William Beebee's biography, Greenbush Township, Clinton County, Michigan Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY Page 434-435 WILLIAM F. BEEBEE William F. Beebee, justice of the peace in Greenbush township, and a representative farmer there, living on section 23, has made his home in Clinton county since 1865 and his life of industry and enterprise is indicated by the fact that although he started out for himself empty-handed he is now the owner of one hundred acres of rich and productive land. He was born in Madison County, New York, July 3, 1852, and is a son of Sylvester Beebee, whose birth occurred in Herkimer County, in 1830. The paternal grandfather, Cyrus Beebee, was a native of the Empire state, born on Long Island but removed to Herkimer County, where Sylvester Beebee was reared and educated. There the latter was married to Miss Abbie Ann Vincent, likewise a native of the Empire state. She died in 1859, leaving two children, who had been born, upon the home farm in New York. Mr. Beebee continued his residence in the east until 1865, when he came to Michigan and bought a tract of land in Essex Township, Clinton County, whereon he resided for four years. He then sold that property and purchased the farm upon which his son William now resides. He at once began its further cultivation and improvement, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits until after he lost his second wife, when he removed to St. Johns, making his home there up to the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1900. He was a prominent and influential resident of the township, wielding a wide influence in public affairs and for twenty-four consecutive years he capably served as justice of the peace, winning high encomiums by his just and fair decisions and his unfaltering fidelity to duty. He likewise filled other public positions of honor and trust and he gained the unqualified regard and confidence of his fellowmen so that his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret when he was called to his final rest. William F. Beebee is one of the two children born of the first marriage, his sister being Emma L., the wife of William Bird, of St. Johns. Mr. Beebee was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his father on his removal to Michigan, and upon the home farm he was reared, while in the district schools he pursued his education. When not engaged with his textbooks he assisted in the work of the fields and gained practical experience in the best methods of raising grain and stock. After his marriage he located on a farm on section 23, Ovid township, where he had a small tract of land which he cultivated and improved for four or five years. He then sold out and bought sixty acres, where he now resides. This he began to improve and has transformed his farm into a valuable property and has extended its boundaries by additional purchase until he now has one hundred acres of valuable land on section 23, Greenbush township. Much arduous labor was required to make his farm cultivable and bring it to its present high state of cultivation but he has worked on persistently and energetically year after year and is regarded as one of the representative agriculturists of the community. The waving fields of grain promise rich harvests, an orchard yields its fruits in season and everything about the farm is attractive in appearance, giving proof of the care and labor of the owner. On the 1st of January 1871, in Greenbush Township, Mr. Beebee was married to Miss Dessie A. Green, a daughter of William Green, and a native of England, who on coming to Clinton County settled in Greenbush Township. He had previously lived in Ohio, where Mrs Beebee was born, her girlhood days, however, being largely passed in Clinton County. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs Beebee located in Ovid Township and then removed to their present farm. They become the parents of four children: Nora L., who was educated in the schools of St. Johns and Big Rapids and is now a teacher of this county; Bertha M., also a teacher, who was educated in the common schools and in St. Johns; and Stella M. and Lawrence S., both at home. Mr. Beebee votes with the Republican Party and has been one of its staunch and unfaltering advocates since casting his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. He is an active worker in local political circles and in 1901 was elected justice of the peace, to which position he was re-elected in 1905 for a second term of four years. Like his father he has made a most creditable record in this office, his decisions being based upon the law and the equity of the case. He is a public-spirited man, whose efforts have been of benefit to the locality. A believer in good schools, he has advocated the employment of good teachers and has done effective service for the cause of education during seventeen years' connection with the school board. He has also been school moderator and director and he has frequently been chosen as a delegate to the county conventions of the Republican Party. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church of Eureka, and are people of genuine worth to whom the hospitality of the best homes of the locality is cordially extended.