Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah June 26, 2020

Harry Edward Beach, a well known court reporter of Carroll, enjoys high standing among the followers of his profession in this state, having been chosen president of the Iowa State Court Reporters Association in 1910. His birth occurred in Glidden, Carroll county, Iowa, on the 10th of October, 1872, his parents being Myron W. and Lydia E. (Presnell) Beach, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Indiana. The paternal grandfather was a native of New York and a cooper by trade. He was twice married, Myron W. Beach being the only child of his first marriage. By his second wife he had two sons, namely: Charles, an agriculturist of Story county, Iowa, who passed away in 1907; and Albert, who follows farming in Story county. The maternal grandfather of our subject died when about forty-five years of age, while his wife was seventy-six years old when called to her final rest. Their children included the following named: Henry and James, who are deceased; Zimri, Jeremiah; and Lydia E.

Myron W. Beach, the father of Harry E. Beach, worked at the cooper’s trade in early manhood. He came to Carroll county in 1865 and located at Glidden, teaching in the country schools and being afterward elected county superintendent of schools here, which position he held for one term. Subsequently he studied law, and during the remainder of his life practiced the profession in this county and district, becoming widely recognized as a prominent and able attorney and enjoying a large clientage in Carroll for many years. He took up his abode in Carroll in 1883 and served as mayor of the town for two terms. His demise occurred on the 4th of November, 1906, when he had attained the age of sixty-two years, and thus the community lost one of its most valued, respected and prosperous citizens. At the time of the Civil war he became a member of the First Michigan Sharpshooters but after a few months was discharged because of disability. His widow still makes her home in Carroll, where she has a host of warm friends. She was the mother of four children, as follows: Melville A., a practicing physician of Stratford, Iowa; Harry Edward, of this review; Dr. Arthur E., who has passed away; and Lena A., a lady physician in the State Insane Hospital at Cherokee.

Harry E. Beach, whose name introduces this review, spent the first eleven years of his life in Glidden and Carroll and after leaving the Carroll high school mastered shorthand. Subsequently he took up the study of law in Council Bluffs, being admitted to the bar in 1897. In 1892 he became a court reporter and has worked at that profession almost continuously since. For five years, however, he was connected with the Cudahy Packing Company in Omaha. Since returning to Carroll in 1902 he has remained here as a court reporter, finding his knowledge of the law of great assistance to him in the work. In 1910 he served as president of the Iowa State Court Reporters Association.

On the 5th of January, 1892, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Butler, a native of Hamilton, Illinois, and a daughter of Charles and Belle Butler, who were born in Missouri and Illinois respectively. Mr. Butler died at the age of forty years and is still survived by his widow, who is now sixty years old. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children: Frances E., Myron W., Warren E. and Florence A.

In the local ranks of his party Mr. Beach is an active and leading factor, having served as chairman of the republican county central committee since 1896. He is also a valued member of the Citizens Commercial Club of Carroll. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Signet Lodge, No. 264. A.F. & A.M. ; Copestone Chapter, No. 78, R.A.M., of Carroll, Iowa; and Rose Croix Commandery, No. 38, K.T., of Sac City. He is likewise a member of St. Albans Lodge, No. 17, K.P., of Council Bluffs. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs. Mr. Beach is the chairman of the church board of trustees. In all respects they are worthy of commendation and enjoy the general esteem of their friends, being truly representative of the best citizenship of the county.

Since the above sketch was written, upon the recommendation of Congressman Frank P. Woods, Mr. Beach was appointed Postmaster at Carroll, by President Taft, and confirmed by the United States Senate, his commission being dated March 1, 1911, for a term of four years, at a salary of two thousand, four hundred dollars per year.

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