Beach, Stephen

BEACH

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/27/2019 at 18:52:46

STEPHEN BEACH born 1824

STEPHEN BEACH, one of the leading agriculturists of Hamilton Township, living on section 18, was born on Long Island, New York, October 15, 1824, his parents, IRA and ELSIE (GILDERSLEEVE) BEACH, being natives of the same place. They had a family of six children – JOHN, STEPHEN, RICHARD, AMELIA and HARRIET and one who died in early childhood. STEPHEN BEACH received his education in the schools of New York City. At the age of eighteen years he began a seafaring life, which he followed many years, sailing from Boston and New York to Southern Ports. He engaged in the coast trade in company with E. VAN SECKEL, a prominent commission merchant of New York City. They had built, to their order, a schooner of 225 tons burden, of which Mr. BEACH had charge, holding the position of captain. He was united in marriage December 28, 1853, to Miss ALICE C. LEES, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, a daughter of JOHN and BARBARA (MCMILLEN) LEES. They have six children – HARRIET N., ALICE N., FRANCIS S., ESTELLA E., IVAN S., and STEPHENIA I. After their marriage Mrs. BEACH accompanied her husband, making her home on board the vessel as long as he remained in the trade. At the commencement of the war of the Rebellion, which injured the coast trade, Mr. BEACH sold his interest in the business, and in 1864 he removed with his family to Clinton County, Illinois, where he resided for two years, and while there he was drafted into the service, and was obliged to hire a substitute, paying him $900. He had previously furnished money for substitutes while living in the East. He also had forty head of cattle run off by bushwackers while attending to the draft, while in Clinton County. In 1856 he located in Christian County, Illinois, remaining there till he came to Decatur County, in 1874. He then resided two years on a farm in Decatur Township, six miles north-west of Leon, when he sold that property and bought his farm of ALLEN SCOTT, a prominent pioneer of Decatur County, containing 294 acres of chiefly rich bottom land of Grand River. His farm is under good cultivation, and his residence and farm buildings are noticeably good. He has a fine orchard on land, containing 200 fruit trees. Mr. and Mrs. BEACH, since coming to Decatur County have ranked, both socially and financially, among its leading families. While living in Christian County, Illinois, they were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he erected a church on his own farm, at his own expense, which he deeded, with an acre of ground, to the Methodist Episcopal denomination.