Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Beggs, Rev Stephen R 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 1:32 am

Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co

REV. STEPHEN R. BEGGS was born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1801. His father 
removed to Kentucky when the son was only four years of age, and two years 
later settled on the Ohio River in Clark County, Ind. His earliest 
recollections were therefore of frontier scenes. He was seven years old before 
he had a pair of shoes, and in after years he was wont to recall the delight 
experienced in the possession of his first shoes. In early manhood he entered 
the ministry of the Methodist Church, and afterward preached as an itinerant 
in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. No salary was attached to his work. He was 
supported by the gratuitous contributions of his hearers, who, being poor in 
purse, could make but small contributions to his support. His entire receipts 
in cash one year amounted to only $23.

In the summer of 1831 Mr. Beggs came to Plainfield, and was afterward 
connected with the history of Will County. In 1836 he was appointed to the 
Joliet circuit, and commenced the work of building the first Methodist church 
in Joliet, which was, in fact, the first edifice built by any denomination in 
the city. Upon the breaking out of the Sac war his house was considered the 
best adapted for a fort. It was accordingly fortified and all the settlers 
gathered there. However, they finally left for Chicago, which was deemed a 
safer refuge, and their effects were mostly taken or destroyed before they 
could with safety return to Will County.

In September, 1831, Mr. Beggs married Elizabeth L. Heath, who was born in 
Muskingum County, Ohio, and died in Will County, April 7, 1866. His second 
marriage, December 30, 1868, united him with Mrs. Sarah R. (Dibble) Frost, a 
native of New York state. He had four children by his first marriage: Mary E., 
James W., George W. and Charles W. 

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present

Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/beggs1619nbs.txt

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