Beach, Edna May (Miss), 1870-1940

BEACH, BONHAM

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/11/2022 at 22:30:45

From the Alton Democrat, May 10, 1940:

Early Resident Dies at Seattle

Miss Edna May Beach, daughter of a pioneer Alton merchant and herself an early resident, died May 2nd at a hospital in Seattle, Wash. Her sister Greta, who passed on some years ago, taught piano in Alton during the ‘80s and early ‘90s. The Sioux City Journal says:

Miss Beach was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Beach, early day Sioux Cityans. She was born at Saginaw, Mich., and the family lived at Alton, Ia. before coming to Sioux City in 1884. Miss Beach moved to Seattle in 1923. She was a member of the First Baptist church there and belonged to the Seattle Business and Professional Women’s club.

When she went to the hospital Wednesday evening, it was thought she would have to be there only a few days. She took a sudden turn for the worse the following morning and died before relatives could reach her bedside.

Surviving sisters are Abbie, Nettie, Nellie and Margaret (Mrs. Erken), all living in Seattle. A brother, Wilfred, who was an architect, and a sister, Greta, preceded her in death.

(Note: Wilfred Beach was the first child born in the town of Alton, then called East Orange.)

* * * * * * * * * *

FINDAGRAVE

Her FindaGrave.com page has Edna May Beach, born 30 Jan 1870 in Saginaw, Michigan; died 2 May 1940 in Seattle, Washington; buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Seattle. Parents Alexander Lyman Beach (1847-1905) and Sarah Jane Bonham Beach (1848-1924). Siblings Wilfred Warren Beach (1872-1937), Mary Greta Beach Detwiller (1874-1931), Abbie Claire Beach (1876-1961), Nettie Rosalind Beach (1878-1958), Margaret Adelaide Beach Erken (1879-1965), and Nellie Louise Beach (1882-1952).

These unattributed notes were posted on her FindaGrave page: Edna is the oldest daughter of Alexander Beach and Sarah Bonham Beach. In 1921, she was office manager of the architectural and building business called The W. W. Beach Co., Sioux City, IA. In 1927, she moved to 3707 West Cambridge Street, Seattle, King Co, WA to a home she and her sister Nettie built, that was next door to their sisters, Abbie and Nellie. She earned a small income from knitting at home. On 19 Feb 1936, Edna had a stroke which paralyzed her right side after which she remained bedridden.

This clipping from an unidentified Seattle newspaper was also posted on her FindaGrave page: Funeral services for Miss Edna May Beach, 70 years old, who died yesterday after a four-year illness, will be held at 2 o’clock tomorrow at the Johnson & Hamilton Funeral Home. Burial will be in Forest Lawn. Miss Beach was manager of a business office several years until she became ill. A resident of Seattle seventeen years, Miss Beach resided at 3707 W. Cambridge St. She was born in Saginaw, Mich. Surviving are four sisters, Abbie C., Nettie R., and Nellie J. Beach, and Mrs. Margaret B. Erken, all of Seattle.

* * * * * * * * * *

In the 1900 U.S. census she (as Edney M., age 30) is living with her parents and sisters in Sioux City where she is working as “book keeper, Tribune.” In 1910 she is living in Sioux City with her widowed mother and working as a bookkeeper in a clothing store. In 1920 she is living in Sioux City with her mother and sister Nettie and working as a bookkeeper in a piano house. In 1930 she is living in Seattle at 3707 Cambridge St. with her sister Nettie R. and nephew Adelbert B. Erken (22); Edna is a bookkeeper in an office, Nettie is a practical nurse in a private home, and Adelbert is a clerk in a telephone office; they live next door to Abbie C. and Nellie L. Beach.