BEEBE, James P. 1846-1911

BEEBE, GUERNSEY

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 1/13/2006 at 14:58:35

Osage News

James P. Beebe
Born July 28, 1846
Died August 22, 1911

(The following obituary appeared in his home paper)

The funeral services of the late Jas. P. Beebe were held at the farm home six miles north of Kimball, Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.

Unfortunately for many who would have attended otherwise, a steady rain prevented the last testimonial they could give to the man they had known and esteemed so many years.

The attendance was large in spite of the weather; and in this connection the children of the departed father wish to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for the many acts of kindness shown them; for the efforts of those who attended the last sad rites in spite of distance and weather and to those who felt for them but could not be present.

Rev. David R. Burr conducted the services, speaking feeling from the text: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." The remains were brought to Kimball and interment made at the noon hour.

It was but recently that Mr. Beebe even suspected that all was not right with him physically-only last month. A consulation with physicians here and Chamberlain induced him to go to Rochester, Minn., and he left for that hospital on the 10th inst.,accompanied by his daughter, Jessie. For five days examinations were made and then it was found necessary to operate for cancer. The operation was made on the 17th, trans-peritoneal removal of one-fourth of the bladder being performed. The next two days he was considered as doing well. The fourth day the pain became intense and before night his condition was pronounced serious. On Monday he looked calmly on approaching death and spoke in his great suffering of his belief in the hereafter.

Later in the day delirum came on and a consultation of physicians was called, but no hope was given. All those about him did what they could to ease his pain, and at 7 o'clock Tuesday morning he passed away.

James Phelps Beebe was born in Sabula county, Iowa, June 23, 1846, and was therefore a little over 65 years of age. During his boyhood his fathers family moved to Weathersfield, Ill., and later to Stacyville, Iowa, where he grew to manhood. October 17, 1870, he was married to Sarah Delia Guernsey of that town. In November 1883, be came to Kimball with his wife and three children. The next spring he built the house south of the Presbyterian church parsonage, which was his home for twenty years. Here the fourth child was born and died September 10, 1884, and here the wife and mother passed away September 22, 1886.

Mr. Beebe was a member of the Order of United Workmen, and members of the fraternity met the remains upon their arrival here Wednesday night and conveyed them to the Beebe home, leaving an anchor of beautiful flowers and returning the next day to act as pall bearers.

Mr. Beebe owned the Kimball dray line for many years and when the Standard Oil company established a distributing station at this place he had charge of that for several years. Too much hard work for both himself and son, Ray, induced him to give up his Kimball business and seek the large ranch that he gradually improved north of Kimball, and where the family have lived the past seven years. It is one of the finest farms in the county in which he took great pride, naming it the BB Ranch. He left the ranch mostly to the management of his son and partner, Ray and devoted the farm sale months to conducting such sales in which his services were sought far and wide. As one of the best known men in the county, and popular everywhere, his nominations on the Republican ticket last fall strengthened it and landed him in the legislature an easy winner. He was president of the Brule County Fair Association -
re-elected to that position this summer,and was also president of the Brule County Farmers' Cooperative company.

Mr. Beebe was always ready to give of his time and means in any public enterprise or to help the needy. He took a deep interest in the fair every year and was its most active and presistent worker. He made friends in every relation of life and the stamp of his character is well marked on the three children who survive him, Miss Amy Beebe, Miss Jessie Beebe and Ray Beebe.