Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Bela BEEBE ************************************************************************ Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, February 2007 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Obituary Bela Winchell Beebe died in Washington D. C., July 26, 1906. Deceased was the son of Bela and Sarah A. Beebe, formerly residents of this city. B. W. Beebe was born in Racine Co., Wis., May 25, 1843. In 1844, he moved with his parents to the town of Union, Rock County, Wis. where he grew to manhood; received his education in the District school of Union and in attending a few terms of select school taught by Prof. Sering in the Village of Union, later he attended the Platteville Academy. During school vacations he worked on the farm with his father. In the winter of 1860 and 61 he was engaged in a grocery store in Janesville. When the Civil War broke out he gave up this position and was one of the first to enlist in Co. D. 2nd Regt. Wis. Inft., said regiment belonging to the Iron Brigade, participating in the first battle of Bull Run and numerous other engagements. After serving about two years he was wounded in one hand and one limb; soon after receiving his discharge, for disability, after spending a few months at his parental home recovering somewhat from his wounds, he was tendered a position in the paymasters office at Washington, D. C., which he accepted. At the close of the war, he entered the grocery business in this city, but soon closed the business having received another call to take a clerkship in the war department. On Dec. 25, 1865, he married Miss Gertrude E. Tipple of Oregon, Dane Co., Wis., and they immediately proceeded to Washington, D. C. In 1869, he returned to Wisconsin entering the merchantile business at Oregon; in the fall of 1870 he met with a heavy loss by the burning of his store. In 1871, he moved to Brodhead, Wis., being in business there a few years, he received the appointment as postmaster, holding the position for two terms; he again received a clerkship in the War Department, holding the position until a few weeks prior to his death. About the last of June past he was obliged to take, as he thought, a little rest, taking his daughter he went to Norfolk, Va., he was there but a short time until he was obliged to keep his bed; after several days of severe sickness, his daughter being anxious to get him home, made the attempt, arriving there on Saturday the 14th of July; on Sunday at the doctor';s request she took him to the hospital; the following Monday the doctors performed an operation, but his several days of severe sickness had weakened him to such an extent that he died Thursday morning at 2:10, July 26, 1906. His remains will be laid to rest in Rock Creek cemetery, Washington, D. C., by the side of those of life's companion. His wife preceeded him November 28, 1902. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, of the G.A.R., and other civic societies. Two daughters survive him, Miss Cora, who has been his housekeeper, since the death of her mother, and Mrs. Grace Kirkpatrick, of Brodhead, Wis. August 3, 1906, The Enterprise, p. 3, col. 7, Evansville, Wisconsin