Thomas Shuler Beach, Sheriff of Whiteside County, resident at Morrison, was born at Battle Creek, Mich, May 8, 1847, and is the son of Asahel and Martha Ann (Cady) Beach. His father is the son of Thomas and Mary Beach, who were natives of the State of New York, and so far as can be ascertained was the youngest in order of birth of a family of four children – three sons and a daughter. The latter was named Polly. Thaddeus, Thomas, John and Asahel were all disciples of Esculapius and became eminent in their practice as physicians and surgeons. Ashahel Beach was born Dec. 25, 1799, at Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y. He went in early manhood to Western New York, where he was married, Oct. 24, 1826, in Mendon, Monroe County. His wife was born there Oct. 24, 1809. She was the daughter of Cholett and Martha (Vandeveer) Cady. Dr. Beach removed his family to Michigan in October, 1834. His household included his wife and infant daughter – Martha A. The later was seized with fatal illness on the journey, and died and was buried at Grass Lake, Mich., where her parents stopped to secure needed assistance. Three children were born after Dr. Beach and his wife settled at Battle Creek –- Mary Adelpha, Cholett Cady and Thomas S. The daughter married Frank Bennitt and died at Battle Creek Nov. 25, 1880. C. C. Beach is general collection agent for the manufacturing firm of Nichols, Shepard & Co., of Battle Creek.

The mother died in March, 1878. Dr. Beach died Dec. 29, 1879. He was in the prime of his manhood in one of the most important eras in the history of his country, and he was ever keenly alive to the obligations of his citizenship. He was a Whig at the beginning of his political career; but became an Abolitionist of the most radical type and conducted his relations to his generation from the standpoint of an inveterate antagonism to the traffic in humanity. He became a Republican in 1856, and served the interest of his part without swerving. He was active in the management of the transportation system known as the Underground Railroad; and, on the advent of civil war, he exerted all his influence in behalf of an integral union. Although he had relinquished his practice from advancing age, he tendered his services to his adopted State in the capacity of surgeon, but his infirmities precluded the possibility of his entering the military service.

Mr. Beach was educated primarily in the High School at Battle Creek and took a course of business instruction at Eastman’s Commercial College, where he was graduated in 1866. He obtained a position with George McKinney & Co., of Chicago, and officiated as clerk and book-keeper about 18 months. He then entered the employ of S. H. McCrea & Co., upwards of five years. Within a year after the fire of October, 1871, Mr. Beach engaged in traffic in grain, in which he operated at first at Onslow, Iowa, whence he transferred his business relations to the then rising and plucky little village of Tampico, and prosecuted his operations in the same line of business there until he was first elected to the official position of which he is still the incumbent, in November, 1880. His transactions at Tampico were proceeding prosperously when the tornado of June 6, 1874, destroyed an elevator and its contents, which inflicted a loss that interfered materially with the profits, though the substantial method in which he conducted his business relations prevented disastrous consequences.

Mr. Beach is a Republican of decided stamp, and has always sustained the general and local issues of the party. While a resident of Tampico he was made Town Clerk by several successive re-elections, and vacated the office on account of his election as Sheriff of Whiteside County. He was re-elected in 1882 for the term of four years. In the administration of the duties pertaining to his position, the course of Mr. Beach has been such as to justify the wisdom of his appointment, and his terms have been marked by judicious use of the powers vested in him by virtue of his office.

He was united in marriage Dec. 25, 1872, to S. Janie, daughter of David and Martha A. (Townsend) Miller, of Chicago. She was born in Leroy, Mich., July 8, 1846. Mary Adnah, only surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Beach, was born Sept. 27, 1873. Asahel was born Nov. 8, 1874, and died Dec. 18, 1880.

Transcribed by Marji Turner from Portraits & Biographical History of Whiteside 1885 Pg. 666