CRAWFORD COUNTY OHIO - BIO: HON. THOMAS BEER (1881) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitter: Tina Hursh Email: ribbit@clubnet.isl.net Date: 25 May 2002 *********************************************************************** >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html Transcribed by Bonnie Walsh. --------------- CRAWFORD COUNTY HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY AND OHIO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Part III, p.710, 713 [B surnames] CHICAGO BASKIN & BATTEY, HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS 186 DEARBORN STREET 1881 BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP, CRAWFORD COUNTY, OHIO HON. THOMAS BEER, lawyer and Judge in Bucyrus was born in Wayne, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1832. The Rev. Thomas Beer, his father, now residing in Ashland. Ohio was born in Northampton Co.. Penn., and came to Ohio about the year 1828 where he soon entered the ministry, serving two churches for over thirty years on alternate Sabbaths, an earnest, devoted Pastor and beloved by his people. Margaret (Cameron) Lee his mother, hers was a lineal descendant of Clan Cameron famous in Scottish history. After he had received such an education as the School of his district afforded, our subject became a pupil of the Vermilion Institute at Haysville, Ashland Co. and in 1848 commenced teaching School. Having chosen law as a profession he commenced its study with Mr. John C. Tidball at Coshocton in 1851, teaching school in the meantime that he might earn enough to defray his necessary expenses--and remained with him as a pupil until 1853. During the ensuing five years from 1854 to 1858, he was telegraph operator and Postmaster at Alliance. Ohio but in the latter year he became editor of the Stark County Democrat at Canton. Ohio. In 1862, he removed to Bucyrus where he assumed the editorship of the County Forum. In 1862 he was admitted to the practice of law in Bucyrus. In the following year, he was elected to the House of Representatives by the Democracy of Crawford Co., and re-elected in 1865, holding a seat in the Legislature during sessions of 1864-65, and 1866-67. In 1873, he was chosen a member of the Constitutional Convention which met at Cincinnati, and was presided over by Chief Justice Waite and on the 15th of August, 1874, he was appointed. by Gov. Allen, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the fourth subdivision of the Third Judicial District, comprising Wood, Hancock, Seneca, Wyandot, Crawford and Marion counties. In October. 1874, he was elected to fill the unexpired term of Judge Jackson, who had resigned, and in 1876, he was re-elected for a full term, of five years. Judge Beer for many years held the position of County School Examiner and was also a member of the Board of Education. He has always acted with the Democratic party and taken an active interest in national and State affairs. His religious views are Presbyterian, in accord with the Scotch Church. In 1856, he was married to Miss T. M. Dinsmore, of Ashland Co.; of this marriage they have seven children living. Judge Beers, large acquaintance mid high standing in public life soon brought him a large practice after his admission to the bar as a practitioner he was fair, honorable and courteous. He carried with him to the bench the strong common sense that had characterized him at the bar and is always indefatigable in studying the law that should decide a case before he renders judgment He is not rapid in his decisions but takes time to fortify himself with principles and precedents which causes him to be regarded as a careful. impartial and just Judge.