Tulare County Biographies

ARCHIE LEONARD BEAM

Transcribed by Jeannie Miyama

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


Within the past decade there has been built up in Porterville an industry that 
has done much to help emblazon the merits of that city as a commercial and 
distributing center, the fame of the Beam confections having been extended 
throughout the San Joaquin valley.  When in 1917 Archie Leonard Beam established 
himself as a manufacturer of candies in Porterville he started in a modest way 
in a little shop on South Hockett street.  The fine particular quality of the 
products of this plant and the meticulous care exercised by the proprietor in 
assuring the utmost in the way of purity of product and the wholesome sanitary 
methods adopted in his factory soon brought about a demand for these products 
that necessitated larger quarters.  Mr. Beam then moved his plant to quarters in 
the Miller building on Main street.  His plant was destroyed by fire in March, 
1924, and he then established himself in a new and strictly modern plant at his 
present location, No. 125 North main street, where he since has extended his 
operations, increased his capacity for production and is putting out a line of 
confections that has secured a wide distribution throughout this trade area, a 
wholesale business of no small magnitude having been created in addition to the 
extensive retail trade long enjoyed by the popular Beam candy shop in 
Porterville.  Mr. Beam came to Porterville a candy manufacturer of wide 
experience and during the time he has been engaged in business as a manufacturer 
here he has kept pace with the interesting advances that have been made in the 
production of choice confections during the past few years, and some of his 
select goods have attained an unusual popularity.  He has a force of competent 
operatives in his plant, his products are prepared under the most wholesome 
conditions and their popularity among the lovers of a good sweetmeat can thus be 
readily understood.  During the time of this country�s participation in the 
World war Mr. Beam made a specialty of candies manufactured for the soldiers in 
camp and field and these Beam products proved prime favorites.
 
Archie L. Beam was born in Pine Grove, Nevada, October 31, 1882, and is a son of 
John and Nancy (Davis) Beam, whose last days were spent in the state of 
Washington.  John Beam was a pioneer in the mining fields of California and 
Nevada, a �49er who came to California in the first year of the gold rush and 
was here for about fifteen years, at the end of which time he moved over into 
Nevada, where he was married and where he made his home until the late �80s, 
when he moved to Seattle, Washington.  In addition to his mining and other 
industrial operations this earnest pioneer was also for years engaged as a 
preacher of the gospel and was a man of large influence in the communities in 
which he lived.
 
Completing his education in the high school in Seattle, Archie L. Beam early 
became interested in the manufacture of candy and was for thirteen years 
connected with the operations of candy shops in Seattle.  He then came to 
California and was for something more than two years employed in making candy in 
San Francisco, going thence to Los Angeles, in which city he was similarly 
engaged for four years, or until 1917, when he established himself in business 
as a manufacturer of candy in Porterville, as is set out above, and has since 
been quite successfully engaged along that line, proprietor of one of the best 
plants of its kind in California.
 
In 1917, in Visalia, Archie L Beam was united in marriage to Miss Edna Miller, 
who was born in Georgetown, Eldorado county, this state, daughter of William 
George Miller.  Mr. and Mrs. Beam have one child, a daughter, Marilynn Lee Beam. 
 Mrs. Beam was a professional nurse at the time of her marriage and had for some 
years followed that profession.  She is a member of the Order of the Eastern 
Star and of the Daughters of Rebekah.  Mr. and Mrs. Beam are republicans and 
take a proper interest in local civic affairs.  Mr. Beam is a member of the 
Masonic order and is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
and with the Foresters.
 
History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen Edwards Small & 
J. Larry Smith, Vol. I, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926, Page 
193