Bio: John Wesley Beeson, Bienville Parish La Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Gaytha Thompson ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** PROF. JOHN WESLEY BEESON Prof. John Wesley Beeson is the successful and deservedly popular president of the Arcadia Female College. He was born March 31, 1866, in; De Kalb County (now Etowab), Ala., his father, William Baker Beeson, being also a native Alabamian. His father's parents were English. people of high standing, but they died when he was a small lad, and he was thrown entirely upon his own resources for a livelihood. Being of a studious disposition and possessing great determination and perseverance, be obtained a good English education and a fair competency, but not sufficient to educate his children as he wished. He held the rank of captain during the Secession War, and is now a planter of Big Wills Valley, Etowab County, Ala., where he has become distinguished for his uprightness and integrity. His wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, formerly Mary Sibert, is a member of an old and substantial family who came from the Palmetto State, her father being a wealthy planter, and an excellent citizen. Their son, John Wesley Beeson, was the fourth of their eleven children, and was brought up to a farm life, being taught to do all kinds of work. After attending school for one year he wold be compelled to work fully as long on the farm, and in this way his muscles were developing the same time as his brain. At the age of fourteen years his father told him he might work for himself, and with his earnings send himself to school; as he bad not the means to give all of his children a higher education, he wished to educate his daughters, and to encourage his boys to educate themselves, knowing that self-help was the best kind of help, thus creating at an early ago a spirit of independence. John Wesley immediately rented some land of his father, on the same terms as did his other renters, and by this means was enabled to enter the University of Alabama in 188l, when only fifteen years of age, having previously acquired a good common school education. During the summer vacations be devoted his time to teaching school, his first term being taught at the age of sixteen years, and if he lacked sufficient means to carry him through the next session, his father would supply the deficiency, which money would be refunded to him by John W., when he had sufficient means. In his junior year at the university he was compelled to remain out of college the whole year so as to make money to finish his course, as his father was unable to assist him, and secured a position as teacher in the town of Attalla, giving universal satisfaction to pupils and patrons. Although he was but seventeen years of age at this time, he appeared to be at least twenty- five, so settled and dignified were his ways, and even at this time he manifested a special talent for teaching, and was very fond of the work. He entered college at fifteen, unprepared and under the required age, but was admitted on trial and soon rose to distinction in his class, being often pointed out by Dr. Wyman, professor of Latin and acting president, as being an example of what hard study and close application could do. Even to this day his career is pointed to with affection and pride by the Doctor. He made the highest stand of any in his class in Latin and Greek, and tried with three others for honors in mathematics. He was a leader in the Young Men's Christian Association, and stood firm in his convictions amid all the temptations of a university career. He was graduated in 1886 with honors, and was recommended above any member in his class of fifty young men, to take charge of the Arcadia Male and Female College which was then in S incipiency. He assumed control of it under adverse circumstances, for he was then only twenty ears of age, and it had an opposition school, already in charge of an old, experienced teacher, and although the enrollment at first only amounted to thirty-eight he did not despair, but set energetically, and with the persistency which had ever characterized his efforts, to work, to improve matters. He was at first the only teacher, but now eight teachers are employed, and the enrollment of pupils amounts to 218, the buildings being now three times as large as at first. Prof. Beeson grew rapidly in favor with the people, and his methods, which were the latest and most improved, used by be normal schools and advocates of the new education, were admired by all until his institution was pronounced the foremost school in Northern Louisiana. In 1888 the University of Alabama, seeing his talent and progress, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts, which was an acknowledgment of his merits. In 1887 he was married to Miss Annie Foster, daughter of G. W. Foster, a banker and planter of West Point, Miss. Mrs. Beeson is from an excellent family of Alabama, being related to Chancellor Foster of the Fifth Alabama District, who is also a trustee of the University of Alabama; Rev. J. H. Foster, I). D., professor of astronomy in that institution; Dr. Foster, surgeon of the university, and many other noted personages. She was graduated from the Tuscaloosa Female College of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and was a teacher in the Mount Lebanon University of Louisiana at the time of her marriage. Prof. Beeson was president of the Arcadia Male and Female College for four years, and when the schools in Arcadia were united he was unanimously chosen president of the Female College. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, and is also Knight in the A. L. of H. At the age of twelve years he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South, being brought up under Christian influence and Christian parents, and is now superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal (South) Sunday-school at Arcadia. Prof. Beeson has a remarkable record for so young a man, and has already made a name for himself to be envied by all. As he is willing and ready to turn his hand to any work, not being above manual labor. a brilliant future is predicted for him. On starting from home to accept his present position in Arcadia College his father remarked to him: "Well, my son, there is one thing certain; if you fail at teaching school you know how to plow." This remark made a deep impression on his mind, and has often encouraged him in times of doubt. The college, of which he is president originated from the Arcadia Male and Female College in June 189O, by striking "male and" out of the charter. That institution was chartered in 1886, in which year the main building was erected and completed. The board of trustees wrote to the University of Alabama, for a young man suitable to take hold, organize, and build up a college, and J. W. Beeson was immediately and warmly recommended, he being a recent graduate of that institution and in every way fitted for the position. The school opened August 31, 1886, with thirty~eight pupils, Mr. Beeson being the only teacher. After the first week every one saw in him the making of a fine educator, and at the end of two weeks the school had grown so rapidly that another teacher was engaged. In June, 1887, the school numbered 100 with four teachers, which had far exceeded the expectations of the directors. Prof. Beeson was called the ''boy teacher," and was pointed at with ridicule by the enemies of the school, but this state of affairs did not last long for the school continued to grow, and his reputation as one of the ablest educators of the State (notwithstanding his youth) became widespread. He drew so many pupils from the E. A. Seminary, which at that time was an opposition school, and the institution became such a flourishing one under his management, that he was unanimously re-elected its president the following year, and was highly complimented by the board of trustees in a resolution presented to him. During this session the school increased 150 students and six teachers, and from necessity the buildings were doubled in capacity. Everybody was delighted with the management of the school, and new and improved methods of teaching were introduced, by which the cause of education was greatly advanced. At the end of this session the trustees and patrons were so well pleased, that Prof. Beeson was elected president for a term of three years. During the summer he, his wife and three of his assistants attended the National Normal School at Saratoga, N. Y., where they received instructions in methods and school polity, which very much increased their capacity for usefulness. The nest session saw the school increased to 200, it being then found necessary to further increase the building, and a large hall for music, art and recitation was added. An excellent German professor of music was employed, two new pianos were purchased, and a fine art teacher was engaged. The people of Northern Louisiana had begun to look upon this institution as being the foremost college of the State with the exception of the Tulane University at New Orleans, and State University, and the next session brought in 218 students and an excellent faculty. It was at this point that the two schools were united and divided upon the line of sexes and Prof. Beeson has been president of the female college, giving the highest satisfaction in that capacity to all concerned. He is pronounced by all as being peculiarly adapted to the government of a female college, being possessed of a suavity of manner and gift of winning the respect and admiration of all, which is so necessary to the management of the gentler sex. Prof. Beeson is a hard student laboring almost incessantly for his own development and a better preparation for his life's work, that of training others for time and for eternity. He is not satisfied with present accomplish: but is ever striving for improvement. For this purpose he has collected a nice library of well selected books, and is continually adding to it time to time. A considerable number of books are works pertaining to his profession, thud showing that he believes in a man being for his work. Prof. Beeson is peculiarly fitted for a teacher. It seems that nature laid him out for this purpose. He has a natural ability for organizing and governing, as if "born to rule;" kind and gentle, yet firm in his manners, he is beloved by all; having a high sense of honor and a conscientious spirit, he is respected and admired by the good; with an eye for the beautiful and a longing for system and order, his surroundings bear something of military precision, indicating the results of his four years' course in a military school. Possessing the many admirable traits of character he does, success in life for him is assured; yet it is remarkable that one so young should rise to such high distinction, and that so rapidly. At this point it would be well to give some of the recommendations and press notices, in regard to Prof. Beeson's ability as an educator: "University of Alabama, President's Office, June 29, 1886. ''It gives me great pleasure to testify to the scholarly ability and Christian character of Prof. J. W. Beeson, a graduate of this university. I have known him for several years. He is faithful, energetic, capable, and will be successful. I have perfect confidence in him, and hereby commend him unreservedly. W. S. WYMAN, President." "ARCADIA, LA., May 16, 1887. "We, the board of trustees, fully indorse the IMPROVED METHODS of instruction employed by Prof. J. W. Beeson in the conduct of the Arcadia Male and Female College, and express our appreciation and thanks for the faithful and efficient performance of the entire duties devolving upon him and his most worthy assistants." The following are some comments of the press: "Prof. J. W. Beeson has distinguished himself as an educator, and the trustees of the Arcadia Male and Female College have elected him president for the next three years. "La. Advance. "The Arcadia Male and Female College, under the presidency of J, W Beeson, is one of the most pronounced successes of any institution in Louisiana. The patronage is steadily increasing, and now taxes the utmost efforts of the teachers. Prof Beeson is an excellent scholar, and seems to be peculiarly fitted for the position he now holds. His assistants are thoroughly competent, and have shown themselves possessed of the teacher's art in eminent degree. We are glad to know that the directors will continue Prof. Beeson as president. He has shown himself to be not only a very fine teacher, but possessed of an executive ability of a high order. Under his management the college is an assured success."-- Arcadia Record. ''The Arcadians are justly proud of this institution of learning, which, though in its second year, has a matriculation of 150 pupils. They have in President J. W Beeson, a genial Christian gentleman and a fine educator. The wisdom and keen perception of the board of trustees, headed the Hon. A. L. Atkins, has been exhibited in a late action of engagement with Prof. Beeson for a term of three years." Shreveport~ Daily Democrat.