Beezley, Paul (1839-1915)

BEEZLEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/15/2019 at 16:49:43

Paul Beezley
Mar 24, 1839 - May 3, 1915

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.562)
PAUL BEEZLEY has been a resident of this county since 1879. He was born in Shelby County, Ohio, March 24, 1839, the son of John and Elizabeth (ELLSWORTH) BEEZLEY. His mother was a distant relative of Colonel ELLSWORTH, who was killed in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. BEEZLEY reared a family of nine children, Paul being the youngest. Captain William BEEZLEY, a prominent citizen of Macedonia, a sketch of whom appears in this work, is their first born.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm in Ohio, and received a common-school education. March 28, 1858, he was married, in his native county, to Miss Eleanor LEWIS, a native of New Jersey, daughter of Samuel and Catherine LEWIS, also of New Jersey. The fruit of this union was two children: Elizabeth A., who died at the age of three years, and William, who is married, has one child and resides in Council Bluffs. The wife and mother, Eleanor BEEZLEY, died May 10, 1866, in Shelby County, Ohio.
October 12, 1861, is the date of Mr. BEEZLEY's enlistment in Company F, Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he served until July 15, 1865. His regiment was in thirty-two battles, in the most of which he participated. Among them are the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Pea Ridge, Black River Bridge, Jackson, Champion Hill, and in the engagements around Vicksburg until its surrender to General GRANT, July 4, 1863. He was in a number of other important engagements; was with SHERMAN on his memorable march from Atlanta to the sea; and, finally, was with those who participated in the grand review at Washington. He was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, after which he returned to his home in Shelby County, Ohio.
Mr BEEZLEY was married, September 28, 1867, at that place, to Miss Jerusha Ann SIMMS, a native of Miami County, Ohio, daughter of C. K. SIMMS and Mary, his wife, both natives of New England. By his second marriage Mr. BEEZLEY had five children, viz.: John, a resident of Pottawattamie County; Minnie, at home; Othello, also of this county; Mattie, a resident of Missouri; and Jesse, who died at the age of five years. Mrs. BEEZLEY died August 30, 1878. November 24, 1881, Mr. BEEZLEY wedded his present wife, nee Miss Sophronia FIELD, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was born and reared in Pottawattamie County, daughter of John and Sarah A. FIELD, of Wheel's Grove. By her he has three children: Rudy R., Vernon L. and Melissie Valentine.
Mr. BEEZLEY made his home in Shelby County until 1868, when he moved to Logan County, Illinois. In 1876 he removed from there to Mills County, Iowa, and settled near Emerson. In 1879 he came to this county, and for two years lived near Macedonia. Then he came to his present farm, and has since made his home here. He owns eighty acres of well improved land, but his farming operations are not limited to this, as he also cultivates other lands. He keeps a large number of cattle and is very successful with his stock. Jordan Creek flows through his farm and affords a constant supply of water for stock purposes.
In his political views Mr. BEEZLEY is a Republican. He is a member of William Layton Post at Oakland, and is also associated with the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Miami County, Ohio. He afterward joined at Emerson, and is now a member of Ruby Lodge. Mrs. BEEZLEY is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.