Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 813
FREDERICK F. BEEBEE

Frederick F. BEEBEE, proprietor of the "Bonnie View Stock Farm" and one of the representative farmers of LaGrange Township, living on section 35, came to Harrison County in March, 1871, and settled on section 26, with his father, James L. BEEBEE, who at that time had two hundred and forty acres of land, that he entered in 1856, but did not come to the county until 1871. His son R. T. BEEBEE, that came in 1869, improved eighty acres of this land, and in 1871, the father came with his family, two sons and their families, all settling on the same neighborhood. The father kept buying more land, until he had three hundred and twenty acres, besides giving his three sons eighty acres apiece. This settlement was known as the "Beebee Settlement," and in 1880, a post-office was established at that point, and called Beebeetown.

The first post-office was in the house where our subject now lives, he being the first Postmaster. His wife was the prime mover in getting the mail route established. In 1881, a general store was started by A. D. FITCH, on land donated by Mr. BEEBEE. When Mr. FITCH went into the store, our subject resigned the post-office in his favor. Mr. FITCH conducted the store here about six months, when James HANER built a store, and our subject bought Mr. FITCH out and turned the store building into a dwelling, and now (1891) rents the same. HANER operated the store a short time and then sold out to FAMERRITT, who ran to the fall of 1888, and then sold to J. P. YARRINGTON.

Our subject's father built a blacksmith shop in 1881, and rented it to a man named Charles E. WILKINS, who after two years was succeeded by Mr. WHIPPLE, and he by J. B. VANCLEAVE. James KELLER, SHOWALTER & FINFROCK, and Peter CROMER were later blacksmith's.

Mr. BEEBEE was born in Onondaga County, NY, July 1, 1850, and in 1856 accompanied his parents to Cayuga County, where he remained until 1871, and then came to this county remaining with his parents until 1874, when he went back to New York, and Aptil 7, of that year, was united in marriage to Miss Lois HUDSON. After their marriage they came to Iowa, and lived with our subject's father until 1876, when he bought forty acres of land where they now live. They are the parents of six children: baby boy, died in infancy; Frederick H., Arthur H., Edith C., Leslie J., and Jennie E.

Lois (HUDSON) BEEBEE is a native of Cayuga County, NY, born March 19, 1852. She reamined in the Empire State until the date of her marriage.

James L. BEEBEE, father of our subject, was born in the town of Pompey, Onondagua County, N.Y., December 24, 1809, and remained there until 1856, when he moved to Cayuga County. While in Onondagua County, he was engaged as a railroad contractor, but while living in Cayuga County, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. After coming to Iowa, he made several trips back to the old Empire State, and during the past spring (1891) he went back to York State, near Binghampton, to make his home. He was married on Onondagua County, January 12, 1831, to Miss Alma C. WILLIAMS, by whom eleven children were born, our subject being the youngest.

The mother was Alma C. (WILLIAMS) BEEBEE, and she was born in Onondagua County, September 24, 1807. She died in Harrison County, Iowa, January 31, 1885. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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