California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

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


EDWARD J. BEEKMAN is a native son of California, and since his school days were over has 
been almost continuously for a period of forty years identified with ranching and fruit growing 
in Ventura County.
He was born in Sierra County, California, October 3, 1860, a son of William and Mary Alice 
Beekman. In 1866 his parents removed to San Jose, where he received his first instruction in the 
public schools. In 1870, his father having in the meantime died, his stepfather Alfred Joy and 
the mother moved to Ventura County and settled at Saticoy. In the public schools of that town 
Edward J. Beekman continued his education for three years, and the family then removed to 
the Eliso Canyon, where his stepfather was a sheep rancher for seven years. On returning to 
Saticoy, Edward J. Beekman again resumed his work in the public schools and continued for 
three years.
When his parents moved to the Sespe grant near what is now Fillmore and engaged in the 
cattle business, Edward J. found work at home, but at the age of eighteen went to the Jack Hill 
ranch on the location now occupied by the City of Oxnard. He remained there five years, then 
spent one year on the Zellar ranch, and returning to the Sespe grant bought eighty-eight acres 
which he planted in oranges. He now has a finely developed orange grove and is one of the 
prosperous and well satisfied citizens of Ventura County.
Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and is a republican voter. At Los 
Angeles in 1886 Mr. Beekman married Miss Iva Sprague, a native of Sacramento, California, 
and daughter of F. A. Sprague. They have three children : Ernest, aged twenty-two, is connected 
with the Montebello Oil Company near Fillmore. Orland, aged nineteen, and Edwin, aged 
eighteen, are both on the ranch with their father.