Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013,
                           All Rights Reserved
                          U.S. Data Repository

    Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
=========================================================================
U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization.
Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain
the consent of the transcriber prior to use.
Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so.
=========================================================================
Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
==========================================================================
=
SOURCE: Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan and
        Van Buren Counties, Michigan
        Chapman Bros, Chicago - 1892

        [Page 525]
        
        JOHN F. BEEBE.  A faithful defender of the Union during the
     late war and an influential farmer of Allegan County, located
     on section 20, Watson Township.  Mr. BEEBE justly merits the
     confidence of this fellow-citizens.  He is a native of New York,
     and was born in Junius, Seneca County, May 16, 1818.  His father,
     John BEEBE, a native of Massachusetts, was a tanner and shoe-
     maker by trade and died when forty-four years old.  His mother,
     Lydia A. (FRENCH) BEEBE, was also a native of the old Bay State,
     and attained to the age of sixty-seven years and thirty-three
     days.
     
        The family of which our subject is a member consisted of the
     following children:  Laura, Maria, George, Sophia, Julia, Nath-
     aniel (who died in infancy), Albert W., Cordelia, John F. and 
     Ezra F.  Only two are now living, our subject and his sister
     Cordelia.  The former was a child of little more than two years
     when his father died, and he was, therefore, early thrown upon
     his own resources.  At the age of ten years he accompanied his
     mother from the old home in Junius to Milo Township, Yates
     County, N.Y., where he remained eight years.  In 1838, he re-
     moved West to Michigan, and commenced to work in Lenox Township,
     Macomb County, where he arrived with only five shillings in his
     possession.
     
        By carefully hoarding his earnings, which were $13 per month,
     he was enabled to buy a tract of land in Macomb County, were he
     built a house and partially improved the land.  Later, he sold 
     it and bought forty acres in Lenox Township, but becoming finan-
     cially involved by sickness, he resumed work at his trade - that
     of a blacksmith - which he learned in New York.  In 1855, he
     traded his place for the one he now owns in Watson Township, and
     here he has since resided.  He is prominent in the public affairs
     of the community as a member of the Republican party and the
     Grand Army of the Republic of Allegan.  For twelve years he has
     served efficiently as Justice of the Peace, and was also Treasurer
     one year and School Director.
     
        In 1862, Mr. BEEBE enlisted in Company L, Fourth Michigan
     Cavalry, and from Detroit marched to the front, participating in
     every battle from Nashville to Atlanta.  He served until the close
     of the war, being off duty only two days during the entire period
     of his service, and although ofttimes in great peril, yet escaped
     without a wound.  He was with the regiment which captured Jefferson
     Davis, and after an honorable service was discharged at Nashville,
     Tenn., in July, 1865, returning from that place to his home in
     Allegan County.
     
        The marriage of Mr. BEEBE to Miss Lucretia, the daughter of
     Jacob and Fannie (ALLEN) MILLER, took place October 10, 1838.
     Mrs. BEEBE was born in Brighton Township, Monroe County, N.Y.,
     September 21, 1817, and came to this State in 1937.  She is the
     mother of six children, as follows:  John H., who resides in
     Otsego Township, Allegan County; Cordelia, the wife of C. M.
     MINER, and resides in Watson Township; Julia, who married G.
     A. MINER, and resides in Watson Township; Harris, who died when
     thirteen months old; and two that died in infancy.
     
 ==========================================================================