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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
CYRUS BEEDE, Secretary of the Iowa Life and Endowment Association, and residing at Oskaloosa, was born in Carroll County, N. H., Nov. 28,1828. He is the son of Stephen and Caroline (Dame) Beede, of the Society of Friends, his parents and grandparents on both sides having belonged to the same society. The Beede family were of English and Scotch descent, and residents of this country for several generations. Our subject was educated in a common school, which was supplemented by an academical course in what was called the Friends' Boarding School, of Providence, R. I. His early life was passed on the farm in his native State, and on arriving at the age of maturity, and having received a good education, he engaged in the duties of a pedagogue, which he followed in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Iowa. In 1852 he came to Iowa, and purchased a farm one mile north of Oskaloosa, which property he still owns. Returning to New England he engaged in the manufacture of oil carpet for a time, and then in 1856, went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he embarked in banking and real estate, and was thus occupied until 1860. In the spring of that year he came back to Oskaloosa, and has made this his home until the present time. Mr. Beede was the first Cashier of the First National Bank of Oskaloosa, and was one of the incorporators of the same. In 1870 he engaged in the service of the Government as Chief Clerk of the Central Indian Superintendency, with headquarters at Lawrence, Kansas being in the Indian Department and the jurisdiction of the Superintendent for whom he was working embracing the Indians of Kansas and In- dian Territory. He acted in the capacity of clerk until 1876, when he became agent of the Govern- ment, having jurisdiction over the Osage Indians, and held that position until July, 1878. In 1883 Mr. Beede was appointed Special Indian Agent, and visited all the agencies in Washington Terri- tory, and many in Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Idaho and Dakota Territories, and also in Florida. He ter- minated his service with the Government July 20, 1886, receiving a statement of full and final settle- ment. Mr. Beede was one of the very few Indian agents whose accounts at the time of final settle- ment were in such a condition as to warrant the Government in settling according to their figures. They were absolutely correct. He was regarded by those high in authority as one of the most efficient Indian agents in the service. His superior knowl- edge and skill in Indian affairs and accounts have been frequently called in requisition by Indian agents in making settlements with the Government. Jan. 1, 1886, Mr. Beede accepted his appoint- ment as Secretary of the Iowa Life Endowment As- sociation, and has continued to hold that position until the present time. He was married near Os- kaloosa, in Quaker style, July 8, 1858, to Miss Martha Pickrell, daughter of William F. and Mary Pickrell, of the Society of Friends. One child, Mary C., has been born of their union. She is the wife of R. W. Clayton, and they reside in Omaha, Neb.; they have one daughter, Mattie H. Mr. Beede was President of the City Council of Minne- apolis in 1860, and has also been a member of the City Council of Oskaloosa. He is one of the lead- ing members of the Friends' Church, in Iowa, is a man of large experience, a close observer, and pos- sessed of very much more than ordinary ability.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy