Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Beamer, Richard Henderson 1849 - 
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Author: Tom Gregory

RICHARD HENDERSON BEAMER

    The development of the Sacramento valley, not only from the standpoint of
financial stability, but also from the side of commercial growth, has been
fostered through the sagacious leadership of the First National Bank, formerly
the Farmers and Merchants Bank, an institution well known in Woodland and in all
of the surrounding country. As a financial concern it has achieved a wide
reputation for conservative spirit, local pride, keen supervision and an
important list of depositors. Its officers are without exception men of fine
mental attributes and ability as financiers. Guarding the investments of their
stockholders with wise caution, they yet have proved of the utmost importance to
the permanent advancement of their home city through their judicious extension
of credit to men hampered by want of capital, and in every instance the wisdom
of their confidence has been proved by actual results.

    Coming into the office of president, some seven or more years after the
organization of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, Mr. Beamer soon impressed upon
the institution the influence of his strong, virile personality. The results of
his executive management permeated the community with a distinct effect upon its
permanent upbuilding. The valley has achieved a prosperity more vital and
lasting than would have been possible without the presence of the bank, working
through its officers for the benefit of the entire region, and its president has
been particularly helpful in establishing for the concern a position as sound,
reliable and conservative. At the time that he was chosen president, November 9,
1901, F. Miller was selected for the office of vice-president, M. O. Harling was
re-elected cashier, and J. M. Day was made the accountant. At the report of
September, 1903, the capital stock was shown to be $200,000, the assets were
large and the surplus increasing. Since then the capital has been equally
divided, and it is now the First National Bank and Home Savings Bank of
Woodland, with equal proportions of the capital stock and surplus. On January
20, 1910, Mr. Beamer resigned as president of the bank to take the position of
state bank examiner, which he filled during the administration of Superintendent
of Banks Alden Anderson.

    The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Woodland was established September 26,
1892, with the following directorate: David N. Hershey, C. G. Day, Col. D. M.
Burns, W. G. Hunt, M. Diggs, Thomas Boss, Richard H. Beamer, L. B. Adams, George
H. Jackson and D. E. Clanton. The concern was incorporated through the work of a
special committee comprising Messrs. Adams, Day, Diggs, Boss, Beamer and Burns.
Vacant property was bought at the northwest corner of Main and First streets in
1893. September 26 of that year the work of building was begun with J. J. Hall
as architect and D. McPhee as contractor. The building, which is three stories
in height and built of Arizona red sandstone, cost $31,205, exclusive of
interior fittings and furnishings. The" first floor is occupied by the bank and
the other suites are utilized for office purposes. The building is heated by
steam and lighted by gas and electricity, while a fireproof room enables
customers to deposit valuable papers in a vault constructed by the Diebold Safe
and Lock Company. Modern conveniences enable the occupants of the building to
transact business with dispatch in the midst of comfortable surroundings.

    Born in Missouri, July 29, 1849, Richard Henderson Beamer is a son of
Richard L. Beamer, a native of Virginia. Primarily educated in local schools, he
later was sent to the Hesperian College and then attended the University of
Kentucky at Lexington. December 20, 1870, he married Miss Mary E. Hodgen, a
native of Kentucky. The young couple enjoyed a wedding tour that brought them to
the west and they settled in Yolo county, where for years Mr. Beamer engaged in
ranching. He platted Beamer's addition to Woodland, comprising eighty acres. He
built his comfortable home on North Third street, where he resided with his
family. His wife died at the age of forty-nine years, and two of their children
died when young. The other members of the family are Dr. Richard F. Beamer, a
dentist in San Francisco; Daisy Irene, wife of C. B. Hobson of Berkeley; Blanche
H. of Woodland, and Joseph, assistant collection teller of the First National
Bank of San Francisco.

    Stanchly devoted to the Democratic party, Mr. Beamer has been prominent in
the local councils of the party. From 1872 to 1874 he served as county auditor,
after which he held office as assessor four years. During 1885 he was chosen
sheriff, and that office he filled with courage and energy. His party nominated
him to represent Yolo and Napa counties in the state senate, but he declined the
honor, although the nomination was equivalent to an election. For a long period
he rendered efficient service as a member of the state board of equalization and
for one term he held office as mayor of Woodland, in which position he promoted
the progress of the city by his intelligent sympathy with all movements for the
general welfare. Since he retired from the state bank examiner's office he has
devoted his attention to his varied interests and is serving as the
representative appointed by the supervisors of Yolo county to secure the state
highway for the west side of the Sacramento river. Fraternally Mr. Beamer is a
Mason and an Odd Fellow, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He is one
of Woodland's most dependable citizens and is always giving of his time and
means to promote the commercial importance of his community and county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]

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