WILLIAM L. BEEBE, formerly an active business man of Freeport, is now retired upon a competency and is passing his latter years in the quiet and comfort of a handsome home. He is a native of New York State, and was born in Wayne County, Feb. 9, 1812. His father, Allen Beebe, was a native of Rutland, Vt., and followed farming his entire life. The mother, who in her girlhood was Miss Susan Harrington, was a native of New York State. The Beebe family was of Scotch descent. The father of our subject, in 1837 removed from the Empire State, and accompanied by his wife and two children, came to Ogle County, Ill., and took up a tract of Government land. This continued in his possession the remainder of his life and he brought the soil to a fine state of cultivation, and put up a comfortable residence, with barns and all other necessary out-buildings.

William L., our subject, was the fourth in the family, and passed his boyhood in his native county, receiving his education in the district school. He afterward served an apprenticeship at the carpenter’s trade, which, however, he worked at but little, preferring to employ himself at farming. After passing his twenty-third birthday he was united in marriage with Miss Sallie A. Tripp, the wedding occurring at the home of the bride in Ontario County, June 11, 1835. Mrs. Beebe was the eldest of ten children, and the daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Stevenson) Tripp, natives respectively of New York State and Ireland. Our subject, after his marriage, rented a farm in Seneca County, N. Y., which he occupied until removing to Michigan, in 1837. In the latter State he located about ten miles from Ann Arbor, upon a tract of rented land, where he remained until 1840. He then came to Ogle County, Ill., and took up a tract of Government land near North Grove. When this came into market he purchased forty acres, and erected a small shanty which served as a shelter for his family five or six months. This structure was formed by boards set upright and a pole running across from two forks of a tree. The canvas covering of their wagon served as a door to keep out the rain and chilly winds. Mrs. Beebe with her three children staid here alone while her husband made the necessary trips to market, which involved a journey of eight days to and from Chicago. The nights were made more lonely by the howling of wolves, and the days were seldom enlivened by the face of a white settler. It will thus be seen that they experienced the hardships and difficulties common to pioneer life, but they also possessed the firm and courageous spirit so necessary to the time and place, and after the lapse of years began to reap a rich reward for their labor and struggles.

Mr. Beebe prospered in the cultivation of the soil and wisely invested his surplus capital in additional land until he was the possessor of 535 acres. In due time he brought this to a fine state of cultivation, and carried off the blue ribbons year after year at the county fair for the excellence of his stock and farm produce. Later he turned his attention to the raising of fine stock, dealing in Short-horn cattle mostly, numbers of which he shipped each year and received therefrom a handsome sum annually. In 1863 he purchased a farm of 200 acres in Florence Township, Stephenson County, to which he removed, and subsequently sold the Ogle County farm at $50 per acre. He then removed into the city of Freeport, to which his farm lies adjacent and is easy of access, so that he is able to superintend its operations, which are now carried on by hired help. The old homestead is occupied by his son, Philip S. Mr. Beebe in 1875 purchased 160 acres in Maryland Township, Ogle County, which is finely improved and provided with good buildings and which is now occupied by his son, Robert S.

The household circle of our subject and his wife was completed by the birth of ten children, seven living – five boys and two girls. Robert S. is the eldest; Alex J. lives in Linn County, Iowa; Nancy E. is the wife of Charles H. Menzie, engineer of a passenger train on the St. Paul Railroad and living at Freeport; Clarrissa C. is the wife of John S. Reeves, a resident of Belle Vernon and engaged in the drug business; Milton B. is engaged in railroad construction near Freeport; Philip S. has already been mentioned, and Frank C., the youngest, is a molder by trade and a resident of Freeport.

Mr. and Mrs. Beebe celebrated their golden wedding in June, 1885, at which all their children, with the exception of one daughter who lives in Pennsylvania, were present. They received the congratulations of many friends and the occasion was one of general rejoicing. The two live by themselves in their handsome and comfortable home, surrounded by the friends who have known them so long and by whom they are held in universal esteem. Mr. Beebe, early in life, was a Democrat, but upon the organization of the Republican party he voted for John C. Fremont. When the latter was defeated Mr. Beebe declared that he would never shave until Fremont was elected President of the United States. The result is he has a long, full beard of many years’ growth.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888)