My Genealogy Home Page:Information about Joseph Beetem, Sr.
Joseph Beetem, Sr. (b. 14 Aug 1844, d. Apr 1942)
Notes for Joseph Beetem, Sr.:Joseph Beetem Celebrates His 90th Birthday
Event was observed Wednesday, August 14, at Home of Mrs. Vanda
Connor5 Generations
Joseph Beetem, resident of this county for the past 32 years, celebrate his 90th birthday anniversary Wednesday, August 14, at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Vanda Connor.Fourteen relatives attended the picnic
supper given in his honor that evening.Those present besides the honored
guest and hostess were Mr. and Mrs. E. Dughman, Allen and Arlene Connor, Mr.
and Mrs. Crawford French, son Presley, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Edgar, Mr. and Mrs.
Ed Lawrence, Ben Beetem and Mrs. Byerene, all of this city, and Mrs. Frank
Ekberg of Orleans.
Five generations are represented in the family.Mr. Beetem has six
children living--Mrs. Ella Dughman and Ben Beetem of Central City, Mrs. Carrie
Ekberg of Orleans, John Beetem of Byers, Colorado, Charles Beetem of Sterling
and Mrs. Dolly White of Burwell.Five children are dead.There are 34
grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.Mr.
Beetem has one brother living, Tom Beetem of Douglas, Nebraska, who has
attained his 93rd birthday anniversary and their sister Mrs. Louisa Irons, who
resided in Iowa and died two years ago at the age of 97.There were three
brothers and two sisters in his family who lived to the ages between 87 and 97
years.
On January 24, 1865, Mr. Beetem was united in marriage to Hester Ann Greenup at Lansing, Iowa.The couple came to Nebraska in 1877 and endured the hardships of western farming of that day.They removed to Merrick County in 1903.Mrs. Beetem passed away at her home in Central City, May 27, 1928, at the age of 85 years, breaking the marriage tie of 63 years.Since the death of his wife, Mr. Beetem has made his home among his children.
At the age of 75 years, he retired from his life’s vocation of farming.He is particularly active, and walks two miles each day to the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. Dughman, for his daily supply of milk.His eye sight is good, and he spends a great deal of time reading.
The community extends hearty congratulations to Mr. Beetem on his 90th anniversary, and sincerely hopes he lives to celebrate many more birthdays.
(August 22, 1935; Central City Republican)
(Reference M13)
Joseph Beetem is one of the prominent and representative citizens of Palmyra Precinct, where he is farming eighty acres of fine land on section 36. For the family history of this gentleman the reader is referred to the sketch of J.T. Beetem, which will be found upon another page of this volume.
The subject of our sketch was born in Shullsburg, Wis., on the 14th of August, 1844. When he was about six months old his parents took up their residence in Dubuque County, Iowa; when nine years of age they once more made a change, and he became a resident of Allamakee County. He continued with his parents until he was about nineteen, and then entered the arena and began life for himself. The first year he rented a farm, and was so successful that he was enabled to buy eighty acres, upon which he continued for five years, in that time making many improvements and bringing it to a high state of cultivation.
In 1872 our subject sold the above mentioned farm and moved to Hancock County, Iowa, where he became the owner of 160 acres of wild, unimproved prairie. This he brought into good condition and put upon it various valuable improvements, when he again sold out, and went to the northern part of the county, purchasing 120 acres of prairie land, and repeated the process so far as it was possible of improvement. He continued there for seven years, but met with failure after failure in his crops, which resulted disastrously.
In 1877 Mr. Beetem came to this county and for three years rented property. He then moved to South Russell, where he made his home for about a year, then in 1881 bought his present place of eighty acres. His Iowa experience again took shape, and did all the work of improving his land, from the turning of the first furrow to the erection and finishing of his buildings. Today his farm is one of the best cultivated and most valuable, other things being equal, within a large district.
In Allamakee County, Iowa on the 24th of January, 1864, the subject of our sketch became the husband of Miss Hester Greenup, the estimable daughter of the Rev. S. H. and Elizabeth (Hoyt) Greenup. Her father was born in Kentucky, her mother in New York. Her father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and served in that capacity in the State of Iowa for twenty-five years. He is still engaged in the work of his profession, and holds a charge in Morrison County, Minn. Both parents are now sixty-seven years of age. They are the parents of eleven children, to whom have been given the following names: Hester A., Julia E., Edwin (deceased), Jason S., Wilbur F., Allen, Albert, Lucy (deceased), Frank, Edward, and also Elizabeth who is deceased. Edwin, who was in the war fighting in the 12th Iowa Infantry, died at Memphis, Tenn., in 1863.
It will be noticed that Mrs. Beetem is the eldest child of her parents. She was born in Peoria, Ill., on the 23rd of September, 1843. She attended the classes of both the common and High Schools, and after passing a very successful examination and being from the latter institution, was engaged in teaching for about five years, revealing the possession of talents of more than ordinary value. She is the mother of ten children, of whom three are dead. The names given to her children are as follows: Mary Elizabeth, Sarah E., George S. (deceased), Louisa M., Caroline A., Joseph, Jr. (deceased), Charles, Jennie (deceased), Johnnie and Benjamin. Mary is happily married to John Jose, who is successfully engaged in farming in Colorado; they are the parents of two children, names William and Joseph. The other members of the family are all at home.
The subject of our sketch has been prominent as a politician; he is an active member of the Democratic party and has served as delegate to the County Convention. For three years he has held the office of Supervisor of Roads, and is at present School Treasurer. He is a man of sterling worth and enjoys the confidence of the people. For twenty-four consecutive seasons Mr. Beetem was engaged in threshing, which is not a usual record. Nine seasons he was thus engaged in Missouri, fourteen in Iowa and one in Nebraska.
(Otoe County, Nebraska History Vol., 1889;p. 732, 735)
(Reference M14)
NOTE: It appears the it was John BEETEM, their son who moved to Colorado. Mary Elizabeth Beetem and spouse, John Jose, lived in Nebraska for many years then moved to Iowa. Mary E. died in Iowa and John Jose died in Minnesota. They were not living together reasons unclear. John Jose had three wives, the last one being Mary Elizabeth Beetem. I descend from them.
(Reference M17, page 3)
LAST RITES HELD FOR JOSEPH BEETEM, 98
Funeral services for Joseph Beetem, 98, pioneer of Harlan County, were held at Orleans today.Mr. Beetem, father of Mrs. Frank Ekberg, came here 66 years
ago in a covered wagon, homesteading the place two miles north of the school house now occupied by the Brandt’s.Leaving here, he later in life made his home with his son, Ben, in Merrick County.
(The Orleans Chronicle, Thursday, 13 Apr. 1944)
(Reference M17, page 1)
Census 1850 census for Dubuque County: Family #577 Dwelling #597:
Beatum, John D. age 42 farmer born Kentucky
Mary age 38 born Kentucky
Sarah E. age 14 born Missouri
Louisa M. age 12 born Iowa
Charles L. age 10 Iowa
John T. age 8 born Iowa
Joseph age 5 born Wisconsin
George age 2 born Iowa
Francis M. age 5/12 born Iowa ( pos. born in May 1850)
(Reference M17, page 7)
1860 Allamakee County Federal Census; French Creek; Reel # 653-310; Enumerated 25 June 1860 Page 82 to 83 629/616
John D. Beaton, 53, male, Farmer, b. KY
Mary Beaton, age 38, female, housekeeper, b. KY
Charles L. Beaton, age 20, male, farmer, b. Iowa
John J. Beaton, age 18, male, farmer, b. Iowa
Joseph Beaton, age 14, male, b. WI
George M. Beaton, age 12, male, b. Iowa
Frances M. Beaton, age 10, male, b. Iowa
Roth B. Beaton, age 5, male, b. Iowa
(Reference M17, page 7)
1880 Census Hendricks, Otoe, Nebraska; Source: FHL Film 1254753National Archives Film T9-0753; Page 411D
Joseph BEETEM Self M M W 34WIOcc: Farmer Fa: KY Mo: KY
Hester A. BEETEM Wife F M W 36ILOcc: Keeps House Fa: KY Mo: NY
Mary E. BEETEM Dau F S W 14IAFa: WI Mo: IL
Sarah E. BEETEM Dau F S W 10IAFa: WI Mo: IL
Louisa M. BEETEM Dau F S W 6IAFa: WI Mo: IL
Carolina D. BEETEM Dau F S W 5IAFa: WI Mo: IL
Charles L. BEETEM Son M S W 3IAFa: WI Mo: IL
Harriet J. BEETEM Dau F S W 1NEFa: WI Mo: IL
(Reference M17, page 13)
597 Beaturn, John D 42 m Ky
Mary 38 f Ky
Sarah E 14 f Mo
Louisa M 12 f Iowa
Charles L 10 m
John T 8 m
Joseph ? m Wis
George 2 m Iowa
Francis M ?/12 m
(Reference M194)
More About Joseph Beetem, Sr.:
Burial: Unknown, Orleans Cemetery, Orleans, Harlan County, Nebraska.134
Census 1: 1850, Dubuque County, Iowa (age 5).135, 136
Census 2: 1860, Allamakee County, Iowa (age 14).137
Died 2: Bef. 13 Apr 1944, Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska.138
Occupation: Farmer.139
Residence 1: Abt. Feb 1845, Dubuque County, Iowa.140
Residence 2: Abt. 1853, Allamakee County, Iowa.141
More About Joseph Beetem, Sr. and Hester Ann Greenup:
Alt. Marriage: 24 Jan 1865, Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa.142
Marriage: 21 Jan 1864, Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa.143
Children of Joseph Beetem, Sr. and Hester Ann Greenup are:
- +Sarah Ellen (Ella) Beetem, b. 07 Feb 1870, Allamakee County, Iowa143, d. 31 Jan 1964, Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska144.