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

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Marquis D. Beeson (p 665)

The honored family to which the subject of this biography belongs is one of the oldest in Wayne County, and its numerous representatives have intermarried with the leading families of eastern Indiana. The name occurs time and again in this volume, as it necessarily must in any comprehensive history of this locality, for the reason that the Beesons have been connected with the founding and development of Wayne and neighboring counties, taking very important parts in the struggle that reduced the wilderness to a flourishing agricultural community. In former generations connected with the Society of Friends, they seemed to be thoroughly emancipated from its strict discipline after coming to the north, while at the same time they retained the noblest principles of the creed and ever have been actuated with profound regard for the rights of others, and with justice, harmony and love have striven to work out the problems of life which confronted them.

The persecutions which were endured by the Quakers two or three centuries ago, in England, led to their fleeing to this continent in large numbers, as in this new and little inhabited land they hoped to find the freedom to worship God which was denied them by the bigoted people of their native isle. Among the little bands of emigrants who took refuge in one of the colonies of William Penn was one Edward Beeson and wife, of Lancashire, England. They crossed the ocean in 1682, and after a few years spent in Pennsylvania, they accompanied a colony to Virginia. They had four sons --- Edward, Richard, Isaac and William. Richard was born in England, and to himself and wife, Charity, a son, Isaac, was born in America, February 3, 1729. This son married a lady whose Christian name was Phoebe, she having been born December 26, 1733. Their children were named respectively Benjamin, Rachel, Mary, Samuel, Isaac, Charity, Edward, Phoebe, William, Nathaniel and Martha. Mr. Beeson went to Delaware and purchased some land in Newcastle County, a portion of this property now being included within the corporation of Wilmington. Isaac, son of Isaac and Phoebe Beeson, went to North Carolina, where his son Benjamin and grandson, Benjamin, Jr., were born.

The last mentioned, father of the subject of this sketch, had a brother Isaac who came to Indiana "to spy out the land," in 1812. He decided to make a permanent settlement near Richmond, and the following year Benjamin Beeson, Jr., came here and selected a quarter-section of land, entering the tract in the land office at Cincinnati, Ohio. A third brother, Thomas, took up his residence in eastern Indiana in 1818. Returning to North Carolina, Benjamin Beeson, who was a wheelwright by trade, constructed a substantial four-horse wagon, in which his household goods and family were placed and conveyed to the new home in the wilds of Indiana. On the way, a man in Tennessee was so impressed with the strength and desirability of the wagon that a bargain was made, whereby he was to become the owner of the vehicle as soon as the occupants were safely at the end of their journey. Thus, about the first thing that Mr. Beeson did was to return to Tennessee to deliver the wagon, and made the home trip on horseback. Building a log cabin on his property, he commenced clearing the land, and in a short time put up a blacksmith shop, where he pursued his trade when not otherwise occupied. His nearest neighbors were three or four miles distant, milling was a tedious task, as the mills were so far away, and grain frequently was taken to Lawrenceburg, on the Ohio River. Neighbors were kind and accommodating in those days, however, and when one of them went to town upon business he executed innumerable commissions for the entire community. Mr. Beeson was one of the most invaluable members of the pioneer settlement, as he was a natural mechanic and always ready to assist others in every possible way, was hospitable and anxious to aid strangers in selecting land and starting new homes, and was highly respected and looked up to for advice and counsel. From the time that he had cleared his first ten acres and had raised a crop thereon, success was his, and contentment and plenty were his portion. All of the woolen and linen clothes needed by himself and household were spun and woven by his thrifty and industrious wife and daughter. Sometimes driving cattle and hogs to Cincinnati, he disposed of them at good prices, and with the proceeds of such ventures he bought land, later giving good farms to each of his children. Politically a Democrat, he was not desirous of holding public office, but was elected and served as a justice of the peace for a number of years. Deservedly popular among his neighbors, they apparently sought for means of expressing their admiration and high regard for him, and in the early days when he needed assistance in the raising of a log cabin or anything of the kind, he never even notified them of the fact, for they would inquire and when the day came were present in numbers to render kindly aid. His life was that of a sincere Christian and when death came, he was prepared to depart in peace to the mansions above, the inheritance of the good and just. His death, March 1, 1852, when he was sixty-four years of age, was the result of the amputation of one of his limbs. He was survived some years by his widow, Dorcas (Starbuck) Beeson, who likewise was a native of North Carolina. After living to see her children happily settled in life, she was summoned to her reward, in October 1872. Her two eldest children, Bezaleel and Othniel, were born in the south, while the others were natives of this state. They comprised Templeton; Delilah, wife of John Patterson; Rachel, wife of James Harvey; Gulelma, wife of William Dick; Cinderella, wife of William Harvey; B. F., a prominent farmer of this township; Amanda M., wife of Thomas Emerson; Marquis D.; and Charles, who died unmarried in 1852. Only three survive --- B. F., Mrs. Dick and our subject.

The birth of Marquis D. Beeson took place in this township, October 18, 1829. Such education as fell to his share was obtained in the subscription school of his boyhood. He continued to live under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years of age, when he was married and went to a home of his own. A small brick house and some clearing were the improvements upon the farm where he settled, and he energetically set to work to make a model homestead of the place. In this endeavor he has succeeded, and his farm, situated two and a half miles south of Milton, is one of the most desirable in this locality. A comfortable two-story frame house was built by the owner, and numerous barns and farm buildings afford shelter for his stock and storage places for the grain and products of the farm. To each of his children he has given a quarter section of land or its equivalent, as well as good educational advantages and business training. His integrity is beyond reproach, and strict rectitude and justice have marked all of his transactions with his fellow men. Kindliness and generosity are among his chief characteristics, and no one, needy or suffering, has gone from his door unaided and uncomforted. In his political opinions he is a Democrat, as are most of his relatives.

The marriage of Mr. Beeson and Miss Ellen Harvey was celebrated in 1851. Her grandfather, John Harvey, of North Carolina, a life-long member of the Friends' Church, came to this state at a very early period, settling near Centerville. He dealt extensively in livestock and became very wealthy and influential. Born May 17, 1779, he lived until September 12, 1850. His wife, Jane (Cox) Harvey, born March 3, 1782, died April 16, 1854. Their children comprised: Rebecca, wife of G. Newby; Isom, who died in Iowa; Benjamin; Aaron, who died in this county; Nathan and William C., of Kansas; John P., who died at his home near Centerville; Mary E., wife of Joseph Jackson; and Mrs. Jane Ray, who died in Cambridge City. A native of this county, born May 15, 1808, Benjamin Harvey, the father of Mrs. Beeson, began farming in Washington Township, upon land which his father had entered, and there he improved a valuable homestead and died March 27, 1856, at the age of forty-seven years. Though comparatively young at the time of his death he had been so industrious and diligent in business that he owned six hundred acres of land and was on the high road to fortune when his career was cut short. No man could be more fond of his home and family than he was, and all of his actions were animated by a strong desire to benefit those dependent upon him. He married Nancy, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Brandon) Sellars, who was of Irish descent and were Protestants, identified with the Baptist Church. Mrs. Nancy Harvey was born November 1, 1809, in Kentucky, and came to Jacksonburg, Indiana, with her parents about 1816. She had four sisters and two brothers, namely: Mrs. Rebecca Merritt, Mrs. Ruhama Wright, Mrs. Elizabeth (Hastings) Brown, who survived both of her husbands and is now a resident of Kansas; Isaac, who died in Madison County; John; and Mary, wife of R. Burns.

The children of Benjamin and Nancy Harvey were thirteen in number: Isaac S., born June 20, 1831, died when in his twentieth year; John, born October 29, 1832, died in Oklahoma; Ellen, born March 20, 1834, is the next; Louisa J., born January 12, 1836, married M. G. Beeson, and has passed to the silent land; Ira, born April 20, 1837, is deceased; Viola, born January 6, 1839, is the wife of A. Banks; Amanda, born August 19, 1840, married J. Howard, is deceased; Nancy, wife of E. Wilson, of Indianapolis, was born May 4, 1843; William O., born November 5, 1845, is deceased; Granville, born November 7, 1847, is now in California; and Melinda and Melissa, twins, were born November 14, 1853. The former is the wife of T. Beeson, and the latter died when young.

To the union of our subject and wife three sons and a daughter were born: Lycurgus W., February 7, 1856; Lafayette, March 10, 1858; Wellington, September 6, 1860; and Eva, wife of C. Ferguson, June 28, 1863. All are established in homes of their own and are honored and esteemed citizens of the communities in which their lot is cast.