Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Beach, Henry M. November 26 1833 - living in 1893
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 26, 2004, 8:57 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   HENRY M. BEACH, general merchant of Columbia, is one of the energetic and
practical business men of Henry county. He was born in New Jersey, November 26,
1833, and was one of four children born to Amzi and Martha W. (Potts) Beach. The
former was a native of New Jersey, was educated in the common schools of that
state, and also at Princeton college, one of the foremost colleges in the union.
While yet a young man, he moved to Florida, and there took charge of a school.
After a time, his health failed, and he returned to New Jersey, remaining there
three years, when he returned to Florida with health much improved, and settled
at St. Joseph, a small town situated some twenty-five miles north of
Appalachicola, but of which town there remains not now a single vestige to
indicate its past existence. Then it contained about 2,500 people, and he became
a member of its town council, and city clerk and treasurer. After some years
spent here, he removed to Albany, Ga., and from there to Marianna, Fla. He then
removed to Columbia, Ala., remaining there five years. He then removed to
Abbeville, and died there in 1841. His profession was that of a school teacher,
and he followed that profession all his life. The mother of Henry M. Beach was a
native of North Carolina, and was married first to a Mr. Fowler, who soon
afterward died. She was married then to the father of Henry M. Beach, in New
Jersey, in her twenty-fifth year, by whom she had four children, two of whom
survive, Henry M., and a brother, C. L., who now resides in Bainbridge, Ga. She
died in 1873, at the age of sixty-three. Both she and her husband were members
of the old school Presbyterian church. Henry M. Beach began life as a armer boy,
and attended the country schools until he was sixteen years old. He then taught
a country school one winter. He was then educated for the ministry. Afterward,
he went to Quincy, Fla., and in 1855, to Bainbridge, Ga., where he was elected
bookkeeper for a mercantile company, for which he worked until 1860. He was then
elected probate judge, and held that office until the reconstruction days of
1868. He then became a cotton buyer and moved to Columbia in 1880, where he
continued buying cotton and engaged in general merchandising as well, in which
lines of business he is still engaged, having built up a very large and
flourishing business. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Clara Maxwell, daughter
of Benjamin C. Maxwell, a relative of the Maxwells of Liberty County, Ga., in
which county she was born. She was raised, however, at Decatur county, Ga.,
enjoying the advantages of the schools of that county. She was married at
eighteen years of age, and became the mother of seven children, five of whom are
living. These five are as follows: Benjamin A., married to Miss Stowe, of
Eufaula, and is now a merchant of Columbia; Charles H., married to Miss
Jennings, and now engaged in. the drug business at Eufaula; Eva, Tamy and Ninia.
Henry M. Beach has been identified with every enterprise designed to advance the
interests of the town and county. He was a member of the city council of
Bainbridge for a number of years, and has also been a member of the city council
of Columbia. He is also a member of the K. of H., and of Mystic lodge, No. 23,
A. O. U. W. He was one of the first to extend aid to the cotton mill, and is a
member of the board of directors. He also holds the office of secretary and
treasurer of the board. He has always aided every enterprise calculated to build
up the material and moral interests of the community, including churches and
schools. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is one
of the principal members of the commercial exchange, owns a large store, and a
beautiful home, and is one of the most highly respected citizens of the place.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1075-1076
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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