History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 112

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

BEACH, NANCY, MRS, was born in Guernsey county,

Ohio, July, 1816. She is the fourth child of James and Mary Murphy, who came to Hilliar township about 1830, and settled near where the village of Centreburg is now located. When the Murphy family came there was no house within the limits of the present town. The first house which was built was by a Mr. Hendricks, and used for a number of years as a hotel. About the same time there was also another house built near the first one, and it was also used as a hotel. They were both frames, and are yet standing. The first not occupied. In this family were twelve persons-ten children and the two parents. The parents died where they first settled. Thus Mrs. Beach saw the site of Centreburgh when it was but little marred by the hand of the settler. Mrs. Beach has spent her days near where she now resides, and it was here that she was married to Wil- liam Beach, May 10, 1845, who was a native of Jersey City, New Jersey. As a result of this marriage they had two children, both of whom are living. Mrs. Beach is an early settler, having been in the vicinity a half century. Mr. Beach died some years ago.

BEACH, ALLEN J., Mt. Vernon, was born in Livingston county, New York, September 23, 1830, and is a son of Allen and Amanda Beach nee Root. He received his education in the common schools of Knox county, and was early trained in habits of industry. When twenty years of age he began busi- ness on his own account as a butcher and victualler, and carried it on very successfully for twenty ycars.

He has taken a great interest in political matters, and has been an unwavering and consistent Democrat, serving as a member of the county Democratic committee for a number of years, and has repeatedly been a delegate to various conven- tions of that party. In 1862 he was elected sheriff of Knox county on the Democratic ticket, and was renominated in 1864, but failed of an election. In 1868 he was again nominated, and received a majority of the votes cast, and was reelected in 1870, thus serving in that office for the period of six years in all. In 1873 he was elected to the lower branch of the State legislature, and during the sessions of that body served on the committee on Federal Relations, and also on that of the Peni- tentiary, being chairman of the latter. His earnest manner and sterling honesty gained him many friends, and he had a de- cided influence in the House while he was a member. In the winter of 1876 he was elected sergeant-at-arms of the house of representatives, and served for two years.

He was married January 1, 1850, to Matilda Buckland, of Knox county, by whom he has had five children, all of whom have died.

BEAL, MICHAEL, farmer, Butler township, post office ad- dress Zucks; born in Southampton township, Somerset county. Pennsylvania, March 9, 1821. He was married February 5, 1842, to Margaret Albright, who was born in Londonderry township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1823. He came to Butler township in 1842. Their children were Edward, born July .22, 1845; Charles H., born July 2, 1847; Levi, born February 22, 1849; George, born July 29, 1850; Mary M., born October 12, 1852; Martha E., born August 31, 1854; Lucy, born April 12, 1856; Christian, born July 6, 1860; Sarah J. born February 20, 1863; Michael, born February 12, 1865, and two children still-born. Edward died March 29, 1851; George died March 12, 1852.

BEAL, DANIEL, farmer, Pike township, post office North Liberty; born in Jefferson township, Richland county, in 1831,

596

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and was married in 1854 to Leah Rhodes, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. They have seven children-Jacob, Asa R., Charles, Harvey, Ellen, Ida, and John. Mr. Beal is a farmer, who came to Knox county in 1870.

BEAL, JACOB R., merchant, post office, Shalers Mills. He was born in Richland county in 1854, he was married in 1876 to Mary E., daughter of Rev. H. Keller, of Pike town- ship; she was born in 1856. They have two children: Linney Viola, born August 9, 1877, and Howard M., born May 3, 1879.

Mr. Beal received a liberal education, engaged in teaching school in Richland county. In 1876 he came to North Liberty, engaged in the mercantile business, continued till 1879, then came to Ankenytown, and opened a new store. He is doing a successful business. He is ticket, express, and freight agent for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at this station.

BEAM, WILLIAM, Mt. Vernon. His father, John Beam, came from Green county, Pennsylvania, to this county in 1807, locating in what is now Morgan township, where he resided sev- eral years, and where his son, William, was born. When he was about eight months old his fa.her moved to a farm he had pur- chased in Clinton township, about three miles south of Mt. Vernon

When the War of 1812 came Mr. Beam served in the army under General Harrison, as a teamster. William received as good an education as the schools of that date afforded; but by diligent study fitted himself for teaching. He assisted his father on the farm, and followed the same occupation until 1838, when he was elected sheriff, and served two terms. He then engaged in the wholesale grocery business, establishing the first whole- sale house in Mt. Vernon. When he sold his interest in this business, he went to Buffalo and Oswego in the interest of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Quitting this, he engaged in the dry goods trade several years; then in the business of patent- rights, and in various pursuits until the present.

William Beam was married in 1836, to Miss Emeline Willett. They are the parents of eight children, six of whom (four daughters and two sons) are now living.

BEAM, J. W., manufacturer of tinware and dealer in glass- ware, West High street, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, is a native of this city, born February 28, 1847, and was educated in the city pub- lic schools. He enlisted in August, 1862, in company A, Ninety sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, Captain Mitchell, being but fif- teen years old when he enlisted; served until February, 1863, when he was honorably discharged. He again enlisted in May, 1864, in the Ohio National guard, where he served during the full term of service, after which he came home and engaged to learn the tinning business with Byers & Bird, and completed the trade with H. Everett, after which he engaged in business for himself, in which he continued a short time, when he travelled and did journeymen work for different firms in various parts of this State. In the spring of 1877 he established his present business, in which he has been successful. He manufactures all kinds of tinware in his line, also deals in table glassware, which is sold from wagons, four of which he keeps on the road. He trades his goods for scraps and produce, doing a business of from four to six thousand dollars a year.

BEAM, FRANK L, queensware goods, South Main street, Mt. Vernon. Mr. Beam is young man of promise; although scarcely past his majority he has manfully started out in the

race of life, and at an age, too, that is usually frittered away in seeking bubbles. Mr. Beam is a native of this city, born No- vember 14, 1858, and has not yet reached his twenty-second birthday. From our efficient public schools he received a thor- ough education. His first business engagement was with Bo- gardus & Co., hardware dealers, with whom he served six years. On the twenty-second of March, 1880, he opened the business he is now engaged in. He carries a complete stock of crockery, chinaware, glassware, lanterns, lamps, looking glasses, house furnishing goods, wall paper, window shades and fixtures, pocket and table cutlery, plated ware, etc., etc. He is located in a part of the old Woodbridge property, now Rogers' Arcade, South Main street, east side.

BEARDSLEY, JOHN, pioneer of Milford township, was born September 26, 1792, in Fairfield county, Connecticut. He came of Revolutionary stock, his father having served during the war, and was at the Battle of Stony Point. While in the service he received an injury which caused the loss of his hear- ing. His mother's father, Burns by name, was a marine during the war. His parents had seven children, and so far as is known he is the only one living. He was raised on a farm. At about the age of fifteen he learned cabinetmaking, and worked at it while in Connecticut. In 1812, he was a member of a militia company and stood guard along the shore of Long Island. In 1818 he started for Ohio, came by boat to New York, thence on foot to Bristol, Pennsylvania, thence to Philadelphia by boat on the Delaware river, from thence to Pittsburgh on foot; from thence by way of Wheeling to Knox county, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Milford township. He paid the balance, or one- half on another piece of one hundred and sixty acres of land which another man hid entered, which gave him two hundred and forty acres. In the spring of 1819 he returned to Connecti- cut, and in September, 1822 he was united in marriage to Miss Fitch in Connecticut, and shortly started for Ohio in a one horse wagon, coming by the way of New York city, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wheeling and Zanesville. In coming over the Allegheny mountains he was upset and came near losing his horse and effects. After six weeks' journey he arrived at his destina- tion. He remained with his brother William Beardsley, who came some time previously, until be built his cabin. He cleared up the land and made for himself and family a.pleasant home. He was one of the organizers of Milford township. He worked at cabinetmaking considerably, and there are many pieces of his handiwork in the county yet. He is spending the evening of his life in his comfortable home, respected and esteemed for his many good qualities. By his marriage they had six children ; of these Elizabeth and Malissa are deceased, George is in Illinois, Charles is in the Treasury department of the United States, Henry in Nebraska, Mary A. lives at home. Mrs. Beardsley was born October 9, 1800; died August 13, 1879.

BEARDSLEY, PLATT G., Milford township, pioneer farmer, was born in Massachusetts, August 6, 1806. He is the son of William Beardsley, who was born March 20, 1783, at Old Stratford, Connecticut. He married Miss Eunice Gardner, a native of Massachusetts, who was born July 18, 1786. They had nine children-Platt G., Mary G., born March 3, 1808 ; Job G., September 10, 1810 ; Betsey M., August 12, 1812, died July 21, 1813, William B., born September 3, 1814; Betsey, July 20, 1818; Catharine M., July 24, 1820; Adaline, January II, 1823! John B,, February 20, 1825; Mary G. (deceased,

597

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

married to W. Hildreth); Betsey, married to George Benedict; : Catharine M. (widow of Erastus Rouse); Adaline, wife of A. Bostwick.

The Beardsley family are of English origin. Three brothers came from England at an early date, whose descendants are scat- tered over many of the States and territories, Mr. Beardsley the elder learned the shoemaking trade while in Conecticut. About two years after his marriage he moved to New York, where he resided until about 1814, when he came to Granville, Ohio, where he remained until 1818, then moved to Homer, where he remained for a short time. He purchased a forty-acre tract of land in what is now Milford township. He then cut a road from Homer to this tract, on which he lived for many years. He was one of the organizers of the township and always took an active interest in public affairs. He was an influential and leading member of society, a leading member of the Masonic fraternity, and a representative to the Grand lodge in 1817; and at his death was the oldest living member in the State. He lived to see his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the number of eighty. Twelve of his descendants entered the army for the suppression of the Rebellion, seven of them losing their lives. His father was a soldier of the Revolution. He always followed his trade, and by it made considerable prop- erty. About five years before his death he removed to Brandon. He died January 28, 1863, and was interred with Masonic hon- ors. His wife survived him until July 8, 1876.

The subject of this notice (P. G. Beardsley) being the oldest child, it naturally devolved upon him to assist his father in clearing up their new home. He worked at the cooper trade for a short time, but preferred the farm. His education was that of the schools of those days. He has always taken an ac- tive interest in the affairs of the county, and was a leading citizen of the township and county. He was a justice of the peace for nine years, during which time he married over thirty couples. He was infirmary director six years and always took an active interest in military affairs. He was elected lieutenant of militia and was successively captain, major and colonel, and at one time knew most of the men in the county. He was suc- cessful in acquiring for himself a very pleasant and comfortable home. He was social, hospitable and pleasant in his manners. He was married twice, first to Miss Mary M. Miller, June 1, 1837, daughter of James Miller, a pioneer of Miller township. They had four children, two of whom are living. The children were Emily N. (married to L. H. Burgess); Charles S,, who was killed July 22, 1865, at Atlanta while serving in the army; James M., died young, and Mary M., who married W. V. Wright. His last wife was Elizabeth Burns. He died January 30, 1881, aged seventy-four years.

BEAVER, WILLIAM, Miller township, farmer, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, November 30, 1830. His parents came to Ohio about 1835, and lived for a short time in Knox county, and then moved to Licking county, where Mr. Beaver died. Mrs. Beaver still survives him. They had eight children, seven of whom are yet living. The subject of this no- tice is the second of the family. His youth was spent on the farm with his mother until he was about twenty-three years of age. His father died when Mr. Beaver was about fifteen years of age, so that considerable of the management fell upon him at an early age. This was perhaps the foundation of Mr. Beaver's after success. It gave him self-reliance and a knowl- edge of that which is necessary to success. Mr. Beaver started

poor in life, but has secured a competency by industry and good management. He is a systematic farmer, and his farm bears the marks of good cultivation. He married Miss Eliza- beth Weller, daughter of Philip Weller, December, 1853, and commenced housekeeping on the farm on which he now resides, . and where he has resided ever since, except seven years while out of the county. They had twelve children, four of whom) died in infancy. The living are Sarah Ann, Mary, Ellen, George W., Isabella, William, Evaline, Ida E., and Abram Franklin.

BEBOUT, ENOCH, Pleasant township; deceased; a native of Holland; was born born July 24, 1801. He was brought to America in 1805, by his parents who located in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. November I, 1832, he married Miss Eliza Boggs, of Washington county, Pennsylvania; born December 27, 1808. They emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, and located in Harrison township, where he remained until March. 1845, when he purchased and moved on a farm near Martinsburgh, this county. He remained there five years; then in 1850 he bought and moved on the farm in Pleasant township, now owned by his son-in-law, David B. Kerr. He died October 27, 1879. His wife is still living on the home farm. They raised a family of seven children: William, Rebecca, Hannah, James, Eliza, Enoch and Mary J., all living except William, who died at Fortress Monroe July 25, 1864, while serving as a Union soldier in the war of the great Rebellion.

BEBOUT, WILLIAM, deceased, was born July 12, 1834, in Knox county, and was married to Miss Malinda Pipes January 19, 1860. When a young man, he taught school for some years, and afterwards engaged in farming up to the time of his decease, July 25, 1864. Their children were James Wil- ber, Eva May and William Grant. Mr. Bebout was a soldier of the Union army, and lost his life in the service, dying of typhoid fever in Virginia.

BECHTEL, MARTIN, deceased, Pleasant township, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1802. He was raised a farmer, and was considered one of the best in Knox county. In 1829 he married Miss Sophia Fetter, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1806. They remained two years in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and in 1831 emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, and located on the farm in Pleasant township, now known as the Bechtel homestead, on the Martinsburgh road, five miles from Mt. Ver- non, where they passed the remainder of their days. He de- ceased March 4, 1875. His wife died September 16, 1875. They had a family of six children: Malinda, Barbara, Jonas, Catharine, Jacob, Cornelia A. and Frances J.

BECHTEL, JACOB J., farmer, Pleasant township; son of Martin and Sophia Bechtel, was born in Pleasant township, this county, July 30, 1839. On the twenty-eighth day of Janu- ary, 18-, he married Miss Kesiah J. Eley, born in Knox county, Ohio, November 1, 1840, daughter of Peter and Sab- inah Eley. They settled on his father's home farm where they are now living. They have a family of five children-four sons and one daughter. Farming and stock raising is his vocation.

BECHTEL, ANDREW, farmer, Berlin township, post office, Shaler's Mills; born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, raised in Bedford county, and was married to Elizabeth Brumbaugh, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1828; they had four children, viz .: Simon, Jackson, Mary Ann

598

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

(deceased), and Nancy Jane. Mrs. Elizabeth Bechtel died in Knox county. Mr. Bechtel was afterward married to Elizabeth Frederick, who was born in this county. They had four chil- dren, viz .: Isaac (deceased), Lewis, Sarah E., and Minnie C. Mr. Betchel came to Ohio in 1853, located in Berlin township, and owns the old Frederick farm. He has erected one of the finest residences in this township.

BECK, JOHN, farmer, Union township, post office, Danville, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1818, and lived there until 1829, when he came to Union township, Knox county. In 1844 he was married to E. J. McDonald, and settled on a portion of the old homestead where he has since remained. They have the following children, viz. : Sarah, born in 1846, Mary, in 1848, Newton, in 1850, Theresa Ann, in 1853, Eliza Ellen, in 1856, and Nancy Jane, in 1860. They have lost three children: Sarah, Grant, and Rebecca.

BEDELL, SYLVESTER, farmer, Liberty township, was born in Niagara county, New York, April 23, 1823; his parents, Michael and Mary Willis, were married in New York, and about 1836, and emigrated to Ohio, settling in Liberty township some four miles west of Mt. Vernon, on the Delaware road, where he purchased a farm in the woods and cleared it up. He was an estimable citizen and was highly respected in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Bedell lived to a good old age. They died in Mt. Vernon, where they resided some years previous to their death. They had a family of nine children, all living and doing well. The subject of this sketch is the oldest child; he assisted his parents until he was twenty-one years old, attending school in the winter until he acquired the necessary qualification to teach. His first certificate was granted by Joseph S. Davis, of Mt. Vernon. He taught his first term in 1844, and taught thirteen terms thereafter. He was twice married; his first wife was Matilda Tucker, to whom he was married February 18, 1848; they had three children, two living. He was married to Mrs. Mary Hobbs in April, 1876. Mr. Bedell is a pleasant, social gentleman, and an influential citizen.

BEDELL, ISRAEL, M. D., Mt. Vernon, was born in New York, October 19, 1834. He spent his youth on a farm. His father was born in Massachusetts, and his mother in Connecti- cut, and emigrated to Ohio about 1848. He commenced read- ing medicine with Dr. McCarther, of Circleville, and finished his course of reading with Drs. Russell and Thompson, of Mt. Vernon. The first course of lectures he attended was at Ann Arbor. He finished his course at the University of New York, in New York city, March 3, 1863. He taught school for some nine terms prior to entering his course of reading medicine. About six weeks after his graduation he was examined at Co- lumbus and appointed first assistant surgeon of the Sixth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry, formerly the Guthrie Grays of Cincinnati, Ohio, and reported to his regiment in the field at Bridgeport, Alabama, and remained with it until the regiment was discharged.

On his return home he was appointed contract surgeon, and was stationed at Camp Dennison, and had charge of it about eight months. He received a commission as first assistant sur- geon of the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio regiment, but was not mustered into service. He came home and located in Car- dington, Ohio, where he remained about two years, and then came to Mt. Vernon, where he has since been practicing. He associated himself with Dr. Bryant, and continued with him

two years, when the health of Dr. Bryant gave way, and the partnership was dissolved.

Dr. Bedell married Miss Lydia L. Saelts, of Mt. Vernon, in 1863. They have had four children born unto them --- three sons and one daughter, only two of whom are living.

BEERS, JOSEPH, Fredericktown, farmer, was born in this county December 15, 1811. He was married December 14, 1841, to Jane Douglass, who was born in this county in Sep- tember, 1822. They have two children: Theodore, who is now married and resides in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; and Aaron, who is now engaged in farming the home place.

Mr. Beers has been identified with this county from infancy, and through his industry, economy and frugality, has succeeded in securing a good property. He owns a beautiful farm near Fredericktown.

BEEMAN, SAMUEL, of Brown township, chairman of the county board of commissioners, was born in Alleghany county, Maryland, June 6, 1820. He received his education in the common schools of the day. His youth was spent on the farm of his father, William Beeman. His father, with his family, came to Ohio in 1820, settling in Wayne county, where he re- sided until 1833, when he removed to Knox county, and located in Jefferson township, remaining there up to the time of his death, in 1872.

Samuel Beenman, the subject of this sketch, in 1855, married Miss Mary Withrow, daughter of Hon. James Withrow, of Jefferson township, unto whom five children were born-three sons and two daughters-two of whom are dead, one son and one daughter. The names of the living children are, James, Mary A., and Chester F. James married Miss Lovina Gardner of Brown township. In 1851 Mr. Beeman engaged in the mer- cantile business in Brownsville, this county, and conducted it successfully up to 1867, a period of sixteen years, when he gave up the business and retired to the farm, where he and his family live a happy and contented life, with all the comforts within their reach. In 1875 Mr. Beeman was elected county commis- sioner, and was in 1878 reelected to the same position. As a merchant, as a farmer, as a county official, and as a citizen, Mr. Beeman has occupied a high and prominent position.

BEERS, ASHER L., stone mason, Fredericktown, was born in Wayne township, Knox county, in 1830, and marrried in 1852 to Mary E. Coleman, who was born in Knox county in 1832. They have the following children, viz: Lawrence A., born in 1856; Clio M., in 1862. Mr. Beers is a stone mason by trade, and has worked at this business over fourteen years. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, being a very efficient worker, especially in Sabbath-school.

BELL, BENJAMIN, Morgan township, is one of the largest land owners in Morgan township, and, in fact, in the county. He is a native of Green county, Pennsylvania, where he was born, May 17, 1813. His father was a well-to-do farmer of the same county. The Bell family were early settlers of that part of Pennsylvania.

The subject of this notice was raised on a farin, and received such schooling as was customary in those days. He remained in Pennsylvania until about 1843, when he came to Ohio and purchased a part of the farm on which he now resides, and settled upon it. For this one hundred acres he paid one thou- sand four hundred dollars, but having no money, he went in debt for it. He succeeded by hard work and economy in pay-

599

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

ing for this farm, and was soon enabled to buy more. He thus was fairly started in life, having laid a foundation for his future success, before he received any portion coming from his father's estate. He now owns one thousand and twenty-nine acres of land. Mr. Bell has always been punctual in the payment of all contracts made by him. He is engaged quite extensively in sheep raising. He was married to Miss Mary Woodruff, a native of Knox county, in 1844. They had a family of seven children: John, Ella, (deceased, who was married to L. B. Mantouya), two infants, Lucilla, (who married D. W. Archer), Morgan and Edison.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 112

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096