BEERS, Daniel
Portrait & Biographical Record Winnebago & Boone Cos., IL. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1892, pp 699-700

Daniel BEERS, deceased, was one of the first settlers of Winnebago County, and it may be truly said that he was one of the most esteemed citizens.  He came to this county when there was one store and a few log cabins in Rockford, and the same year took up Government land in what is now Guilford Township, his house being one of the first in that township.  There, with the boundless prairie stretching on every side and with neighbors many miles distant, Mr. and Mrs. BEERS settled down to the duties of life.   For a number of years they experienced many hardships and privations, but they finally got a start, and their subsequent prosperous career was the result.  In those early days they took all their grain to Chicago with ox teams, and many were the mishaps that occurred in crossing streams, for there were no bridges.  There were no churches, but it must not be supposed there were no meetings, for the few neighbors would meet at each other's homes and have a season of prayer and thanksgiving.  The log house of Mr. BEERS was the scene of many a religious gathering, and his good wife would get supper for the whole congregation.  All in the community were Methodists, and when they met together they enjoyed themselves as only Methodists can.

Mr. and Mrs. BEERS resided for many years on the farm they had improved in every way, and then moved to Monroe [Green County], WI, where they resided for seven years.  They owned a farm near that city.  About 1866 they came to Rockford, and here the death of Mr. BEERS occurred in 1880, when 70 years of age.  Liberal, generous, and high minded, his life was filled with good deeds.  He was a model American citizen.   A Methodist in religious belief, he was one of the leading men of his church, and was Class Leader for many years.  He was a Republican in politics, and a strict temperance man.  In pioneer days, when his first barn was to be raised, and whiskey was expected on such occasions, he infomed his neighbors that no whiskey was to be given, but that his wife would give them a fine supper.

Mr. BEERS was born in PA and reared on a farm in that State.  When a young man he went to LeRoy [Genesee County], NY, and was there married to Miss Mary HERRICK, a native of that city.  She is now past 80 years old, but is still quick and active, and is one of the most pleasant and agreeable old ladies to meet.  She has endeavored to make her life a useful one, and to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule.  She yet lives in the kind remembrance of the good old days of yore, and her reminiscences of them are very interesting.

Mrs. BEERS became the mother of a large family of children, and of them these are deceased:  John, William D., James, Henry, and Lucius.  All died young but Henry, who was married.  The children [p 700] now living are Matilda, wife of Willard CONVERS, a farmer of Guildord Township; Louisa M., wife of Russell MARSH, a farmer of Guilford Township; Richard, a wealthy farmer of NE, married Miss Rhoda MARSH; Ella is the wife of a Mr. CAMPBELL, a farmer of NE; Sarah, wife of Alfred UFFORD, now resides on a farm in IA; Flora, wife of David RALSTON; Lucy, wife of Henry THOMPSON, a farmer of NE; and Olive, who resides in Butte City [Silver Bow County], MT, and is a dressmaker there.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly.