Beach, Sarah Jane (Mrs. Alexander L.), 1848-1924

BEACH, BONHAM, VANNATTER, VANOTTER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/16/2022 at 20:50:06

From the Alton Democrat, March 29, 1924:

Mother of First White Baby Here

Mrs. Alexander L. Beach died Sunday at her home in Seattle, according to Tuesday’s Sioux City Journal. Funeral services were held Wednesday at the First Presbyterian church in Sioux City.

The four Beach brothers, Will, Andrew, Alexander and Albert, came to Alton about 1872 and started a lumber yard, hardware store and elevator. The elevator was the one recently dismantled and taken down near the Slagle local office, one of the oldest elevators in the county.

Alexander built the house which is now St. Mary’s parsonage. Their son, Wilfred, who was the first white child born in Alton and one of the first born in Sioux County, was architect of the Sioux County court house. Their daughter Greta was a music teacher here for a number of years. The dispatch from the Journal is as follows:

Mrs. Sarah J. Beach, of Seattle, a former resident of Sioux City, died at her home Sunday after a lingering illness. Mrs. Beach was the widow of A. L. Beach, a pioneer hardware merchant here. Previous to her departure for Seattle, a year ago, Mrs. Beach had resided in Sioux City for 40 years.

She is survived by six daughters, Edna, Abbie, Nettie, and Nellie, of Seattle; Mrs. Greta Dittwiller, of Alberta, Canada; Mrs. Margaret Erkin, of Aberdeen, S.D., and one son, Wilfred Beach, of New York.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Washington Death Records summary on Ancestry.com has Sarah Jane Beach, born about 1849, died 22 March 1924 age 75 in Seattle, Washington, father John Bonhaus, mother Mary Van Otter.

Her FindaGrave.com page has Sarah Jane Bonham Beach; born 2 Dec 1848 in South Dumfries, Brant County Municipality, Ontario, Canada; died 22 March 1924 in Seattle, Washington; buried in Logan Park Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa. Parents John Bonham (1808-1994) and Mary Vannatter Bonham (1814-1897). Five siblings listed. Husband Alexander Lyman Beach (1847-1905). Children Edna May Beach (1870-1940), 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 Nettie Louise Beach (1882-1952). There is a photo of her headstone.