U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Bee Family ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911 Pages 572-577 The Bees. — The name of "Bee" refuses to be divorced from the history of this town [Auburn], as few other names have had a longer or a more prominent connection with its affairs. This family were originally of Jewish extraction — of the tribe of Ephraim, but their ancestors came from England to America in Colonial times and settled in New Jersey. In accord with the ancient custom of their race, they kept a record and were able to trace their lineage back to Father Abraham, but this well-preserved record was burned in New Jersey near a century ago, and thus this interesting history was wiped out of existence. However, they accepted Christianity several generations ago, but have always observed the Jewish Sabbath. Four brothers, Ephraim, Asa, George and Thomas Bee crossed to New Jersey with a company of English emigrants some time before the Revolution, and, doubtless, some of them were actively engaged in this struggle for liberty, as a tradition has been handed down concerning their flight, at different times, when pursued by the "British Red Coats." And from George the West Virginia Bees trace their ancestry; his son, Asa, having come to what is now Taylor county, late in the eighteenth century. He (Asa, senior) was the father of Jonathan, Asa, Ezekiel, Ephraim, Josiah, Amaziah, Samuel, John, Hannah, Sophia, Mary, Keziah, and Abigail Bee. Asa Bee, junior, the second son, was the first one of the name to come to Ritchie county. He was born near what is now the town of Fetterman, in Taylor county, in 1798, and there he was married to Miss Hannah, daughter of Zebulon Maxin, in his early manhood; and after residing at New Milton, in Doddridge county, for some length of time, he removed to the Berea vicinity in 1836. He was the first minister of the Seventh Day Baptist church, on Hughes' river, and his ministry had a telling effect on the early history of this branch of the church, which was organized not long after his arrival. He was a strong advocate of co-education, having no sympathy, whatever, with the idea that was so prevalent at that period "that woman was amply equipped for the battle of life if she could only spell and read." He taught that woman's influence was the potent factor in shaping the mind of the child, and that, thus, she was in need of the better education; and this teaching had an important bearing on his own family, as three of his daughters were among the early teachers of this vicinity; his daughter Abigail having taught the first school here in an old dwelling near the year 1852, and a second term in Preston Zinn's new barn. She also taught a term in her father's hay-house, which was later enlarged and fitted up for a church and school-house. Few women were more beloved than Abigail Bee, who afterwards became the wife of Daniel Nay, of Pullman. Mr. and Mrs. Bee both remained here until they were laid in the Pine Grove cemetery. Their other children, besides Mrs. Nay, were Zebulon, Asa, Loami, Mrs. Priscilla, late wife of E. C. Goff, of Goff's; and Mrs. Rhoda (Lemuel) Davis, who have all passed on. Mrs. Ingaby Doak, wife of Robert Doak, of Tyler county; and Mrs. Almira (Wm.) Dougherty, of Mississippi. Mrs. Dougherty and Mrs. Goff were both teachers. Ezekiel Bee (another brother of Asa, junior) was born at Fetterman, in 1800, and came from Doddridge county to Berea, in 1857, and remained until he, too, was borne to the Fine Grove cemetery, in 1893. He was first married to Miss Elizabeth Rogers; and Benjamin Wilson Bee, of Salem; and Nelson, of Cowan, were the fruits of this union. His second wife was Miss Mariah Johnson, daughter of Michael Johnson, an early settler of the Ellenboro vicinity, and they were the parents of eight children; viz., Angelina, who is now the wife of the Rev. M. E. Martin, of Cincinnati, was an early pedagogue of this vicinity. Elizabeth, who died in 1910, was the late Mrs. J. M. Meredith, of Berea; Sedilla, Alzetta, and Emmaretta rest in the Pine Grove cemetery, Arthur is of Berea; Josiah, of Doddridge county; and Eudolphus, of Kanawha Station. The town stands on the land formerly owned by Ezekiel Bee. Josiah Bee, senior, brother of Asa and Ezekiel, was married to Priscilla, daughter of George Davis, and came to this county from Doddridge, in 1859, and remained here until he found a final resting-place in the Pine Grove cemetery. His family are as follows: Dr. Isaiah Bee, of Mercer county, who was an early teacher and physician of this county; the late Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Obadiah, Azariah, Cathrine, who died in youth; Mrs. Joanna (George) McMullen, of Lewis county; and Mrs. Mary Meredith Gardner, of Parkersburg. Ephraim Bee, senior, another brother, was married to Miss Kathrine Davis and lived and died in Doddridge county, and from him the Pennsboro, Cairo, and Elizabeth Bees are descended. John Bee, still another brother, with his wife, Mrs. Ingaby Davis Bee, came here from Doddridge county, near thirty- five years ago, and spent the remnant of his days where his widow and daughter, Lovera, still reside. His other children are: Dr. Estee Bee, Mrs. Cordelia (Henry) Goff, and Albert Bee, Berea; Ira and Mrs. Ruhama Davis Walker, Roane county; and Joel Bee, Walker Station. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ritchie County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ritchie/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------