ASHBEL W. BEACH
Ashbel W. Beach is a retired farmer and mail carrier of Northwood, widely and favorably known in Worth county. He was born on a farm in Truxton township, Cortland county, New York, November 16, 1841, a son of Zelotes and Polly (Lowe) Beach. His father was a native of Connecticut, born in 1816, and the mother's birth occurred in Pennsylvania. Zelotes Beach followed farming in the east and in 1851 removed from the state of New York to Wisconsin, where he rented land and again engaged in tilling the soil for a number of years. He afterward removed to Iowa, where he once more followed farming, and his last days were spent at the home of his daughter in Rudd, Iowa, where he passed away February n, 1899, at the age of eighty-three years. His wife, who was born March 6, 1816, died on the 4th of April, 1895, at the age of seventy-nine years.
Ashbel W. Beach spent his boyhood upon the home farm in the Empire state until he reached the age of ten years and then accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, where he continued his education in the rural schools. He remained upon the home farm with his father and assisted in the work of cultivating the fields until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit was aroused and on the i6th of August, 1862, he enrolled among the boys in blue, enlisting at Oakland, Wisconsin, as a member of Company G, Twentieth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served in all for thirty-five months and was then honorably discharged, being mustered out at Galveston, Texas, on the i4th of July, 1865. He had participated in several important engagements, including the second battle at Springfield Missouri, the twenty-one day siege at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and the battles at Yazoo City, Mississippi, Atchafalaya, Louisiana, Franklin Creek, Mississippi, Fort Morgan, Alabama, and Spanish Fort, Alabama. When the war was over and the country no longer needed his military aid Mr. Beach returned to his Wisconsin home and again took up the occupation of farming, which he there followed until 1873. He then removed westward to Iowa, taking up his abode in Worth county, where he purchased eighty acres of land in Deer Creek township. For eleven years he devoted his time and energies to the cultivation and improvement of his farm, residing thereon until 1884. In the meantime he purchased a dray line in Northwood, Iowa, and in the year indicated he took up his abode in Northwood in order to operate the draying business. He continued active in that field of labor for six years, after which he retired from active life. For a few years he enjoyed a rest which he had truly earned and richly merited, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he was not content to rest entirely. He accepted the position of mail carrier on the 2d of February, 1903, and is now serving in that capacity, although he is seventy-six years of age. He has a route of almost thirty miles a day to cover and yet he is enjoying good health and discharges his duties with the vigor and energy of a much younger man. He possesses a remarkably clear memory, recalling dates and incidents without the slightest hesitation, and he keeps well informed concerning the questions and issues of the present hour as well as those of the past.
On the 9th of November, 1867, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Lyndia Whiting, a daughter of Josiah and Maria (Chaffey) Whiting. Mrs. Beach was born in Ohio, as were her parents, who removed to Wisconsin when she was about four years of age, her parents continuing to follow farming in that state until they were called to their final rest. A cousin of Mrs. Lyndia Beach entered the service in the Civil war as a private and won promotion after promotion until he rose to the rank of major general. In 1903 Mr. Beach was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 24th of June of that year. Later he was married again, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Baker, a daughter of Philander and Helen (Wood) Baker. Mrs. Elizabeth Beach was born at Rose Creek, Winneshiek county, Iowa, while her parents were natives of Rockford, Illinois, and of Massachusetts respectively. They were married in Illinois and afterward removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where Philander Baker conducted a shoe store for some time. He became a resident of Iowa in the early '503 but eventually he disposed of his shoe store and removed to Lesueur county, Minnesota, where he purchased a farm which he conducted until his death. Both he and his wife died during the early girlhood of Mrs. Beach, who was twice married. On the 3d of July, 1867, she wedded Henry Ritchey, by whom she had eleven children, eight of whom are yet living. The two youngest, Herman Ritchey and Louis Beach, make their home with Ashbel W. Beach, the latter having been adopted by him.
Mr. Beach and his first wife joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Northwood on the 26th of September, 1887, while the present Mrs. Beach joined the same church in 1900, by letter from the United Brethren church at Waterville, Minnesota. Fraternally Mr. Beach is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and since 1885 has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and for seven years has served as post commander, filling the position continuously for six years and for one year since that time. He was also chaplain of the post for ten years and has held all of the different offices in the organization. He filled the position of justice of the peace in Deer Creek township for a time and during his incumbency in the office married four couples. He now occupies a fine home in Northwood and is held in the highest esteem by all. As a man his life measures up to high standards and in matters of citizenship he has always been as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south and defended the interests of the Union.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Page 608
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 7, 2006