History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Union Publishing Co., 1884.
B
James H.
Beebe
James H. Beebe came to Iowa in 1844, when it was yet a territory,
and settled in what is now Jackson county, living there eight years. He was born in
Connecticut, Aug. 8, 1813. He left his native State, coming to Bingen, Ill., in 1839, and
from there to Iowa in 1844. After remaining in Iowa eight years he went back to Illinois,
stopping there three years, but in June, 1855, returned to what is now Union township,
Mitchell Co., Iowa, where he bought a claim, put up a house, and in November of the same
year moved his family upon the farm. He went to Dickinson Co., Iowa, where he remained for
a time, but in 1876 he returned to Union township, Mitchell Co., where he has ever since
lived. He held the office of county commissioner two terms. He was married in 1841 to Lucy
A. Stoddard, who was a native of Connecticut, born in 1822. By this union there were
eleven children, ten of whom are still living, there being three pair of twins. James H.
Beebe is now living with his third son, James P. Beebe, who owns 120 acres of good land on
section 34, in Union township.
James P., the son, was born in Sabula, Iowa, and was eight years of
age when he came with his father to Stacyville township, where he made his home until he
bought his present place, in Union township, section 34. He has followed threshing every
year for the last fourteen years, which he has made a success. He was married in October,
1871, to Sarah Gurnsey, born in Tioga county, Penn., August 14, 1848, and came to
Stacyville with her mother in December, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. James P. Beebe have three
children - Amy, born Aug. 8, 1873; Jessie, Dec. 11, 1875; Ray, July 14, 1878. Mr. Beebe
and family are all members of the Congregational Church. He makes the raising of
Poland-China hogs and Cotswold sheep a specialty. He keeps a number of cows and runs a
dairy, selling his cream to the Penneyville Creamery. Mr. Beebe bought the first two-horse
corn planter ever owned in Mitchell county, which was made specially for planting corn on
sod.
Halsey C. Boyd
Halsey C. Boyd, farmer, has lived in Iowa since 1856, when he came to
Comanche, Clinton county. He remained there eleven months and
reached Mitchell county Aug. 29, 1856. He at once selected his
location where he still lives, on section 15, Union township. He
pre-empted 160 acres. His first home, built of logs, is still
preserved on the place, and is the first log school house built in the
township. It was constructed in the fall of 1856 on section 23.
Mr. Boyd moved it to his place and uses it as a granary. Mr. Boyd
was born in Trenton, N.J., Aug. 31, 1831, and came to Iowa when
twenty-three years old. He was married March 21, 1854, to Amanda W.
Abbott, born March 18, 1832 in West Amwell, Hunterdon Co., N.J.
They have three children - Wilson G., born in Trenton, N. J., Dec. 9,
1854; Abraham A., born in Mitchell Co., Iowa, June 18, 1866; and Orrin W.,
born in Mitchell county, July 23, 1872. They have also an adopted
child, Statira C. Boyd, born Feb. 9, 1878. Mr. Boyd enlisted
Aug. 13, 1862, in company K, 27th Iowa Volunteers and was in the service
three years; was discharged at Memphis, Tenn., July 21, 1865. He was
on detached duty all the time excepting ten months when he was operating a
government printing press.
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