Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 832
FREDERICK F. BEEBEE

There are individuals in nearly every community who, by reason of pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and command the esteem of their fellow men. Characterized by perseverance and a directing spirit, two virtues that never fail, such men always make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personality serves as a stimulant and incentive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterprising class, the subject of this review, Frederick Fargo BEEBEE, very properly belongs. The success which has come to him has been the direct result of the ability to apply himself diligently to the task before him and to the persistence with which he pursued a given end.

Frederick F. BEEBEE, a retired farmer of Beebeetown, Harrison county, Iowa, was born July 1, 1850, in Onandago county, New York. He is the son of James L. and Alma C. (WILLIAMS) BEEBEE, to whom eleven children were born, only two of whom are now living, Franklin, Addison, William, Ransom, Henry C., Alma C., Darwin B., Reuben T., Harriett C., Edwin H. and Frederick Fargo. Franklin, who is now deceased, was agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company, at Jackson, Michigan. Addison, who died in 1904, was a farmer of La Grange township, Harrison county Iowa. William died at the age of three. Ransom, who died in 1904, was a Harrison county farmer and operated a hotel and livery barn for some time at Missouri Valley. Henry C. was a lieutenant in the Civil War. Henry C., who is retired, worked for the American Express for fifty-four years. He is now living in Council Bluffs. Alma C., who married Sidney Mosher, died at Poplar Ridge, New York, in 1907. Her husband was a merchant Poplar Ridge and he died leaving seven children. Darwin B. was a private in the Seventy-fifth New York Infantry during the Civil War. He was a sharp-shooter and was taken prisoner on one occasion. During the battle of Winchester, Virginia, he was killed, September 19, 1864. Reuben T., who was an expressman for the American Express Company of Council Bluffs, came to Harrison county, Iowa, in 1869, and was one of the first BEEBEEs to settle in this township. He was found dead in 1891. Harriett C. died in infancy. Edwin H. died at Missouri River in 1910. He was a soldier in the Civil War. Frederick Fargo was the youngest of the family.

James L. BEEBEE, the father of these children, was born December 29, 1809, in New York state, the same date upon which Gladstone was born. He was a contractor and built a part of the Erie canal. In 1856 he entered land in Iowa but did not come to this state until 1871. By 1869 he had given all of his land to his children. When he came to Iowa he settled in Harrison county, buying two hundred acres of land in La Grange township, a part of which now belongs to the subject of this sketch. There were no improvements on the land and Mr. BEEBEE built a frame house costing fifteen hundred dollars. In 1890 this house was destroyed by fire. Mr. BEEBEE set out many trees of different varieties, cottonwood, walnut and many other kinds. He was a very extensive landowner. At one time he was road supervisor and justice of the peace. In 1891 he returned to New York where he remained until his death in 1897. His wife, the mother of the subject, was born September 24, 1809, in New York state and died in 1885. Both parents are buried in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Frederick F. BEEBEE attended the schools of New York state and the Union Springs Academy at Union Springs, New York, for three years. He was reared on the farm west with his parents when twenty years old. He remained at home in Harrison county, Iowa, for three years and then returned to New York where he was married. He returned to Iowa in a short time and bought forty acres of land in La Grange township. Later he added more land. His brother, Reuben, was the founder of what is now known as Beebeetown. In 1880, recognizing the need of a post office, Frederick BEEBEE’s wife took steps to establish a post office at their residence. Mr. BEEBEE acted as postmaster and arrangements were made to have the mail delivered to their residency. One year later, in 1881, Mr. BEEBEE donated to Mr. A. D. FINCH one-half acre of land for a store and postoffice. At one time Mr. BEEBEE and his wife owned fourteen hundred acres of land. He has three acres of land in Harrison county at this time, but he and his wife own nine hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land in Alberta, Canada.

Frederick F. BEEBEE was married on April 7, 1874, to Lois HUDSON, who was born March 19, 1852, at Venice, New York. She was the daughter of Peter and Angeline (Chase) HUDSON. Peter HUDSON was a native of England and his wife of New York state, both now being deceased. To this union seven children have been born. Frederick H., a member of Beebeetown, Arthur, whose sketch is found elsewhere in this volume; Mrs. Edith HALL, of La Grange township, Leslie, also of La Grange township; Mrs. Jennie E. EHLART, who is referred to elsewhere in this volume; and Lois M., who is at home. One son died in infancy.

Mr. BEEBEE is identified with the Prohibition party. He has held many local offices and is a man of considerable influence in politics. He was township clerk in 1871 in La Grange township for one year. He was township trustee for a number of years and also school director. Mr. and Mrs. BEEBEE have belonged to the Harris Grove Farmer’s Club for fort-one years and are the oldest married couple of Harris County Farmers’ Club, the meetings of which have been held at their home for forty-one years. Mr. BEEBEE are active members of the Methodist church and liberal contributors to its support. Mr. BEEBEE takes an active interest in church affairs and is a steward and trustee of the Methodist church at Beebeetown.

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