- LEWIS B. BEEBE, a resident of Evansville, Wis., is one of
the leading dental surgeons of Rock
- County. He was born in the village of Union, on the 20th
day of April, 1845, and is a son of Bela and Sarah A. (CHAPELL)
BEEBE, both of whom were natives of New York. His parents were
married in Madison County of the Empire State, May 4, 1841, and
immediately afterwards started for the Territory of Wisconsin,
in company with Samuel LEWIS, who was one of the prominent pioneer
settlers, and Daniel O. CHAPELL, who for many years was the village
blacksmith of Union. He erected the second frame house in that
town, and at his home the Masonic Lodge convened for many years.
Union was then a thriving little place, full of life and energy,
and was the half-way station between Madison and Janesville on
the old stage road.
- Bela BEEBE made his first settlement near Racine, residing
there till the spring of 1845, when he
- removed to the village of Union. Soon after he entered a
farm in Rutland, Dane Co., Wis., removing his family to that
claim. Purchasing the land from the Government, it was consequently
in an unimproved condition. Not a furrow had been turned, a
building erected or a fence made, but he at once began the work
of development, and in the course of time had a fine farm of
120 acres, on which he made his home until 1864, when he removed
to Evansville, where he resided until after the death of his
wife, which occurred on the 25th day of March, 1870. She was
laid to rest in the village cemetery of Evansville, and Mr. BEEBE
then went to Kansas, where he remained until October, 1871.
At that time he returned to Evansville, but after a short time
removed to his present farm in Magnolia Township. He is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belonged,
and is a highly respected citizen.
- Mr. and Mrs. BEEBE had a family of eight children, as follows:
Bela W., who was born May
- 25, 1843, in Racine County, Wis., and is now a prominent
citizen of Brodhead, enlisted in the ranks of the 2d Regiment,
Wisconsin Infantry, in 1861, participated in both battles of
Bull Run and in all other engagements of his regiment until the
battle of South Mountain, where he was wounded, receiving his
discharge in 1863, after two years service, on account of disability
attendant on his injuries. Lewis B., the subject of this sketch,
is the second in order of birth. Hobert D. is now in the employ
of a railroad, and resides in Kansas City, Mo. Sarah A. became
the wife of Edwin DELONG, a veteran of the late war, and three
children survive them, both being now deceased. Melvin D. is
engaged in farming in Plymouth Township. Rhoda C. is the wife
of Charles E. CARVER, a resident farmer of Harding County, Iowa.
Myra J. wedded Charles PATCHIN, is connected with his father
in the management of the home farm.
- The subject of this sketch received his education in the
common schools of Union Township and
- in the Evansville Seminary. His early life was spent upon
his father's farm until the age of nineteen years, when, in 1864,
he left the parental roof and enlisted in the service of this
country as a member of Battery G, 2d Illinois Light Artillery.
He joined the command at Nashville, Tenn., reaching the regiment
just in time to take part in the battle at that place. Battery
G was then sent to Eastport, Miss., where it remained in camp
until February, 1865, whence it was ordered to Cairo, Ill., and
on to New Orleans, La. It then proceeded by water to Mobile,
Ala., participating in the siege against that city in April,
1865. Continuing on to Montgomery, Ala., it was there encamped
until August, when it was ordered to Springfield, Ill., and discharged
from the service.
- The winter after his return, 1865-6, Dr. BEEBE attended school
at the seminary at Evansville,
- and the following spring went to Beloit, where he worked
at the painter's trade until autumn. He then again entered the
seminary, continuing his studies until the winter of 1869-70,
when he engaged in teaching school in Spring Valley. While following
that profession, he made the acquaintance of Mrs. Sylvia M. (SPRAGUE)
PALMER, and on the 15th of September, 1870, they were united
in marriage. Mrs. BEEBE is the daughter of Almerin and Asenath
(NOYCE) SPRAGUE ( who were early settlers of Spring Valley, formerly
from New York State), sister of Hon. Burr SPRAGUE, of Green County,
and Mrs. Nellie A. PALMER, wife of N. N. PALMER, of Spring Valley,
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. The young couple
began their domestic life upon a farm on section 33, Magnolia
Township, Mr. BEEBE teaching school for several successive winters.
In the spring of 1879, Mr. BEEBE, desiring to follow a professional
career, then abandoned agricultural pursuits, and accepted the
position of student in the dental office of Drs. A. H. ROBINSON
and Geo. ROLLOCK, under whom he pursued his studies for two and
a half years. In the fall of 1882 he purchased his present office
and established business for himself. He is a close student,
well posted on everything pertaining to his profession, has all
the latest improved appliances, and is conversant with the newest
methods. For the past ten years he has been actively engaged
in the practice of his profession, and has won for himself a
liberal share of the public patronage.
- Two children grace the union of Dr. and Mrs. BEEBE---Helen
June, who was born June 15,
- 1882; and Gordon A., born Aug. 27, 1886. He also supplies
a father's place to the three orphan children of his sister,
Mrs. DELONG, who died in one of the southwestern counties of
Missouri. At her death he went to the bereaved home, bringing
back the remains of the loved sister, whom he laid to rest by
the side of their mother in the Evansville cemetery. Socially,
Dr. BEEBE is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, the I.O.O.F.,
the Modern Woodmen of America, and T. L. Sutphen Post, No. 41,
G.A.R., all of Evansville, and his wife is a member of the W.R.C.,
No. 28, Auxiliary to Post No. 41. The Doctor has not only been
an eye-witness of the many changes that have taken place since
his birth in the little village of Union, but has been an active
participant in the great work of transformation. Where once
the wild and undeveloped prairie stretched away to the horizon
are now rich and fertile farms; school houses, churches and business
institutions have been erected, and the county is populated with
an intelligent and contented people. To the pioneers this change
is largely due, and to Dr. BEEBE belongs a large share of the
public gratitude. Politically he is, and ever has been, an ardent
supporter of the Republican party, and has filled various township
offices of trust, serving now as Notary Public, Village Trustee
and Pension Agent. He is one of the leading and enterprising
business men of Evansville, and is a member of the Business Men's
Association, and a respected citizen, and while he is yet young
in years, he is really one of the oldest settlers of Rock County,
and is now living within three miles of his birthplace.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 384-385.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
- Transcribed by Bill
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