of this region. Two of her sisters married into the Waymire family, a third was Mrs. Margaret Pursnett, and a fourth Mrs. Cynthia Lowery. One brother, John, is a farmer of Hamilton County, this state, and Neill, the youngest, married a Miss Kimmel. Nine children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Beeson, namely: William, who died at the age of twenty-one years; O. H., of this sketch; Joseph, who died when seventeen years old; Mrs. Elizabeth E. Williams; Elmer, of Cambridge City; Sanford, who died when in his thirteenth year; Mrs. May Coyne, whose husband is a well-to-do farmer of this township; Minnie, wife of F. Flora, of Fayette County; and Ira, who died when young. The devoted mother was summoned to the silent land in June 1874.

The birth of O. H. Beeson occurred in this township, June 12, 1853. He received much better educational advantages than had been enjoyed by his father, and for a period was privileged to attend the academy at Spiceland. After his marriage in 1875, he located upon a small tract of land, which his father gave him, and from time to time bought additional property until he now owns four hundred and seventy acres. He has prospered in his transactions, and has made somewhat of a specialty of raising and handling livestock. In 1893 he branched out in another direction, in a business way, as he bought a substantial brick block in Milton, and in this building, which is centrally located upon the corner of two of the leading streets in the town, he kept a meat market for four years, also running one at Cambridge City. His own farm furnished him with beef and pork for his markets, and he was quite successful in this enterprise. In 1896, he commenced raising shorthorn cattle on his farm, and now is the possessor of as fine a herd as can be found in the county.

About six years ago, Mr. Beeson bought his present handsome residence, situated upon twenty-seven acres of land adjoining Milton. The lady who presides over his home was formerly Miss Sarah I. Williams, who was born in this township, September 28, 1855, and became his wife at the age of twenty years. Her parents, James and Emily (Wallace) Williams, were representatives of pioneer Indiana families. The father was a son of Joseph and Charity (Adams) Williams, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. They accompanied their respective families to this state, and, living in the vicinity of Brookville, formed the acquaintanceship that led to their marriage. Joseph Williams' father, a strong adherent of the Quaker faith, was one of the earliest settlers in the neighborhood of Brookville, and there made his home until his death. Joseph Williams removed to Center County, this state, where he entered land and cleared it, dwelling there until his children were grown, when he sold the homestead to one of his sons and settled in Fairview, where his death occurred. He was a minister in the Methodist Church and was loved and revered by a large circle of acquaintances. Wesley, his eldest child, resides in Hancock County, this state; William, who was a Methodist minister, died unmarried; Deborah first became the wife of a Mr. Pettigrew and later wedded a Mr. Hardin; Mary is Mrs. John Howard; Thomas died in this township; James was the next in order of birth; and Joseph and Mrs. Rachel Hart were the youngest of the family.

James Williams, who was a successful and respected agriculturist of this township, bought his father's old farm and cultivated the place until he retired from active labor in 1855. Subsequent to that date, he was a citizen of Milton until he was called to his reward, May 27, 1890. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, and in his political faith was a Democrat. His widow, who was born June 15, 1831, and to whom he was married August 29, 1850, is still making her home in Milton. Their oldest child, Mrs. Amanda Colwell, born June 16, 1851, died June 27, 1878; Willard, the only son, is a prosperous farmer of this township; and Mrs. Sarah I. Beeson is the youngest. John Wallace, the father of Mrs. Williams, was a descendant of William Wallace, who emigrated from Scotland or Ireland to the colony of Virginia about 1730, settling in Albemarle County, where he reared his five children, all of whom were born there, namely: John A., William, Michael, Josiah and Mrs. Hannah Woods. John A., born in 1732, saw four of his children reach mature years, namely: John, Samuel, Laura and Alice. The son, John Wallace, emigrated to Kentucky when that state was on the frontier, and about a year later, in 1800, crossed the Ohio River and made a settlement in Monroe County, Ohio. In 1811, he entered land in Wayne County, Indiana, and the following year brought his family here. His home being but two miles from the boundary line of the Indian reservation he deemed it expedient to send his little daughter, Betsey, to the older and safer settlement on the east fork of the Whitewater, where she was placed in charge of the Hunt family. The wife and mother had died in Kentucky, and the older girls, Hannah, Rosanna, Polly and Patsy, were married. The two sons were John and Thomas, and they shared the vicissitudes of pioneer life with their father, whose long and useful life came to an end in 1820. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, an ardent patriot, and possessed of that fortitude which was the essential element in the frontiersman. His son, John Wallace, married and reared eleven children, of whom Oliver and Cyrus are still residents of this township and active members of the Christian Church; Stephen, James, John, Richard and Allen R. are deceased; William and Preston are living in Wabash, Indiana; and Mrs. Sarah Wright is deceased.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Beeson has been blessed with three interesting children. Alice, born September 7, 1881, was graduated in the high school at Milton at the age of sixteen years and is a musician of no small ability; Ralph W., the only son, was born October 29, 1886; and Lora L. was born October 28, 1895.

His father and relatives have been active in the Democratic Party, and Mr. Beeson is no exception to the rule. He has never sought nor desired public office, but has loyally endeavored to advance the best interests of the people in general. He and his wife are not identified with any denomination, but their lives have been patterned after the highest ideals, and they have continually sought to help and benefit their fellowmen.