Thomas C. BEACH, b. 1832, d. 1906

THOMAS C. BEACH. Thomas C. Beach, a retired farmer living in Oskaloosa, is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Jacksonville, January 11, 1832. His parents were Caleb and Mary Ann (Hewett) Beach, the former born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1803, and the latter in New York city, in 1807. Mrs. Beach was the daughter of English parents, who first located in New York city and finally removed to Lexington, Kentucky. Her father was the Rev. John M. Hewett, a Baptist minister. Her mother was a member of the Christian church and became one of the first representatives of that denomination, having had the distinction of being baptized by Alexander Campbell, the founder of the church. Caleb Beach removed from New Jersey to Lexington, Kentucky, where he resided for five years, during which time he was married. He afterward came to Illinois, settling in Jacksonville, where his remaining days were passed. He was a carriage-maker by trade and always followed that pursuit in order to provide for his family. His death occurred in 1838, when he was only thirty-three years of age. His wife long survived him and died about 1890. In their family were five children: Eliza G., Augustus H. and Middleton H., all deceased; Thomas C., of this review, and Robert C., who is an attorney at law, practicing in Oakland, California. After losing her first husband, Mrs. Beach became the wife of Joseph Campbell and they had six children, namely Susan M., who has passed away; Sally F., the wife of of John Allen, a minister of the Christian church at Spokane, Washington; Emma C., the widow of John M. Ewing and a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois; Ella, Johanna and Mary Bell, all deceased. Thomas C. Beach attended the district schools of Illinois and was reared on a farm after reaching the age of ten years. He came to Iowa in 1853, settling in Richland township, Mahaska county. He was then twenty-one years of age. The occupation to which be had been reared he determined to make his life work and he here purchased and entered land, upon which he remained for thirteen years, transforming it into a good farm. He next bought a farm four and a half miles northwest of Oskaloosa in what is now Garfield township, residing thereon until 1902 when he retired to the county seat, where he now resides in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. In his farm work he was always practical and his labors brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and enabled him to gather therefrom rich harvests. On April 17, 1853, Mr. Beach was married to Miss Martha Campbell, who was born in Scott county, Illinois, June 3, 1833, and died February 3, 1904. She was a daughter of Joseph and Sophia (Kennedy) Campbell. Her father was a cabinet-maker and later a farmer. Mrs. Beach belonged to the Christian church and was a most estimable lady, having the warm regard of many friends. By her marriage she had become the mother of five children: Mark W, a farmer living in Spring Creek township, this county; Luke L., deceased; Thomas C., living on the old homestead farm; Joseph C., who resides in Spring Creek township; and Mary E., at home. Mr. Beach, who was made a Mason about 1860, has attained high rank in the order and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He has long been recognized as an active member of the republican party, whose opinions carry weight in its local councils, while his labors in its behalf have been effective and far reaching. He was justice of the peace for six years and was a member of the fifteenth general assembly. After an interval of a number of years he was again called to that office, representing Mahaska county in the twenty-fourth general assembly. He was interested in much constructive legislation and each question which came up for settlement received his earnest consideration, while his support of every measure for which he voted was that of a public-spirited citizen who places the welfare of the commonwealth before partisan measures and the general good before self-advancement.

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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906

Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa

Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy

Iowa Genealogy

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