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Rhode Island Biographies
Nathan Beach -- At this point in this
series of biographical reviews the writer would call attention to the life
history of one of the prominent and influential business men of the
prosperous town of Tracy, Minnesota, Nathan Beach, a self made man in
every respect and one well worthy of
special consideration on the pages of this volume.
Mr. Beach comes of Welsh ancestry, his people
having long been residents of America, and he was born in Randolph county,
Indiana, December 18, 1841, son of Milton and Mary (Chandler) Beach.
Milton Beach was a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, and died in Olmsted
county, Minnesota, at the age of seventy four years, he having come to
this state about 1863 or '4. His wife, whose birthplace was in Washington
county, Ohio, also died in Olmsted county, Minnesota, her age at death
being about fifty four years. They were the parents of eight children, six
of whom are yet living and are occupying honored and useful positions in
life. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Timothy and Sarah
(Sprague) Beach, the former a native of Rhode Island. Grandfather Beach
died in Scotland county, Missouri, at the ripe old age of eighty six
years; his wife passed away in Macon county, Illinois, at the age of fifty
eight. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. Reverting to the maternal
grandparents of Nathan Beach, we find that they were Hiram and Sarah
(Humiston) Chandler, who doubtless were among the earliest settlers of the
Buckeye state. Grandfather Chandler died in Randolph county, Indiana, near
the age of sixty years, and Grandmother Chandler attained the ripe old age of eighty
eight years, her death having occurred in Minnesota.
Coming down to the direct subject of this
biograhical notice, Nathan Beach, we record that he was reared on a farm,
and educated at the district schools and in a select school in Salem,
Indiana. He remained at home until twenty years of age, and August 9,
1862, before he reached his majority, he enlisted as a member of Company
F, Sixty ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Lew K. Harris,
the fortunes of which command he shared until he was honorably discharged
at St. Louis, June 27, 1865. He was at the battle of Richmond, Kentucky,
nineteen days after he enlisted. Chickasaw Bluffs was his next battle,
followed by Arkansas Post and Port Gibson. At this last named place, May
1, 1863, he was shot in the left shoulder, and was laid up practically
until the close of the war. After three or four weeks spent in Milliken's
Bend Hospital in Louisiana, he went to Benton Barracks Hospital at St.
Louis, where he remained until convalescent. There he was transferred to
the Veterans' Reserve Corps and remained in St. Louis until he was
honorably discharged at the close of hostilities. He has been
a sufferer ever since from his army wounds.
The war over, Mr. Beach came direct to
Minnesota and settled first in Marion, Minnesota, with his parents, making
that his home and carrying on farming operations on a tract of one hundred
acres of wild land he bought. In 1871 he exchanged this farm for a stock
of goods in Marion, where he was engaged in business for two years and a
half. At the end of that time he and his partner divided the stock, and he
removed his share to St. Charles, Minnesota, and entered into partnership
with his brother in law, dealing in groceries, boots, shoes, and crockery.
In 1878 they divided their stock, Mr. Beach bringing a part of the goods
to Tracy, Minnesota, and for three or four years longer the business was
conducted in partnership at both places. After that he disposed of his
interest in the St. Charles store and became sole propietor of the
establishment here, and has ever since continued his business, carrying a
large stock of groceries, hardware, and lumber. His every venture and
enterprise seemed a fortunate one. He has prospered from year to year, and
has accumulated a large property. Besides his valuable property in Tracy,
his business house and home, he owns a fine country seat and summer cottage at Lake Shetek,
and has eighty acres of fine farming land.
Mr. Beach was married January 1, 1867, in
Marion, Minnesota, to Miss Elizabeth Robertson, a native of Sullivan
county, New York, and by her has had two children, Mary E. and Jessie A.
The former is married and settled in life, and the latter is a member of
the home circle. Mrs. Beach is a daughter of Eli and Eliza L. (Young)
Robertson, early settlers of Minnesota, he being now deceased and she a
resident of Tracy. Not only in business circles, but also in those
political and fraternal Mr. Beach is prominent and active. He is a stanch
Republican, voted first for Mr. Lincoln's second term, and has always
maintained his allegiance to this party. He has alway been active in the
conventions and caucuses of his party, and has filled some local offices,
but has never been an office seeker nor has he cared for official
preferment. He is a member of Joe Hooker Post, No. 15, G. A. R., of Tracy,
of which he served as commander in 1894. His prominence in Grand Army
circles is equaled by his wife's popularity in those of the W. R. C.
Indeed, Mrs. Beach is one of the most enthusiastic and efficient corps
workers in the state of Minnesota. For the year 1895 she filled the office
of department inspector of the state, and while serving as such showed
marked executive ability, and by her charming
manner and winning ways made hosts of friends.
Mr. Beach and his family attend worship at the
Methodist Episcopal church.
[Source: Memorial Record of SW
Minnesota, published 1897 - Submitted by Gary Boomgaarden]
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