Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Benjamin Beeson

Benjamin Beeson was born in Randolph County, N. C., about 1765, a son of Isaac Beeson, whose ancestors trace back to two brothers who came from England to Pennsylvania, with Penn's colony, but whose descendants all removed to North Carolina at an early day. His mother was of Irish descent. He was married about 1786, to Margaret Hockett, and about 1826 came to Wayne County, Ind., and settled one mile south of Franklin. Their children were — Hannah, who married Seth Hinshaw and lived at Greensboro. Henry Co., Ind.; Isaac W., whose sketch follows this; William, who married Rachel Newman and had one son, Jehu, who was a Union refugee two years in the South, but escaped and came to Indiana in 1864, and settled in Plaintield; Margaret, married Jesse Baldwin, came to Indiana about 1824, and lived one mile southwest of Franklin. Her children,were — Franklin Urbane, Elwood, Isaac and Nereus. Benjamin F., who came to Franklin in 1818, was a very large man, a good business man and greatly respected, he married Rachel Bales and had one daughter, Luzena, who married George Shaffer and moved to Iowa. Silas H., who came to Franklin about 1823, was a prominent business man and the first physician in Dalton Township, having a large practice. He married first Rhoda Hubbard, second, Charity Ventres (by whom he had two children — Melvina and Louisa), and third, Nancy Lumpkins. Rachel came to Franklin with her father, but never married. Ithamar came to Franklin about 1824; was Justice of the Peace many years. He married Polly Bales, by whom he had six children — Oliver, Lewis, William H., Margaret, Sarah and Cynthia E. Asenath never married. Charles came with his father to Wayne County and married Cynthia Baldwin. He lived one mile north of Franklin until about 1855, when he removed to Iowa, and from there to New Buffalo, Mich. He has three children — William, Jehu and Luvina. Ruth married James Maulsby, now of Danville, Ind., and had one son — Silas B.





Benjamin Beeson's brothers and sisters were as follows — Isaac, who came to Wayne County about 1828, and settled one mile east of Dalton. He had twelve children — Hezekiah, Zachariah, Benjamin, Jesse, Elwood, Newton, Margaret, Zeruah, Mildred, Louisa, Mareb and Mariah. Samuel, who settled one-half mile east of Dalton in 1827, and had five children — Isaiah, Wade, Samuel, Elma and Isabel. Billy, who settled one-fourth mile south of Franklin in 1827. and had children as follows — Jonathan, Seth, Eunice, Elizabeth, Yancy. Charity, Melinda and two others. Hannah married Sammy Lamb. Isabel married William Chamness,and settled one mile north west of Dalton. She had seven children — William, Joshua, Joseph, Isaac,Mary, Jesse, and Hannah. Elizabeth married Jesse Wilson and had three children — Isaac; Elizabeth, who married Thomas Dennis,and lived one-half mile south of Dalton; Rachel, who married David Pidgeon, and lived two and one-half miles northwest of Dalton. Benjamin Beeson, like his ancestors, was a strict Friend and the head of Providence Meeting in North Carolina several years. He was much respected, and died at an advanced age. He was buried by the side of his wife in West River Graveyard, two and a half miles east of Dalton, though their exact resting place is not known.

Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2