Norman A. Beecher Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 979-980


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************A portrait of Norman A Beecher is on p. 978 and reproduced at

http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/pics/beecher.jpg


HON. NORMAN A. BEECHER, whose portrait is presented on the opposite 
page, was born in Albany County, N. Y., at Rensselaerville, April 22, 
1830. His parents, Calvin and Emeline (Stebbins)Beecher,were natives of 
New York, the former born in Albany County and the latter in 
Westchester, Dutchess County. They were married in Albany County, 
December 16, 1824, and in 1834 moved to their beautiful farm in Owego, 
Tioga County, where they spent the latter part of their lives.

   The early history shows that all the Beechers came from Isaac, the 
son of Hannah, who carne over to New Haven, Conn., in 1638. The great-
grandfather of our subject on the paternal side was Capt. Amos Beecher, 
who was born in Walcott, Conn., June 10, 1743, and served as a Captain 
in the Revolutionary War. In 1795 he removed to Rensselaerville, N. Y., 
where lie died September 6, 1818. He was an own cousin of Dr. Lyman 
Beecher, the father of Henry Ward Beecher. By his first wife his 
chileren were-Samuel, Lucy, Amos, Rebecca and Salmon I. He was a second 
time married and by that union became the father of one son-Joseph 
Abbott.

   The paternal grandparents of our subject were Salmon I. and Lovisa 
(Sheldon) Beecher, who were natives of Connecticut and were there 
married September 26, 1799. Their four children bore the names of 
Calvin, Huldah, Polly and Amanda, and the last named is now living at 
Flemingsville, Tioga County, N. Y. The children comprising the family 
to which our subject belongs were Julia (Mrs. James A. Dean), Isaac S., 
Norman A., Salmon I., Warren, Sarah J. (Mrs. William Burgett), Rollin 
L., Lyman, and a half sister, Emily Beecher, by second marriage. Calvin 
Beecher was a prominent farmer of Tioga County and in his religious 
views was connected with the Methodist Episeopal Church. The maternal 
grandfather of our subject, Isaac Stebbins, was born in Connecticut in 
1776 and was a carpenter and millwright by trade. Religiously he was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married to Sallie Sutherland, 
and they became the parents of six children, viz: Emeline, Eton, 
William, Betsey, Jane and Lewis. Grandfather Stebbins died at the age 
of forty-nine years.

   The education of our subject was obtained in the common schools and 
in the Academy at Owego, N. Y. At the age of seventeen he began 
teaching and spent fourteen terms at the profession in New York and 
Michigan. When he attained to his majority he went to Orleans County, 
N. Y., whence in 1857 he came to Michigan and settled on section 10, 
Clayton Township, Genesee County, where he now resides. To his original 
purchase of eighty acres he added until he now has a fine farm of two 
hundred and twenty acres, conceded to be one of the finest estates in 
the county. As a fruit grower and nurseryman, Mr. Beecher is well 
known, being a thorough horticulturist and having written many articles 
on that subject. For more than twenty years he has raised and sold 
fruit trees and to-day has twelve hundred trees in bearing condition.

   With the public life of the township and county Mr. Beecher has been 
closely identified, and for several years served as Township 
Superintendent of Schools. In 1885 he was elected by the Republican 
Party as the Representative of the First District of Genesee County in 
the State Legislature, and served so acceptably that he was re-elected 
for a second term. He served as Chairman of the Committee on the 
Agricultural College and in 1887 was made Chairman of the Committee on 
Normal School. He was the father of the "Forestery" bill for the 
protection of timber throughout Michigan and in that work received the 
support of the best men in the State, His first ballot was cast for 
President Buchanan but since then he has voted the Republican ticket.

   September 19, 1855, Mr. Beecher was married to Miss Loverna D. 
Billings, of Albion, N. Y, This lady was the daughter of Col. Lauren 
and Roxana (Rexford) Billings, and became the mother of two children: 
Elbert L., and Calvin D. The first named married Ada Penoyer. Mrs. 
Loverna Beecher died September 21, 1874. The second marriage of our 
subject took place December 1, 1875, his bride being Miss Celia A. 
Wood, daughter of Julius and Amanda (Billings) Wood, of Smyrna, N. Y. 
Of this union two children were born-Nellie A. and Fannie A. Mrs. 
Beecher's father was the son of Noah Wood, whose father, Noah, Sr., was 
a resident of Connecticut and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Noah 
Wood, Jr., married Asenath Calkins, at Somers, Conn., and thence they 
removed to Smyrna, N. Y., on a farm previously purchased, December 17, 
1798. In that place they passed their remaining years, he dying at the 
age of forty-six, July 4, 1812, and she when eighty-four years old. His 
occupation was that of a tanner.

   Julius Wood, the father of Mrs. Beecher, was born on the old 
homestead, August 8, 1799, and there spent his entire life until he 
passed away at the age of seventy-three, November 7, 1873. He was an 
earnest Christian, a liberal giver, a member of the Congregational 
Church of Smyrna, N. Y., and a Deacon up to the day of his death. He 
early adopted anti-slavery views and assisted in organizing an 
Abolition party in his native town, William Lloyd Garrison and Gerritt 
Smith being his admirers. He married Amanda Billings, May 15, 1831, 
whose father, Joseph, was a son of John Billings, of Connecticut. Ten 
children were born seven of whom survive.

   Prof. DeValson Wood, the eldest son, occupies the Chair of 
Engineering at Stevens' Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N. J., and is 
honored with being among the first mathematicians of this country; also 
as author of several text books on higher mathematics. H. A. is 
connected with the same institution as an honored Professor. Two sons 
are farmers. Three daughters are married, Mrs. Beecher being one of 
them. The maternal grandmother of both Mrs. Beechers, Abi (Pomeroy) 
Billings, of Somers, Conn., was born March 17, 1767. The family name 
(formerly spelled Billing) is derived from a village in 
Northamptonshire, England, located about four miles from 
Nottinghamshire. The word is Saxon and means "a dwelling by the meadow" 
and was originally spelled "de Billing." The first mention of the 
family was in 1221 in the reign of Henry III, and for about two hundred 
years no trace can be found of them until mention is made of the death 
of John Billings in 1526.

   Both Mr. and Mrs. Beecher belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and are among the most highly respected and popular members of the 
social circles of Genesee County. He has proved him-self a good 
financier, and is a stanch upholder of any measure tending to promote 
the interests of the community.



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