For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 360
COLONEL BENJAMIN BEACH....Colonel Benjamin Beach, overseer of the poor at Muscatine, is a citizen whose position in the public regard is a most enviable one. He is an old settler and an old soldier, and in days of peace as in days of war he has ever been most loyal to the best interests of his country. Progress and patriotism might well be termed the keynote of his character.His birth occurred in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, January 20, 1827, and in March, 1850, he came to Muscatine, where he has now made his home for more than sixty years. His father, John Beach, was a native of New Jersey, and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Rosanna Wilson, a native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She was born in 1800, and when four years of age went to Hamilton, Ohio, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Wilson. Her father who was a farmer by occupation and an early settler of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, died when about eighty-six years of age. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John Beach was celebrated in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1820, and they became the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters : Mary J., who married Orrin Line ; Susan, the wife of Johnson McGehen ; Wilson ; Benjamin ; Sarah Jane, the wife of John Hart ; and Catharine, the wife of A. Chumley. All are deceased now with the exception of Colonel Beach. The father was a blacksmith and for a long period followed that trade at Hamilton, Ohio, where he died in 1832 when forty-one years of age. His wife passed away in 1877 at the age of seventy-seven years. They were both Presbyterians in religious faith.
Colonel Beach lived in Hamilton, Ohio until fifteen years of age and attended school there. He afterward went to Richmond, Indiana, to learn the tinner's trade, which he followed for many years. In 1846 he enlisted at Hamilton. Ohio, for service in the Mexican war, joining the company commanded by John B. Weller. He served for a year as a private, and again he responded to the country's call for aid on the 17th of April, 1861, when he enlisted as a Union soldier and was made first lieutenant of Company A of the First Iowa Infantry, with which he served for three months. He then organized a company for the Eleventh Iowa and was made captain of Company H in October, 1861, acting as its commander for three years. Later he was promoted lieutenant colonel and took command of the regiment at Galesville, Alabama, in October, 1864. He had command of the regiment on Sherman's march to the sea and participated in all the Atlanta campaign. He took part in many hard fought battles of the war, never was known to flinch or falter in the face of danger, and when hostilities had ceased participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He had taken part in the battle of Monterey in the Mexican war, and in the Civil war was in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, and the Atlanta campaign.
After the war Colonel Beach returned to Muscatine and was in the hardware business with William McQuesten for a short time. He then turned his attention to the grocery business, in which he continued for about thirty years, being one of the most respected and worthy merchants of the city. He also acted as postmaster for eight years or until President Cleveland's election, when he resigned and turned his attention to the manufacture of tile. He filled the office of assessor for a number of years. and for the past twelve years has been overseer of the poor. In the discharge of his duties he has proven most competent and faithful, and his record is one which has won for him the high esteem of his fellow townsmen.
On the 29th of November, 1854, Colonel Beach was married to Miss Mary Stevenson, a daughter of George D. Stevenson, and they had one child, but the mother and child died at its birth in 1857. On the 3d of January, 1866, Colonel Beach wedded Miss Mary Josephine Mason, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1841, a daughter of George and Mary E. ( Ewing ) Mason, who were natives of the Keystone state and in 1852 came to Muscatine. They were prominent residents here and her father served as county judge. He died at the age of eighty years, and his wife also passed away at an advanced age. They were parents of fifteen children. Unto Colonel and Mrs. Beach have been born three children : George, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Fred, who is the manager of Hershey Lumber Company ; and Benjamin Robertson. Fred married Emily Rankin and has two children, Glyde and George Burton. Benjamin R. Beach wedded Marie Rankin and has two children, George and Mary.
Colonel and Mrs. Beach are devoted members of the Presbyterian church. He was made a Mason in 1852 and is a member of the De Molay No. 1, K. T., and of nearly all of the Masonic bodies of Muscatine is a chartermember. He likewise belongs to Shelby Norman Post, G. A. R., and his political support is given to the republican party. He is indeed Muscatine's " grand old man." Remarkably well preserved for one of his years, he believes in looking on the bright side of life and his optimism has been one of his salient characteristics. No man is held in higher esteem in this community than Colonel Beach.
Back to Biographical Index Page