Joseph Beem Biography


	This biography appears on page 1634 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOSEPH BEEM was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on September 27, 
1847, and was educated there, remaining until the spring of 1865. He 
then, in company with his brother Isaac, moved to Jefferson county, 
Iowa, and for a few years was engaged in farming there. From that 
locality he came over the Union Pacific to Fort Steele, Wyoming, and 
remained there a year in the employ of the government as officers' cook. 
The story of his wanderings from that time until 1884 is told in the 
sketch of his brother Isaac, elsewhere in this volume, for they were 
together during almost the whole of the time. In the fall of 1884 they 
brought cattle to the Box Elder and settled on land on that serviceable 
and fructifying stream. He looked after the land and stock interests and 
his brother engaged in freighting for a number of years. They were the 
first settlers on this creek, and during the first years of his 
residence here Mr. Beem's nearest neighbor was eight miles distant. He 
began improving his land, devoting all his time and energy to this and 
his stock industry, and as the reward of his labors he now has the 
finest cattle ranch on the creek, with natural protection against severe 
weather for his cattle, and prolific yields of both the wild and the 
cultivated products of the soil. He and his brother were in partnership 
until 1891. They then dissolved and since that time have conducted their 
business separately. Mr. Beem is one of the unyielding Democrats of this 
portion of the state, and has always been forceful and potent in behalf 
of every interest of his party. 

	At Bismarck, on December 8, 1880, Mr. Beem was married to Miss 
Sarah A. Davis, a native of Minnesota. They have four children, Mattie 
E., Edwin A., Angie and Grover C.