OBITUARY: James P. Beebe, 1846-1911, Mitchell Co., Iowa

[Osage News]




James P. Beebe 
Born July 28, 1846 
Died August 22, 1911 

(The following obituary appeared in his home paper) 

The funeral services of the late Jas. P. Beebe were held at the farm home six 
miles north of Kimball, Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. 

Unfortunately for many who would have attended otherwise, a steady rain
prevented the last testimonial they could give to the man they had known and 
esteemed so many years. 

The attendance was large in spite of the weather; and in this connection the
children of the departed father wish to express their sincere thanks and 
appreciation for the many acts of kindness shown them; for the efforts of 
those who attended the last sad rites in spite of distance and weather and to 
those who felt for them but could not be present. 

Rev. David R. Burr conducted the services, speaking feeling from the text:
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is 
peace." The remains were brought to Kimball and interment made at the noon 
hour. 

It was but recently that Mr. Beebe even suspected that all was not right with 
him physically-only last month. A consulation with physicians here and 
Chamberlain induced him to go to Rochester, Minn., and he left for that 
hospital on the 10th inst.,accompanied by his daughter, Jessie. For five days 
examinations were made and then it was found necessary to operate for cancer. 
The operation was made on the 17th, trans-peritoneal removal of one-fourth of 
the bladder being performed. The next two days he was considered as doing 
well. The fourth day the pain became intense and before night his condition 
was pronounced serious. On Monday he looked calmly on approaching death and 
spoke in his great suffering of his belief in the hereafter. 

Later in the day delirum came on and a consultation of physicians was called, 
but no hope was given. All those about him did what they could to ease his 
pain, and at 7 o'clock Tuesday morning he passed away. 

James Phelps Beebe was born in Sabula county, Iowa, June 23, 1846, and was 
therefore a little over 65 years of age. During his boyhood his fathers family 
moved to Weathersfield, Ill., and later to Stacyville, Iowa, where he grew to 
manhood. October 17, 1870, he was married to Sarah Delia Guernsey of that 
town. In November 1883, be came to Kimball with his wife and three children. 
The next spring he built the house south of the Presbyterian church parsonage, 
which was his home for twenty years. Here the fourth child was born and died 
September 10, 1884, and here the wife and mother passed away September 22, 
1886. 

Mr. Beebe was a member of the Order of United Workmen, and members of the 
fraternity met the remains upon their arrival here Wednesday night and 
conveyed them to the Beebe home, leaving an anchor of beautiful flowers and 
returning the next day to act as pall bearers. 

Mr. Beebe owned the Kimball dray line for many years and when the Standard Oil 
company established a distributing station at this place he had charge of that 
for several years. Too much hard work for both himself and son, Ray, induced 
him to give up his Kimball business and seek the large ranch that he gradually 
improved north of Kimball, and where the family have lived the past seven 
years. It is one of the finest farms in the county in which he took great 
pride, naming it the BB Ranch. He left the ranch mostly to the management of 
his son and partner, Ray and devoted the farm sale months to conducting such 
sales in which his services were sought far and wide. As one of the best known 
men in the county, and popular everywhere, his nominations on the Republican 
ticket last fall strengthened it and landed him in the legislature an easy 
winner. He was president of the Brule County Fair Association - 
re-elected to that position this summer,and was also president of the Brule 
County Farmers' Cooperative company. 

Mr. Beebe was always ready to give of his time and means in any public 
enterprise or to help the needy. He took a deep interest in the fair every 
year and was its most active and presistent worker. He made friends in every 
relation of life and the stamp of his character is well marked on the three 
children who survive him, Miss Amy Beebe, Miss Jessie Beebe and Ray Beebe. 





           Submitted by: Marilyn O'Connor  1/13/2006