For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 133
FRED BEACH. Proof of the productiveness of Muscatine as a place of residence and of the opportunities which it affords its citizens is found in the fact that many of the city's sons still retain their residence here and are now numbered among the successful business men. This class includes Fred Beach, secretary and treasurer of the Mira Hershey Lumber Company. He was born in Muscatine August 2, 1868, a son of Benjamin and Mary Josephine (Meason) Beach, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.Mr. Beach was reared in this city and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. He acted as clerk in the post office while his father was postmaster and afterward entered the employ of the Hershey Lumber Company, with which he has been connected for twenty-two years. No higher testimonial of faithful service and capability could be given than the fact that he has been so long connected with this company, and his developing powers are evidenced in the promotions that have come to him from time to time. The old company operated a sawmill here but that business was discontinued in 1902 and a new company was organized, called Mira Hershey Lumber Company, of which Mr. Beach is the secretary and treasurer and one of the stockholders. His long connection with the business, giving him a thorough knowledge of every department, enables him to capably direct the interests of the cooporation at the present time.
In a pleasant home at No.800 West Third street Mr. Beach resides with his family. He was married on the 11th of October, 1893, to Miss Emma Rankin, a daughter of Burris Rankin. They now have two children, Glyde Marie and George Burton. Mrs. Beach was born in Lake township, Muscatine county, and her parents were natives of Ohio but became early settlers of this locality, where the father took up the occupation of farming. Both he and his wife passed away in this county. They had a family of seven children: William, Job, Elizabeth, Mary, Cidney, Edna and Emma.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Beach hold membership in the Presbyterian church and are loyal to its teachings, active in its work and generous in its support. His political indorsement is given to the republican party but he has never sought nor desired political office. He served for two terms as a member of the school board and the cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion. In fact his influence is always on the side of progress, whether along material, intellectual, social, political or moral lines. His cooporation can be counted upon to further the public good and honor because of his fidelity to many principles as well as his activity in business, that has been crowned by successful accomplishment.
Back to Biographical Index Page