CHARLES E. BEACH (deceased) was born in East Bloomfield, N. Y., January 31, 1819, a son of Chauncey, who was a son of Chauncey, who was a son of Amos, who was a son of John, who was a son of John, who was a son of Thomas, a native of England. In 1639 there came from England three brothers --Richard, John and Thomas - who settled in New Haven, Conn., where Thomas, in 1654, mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Richard Platt, and of their children one son, John, was born October 19, 1655, and died in 1709. John Beach had one son also named John, born October 15, 1600, in Wal- lingford, Conn., who in 1738 moved to Goshen, same State where he died May 9, 1773. On August 8, 1715, he was married to Sarah Taylor, who died, leaving one son, Barney, and John Beach then married, February 22, 1717, Mary Roys, to which union one son, Amos, was born January 28, 1724. Amos Beach married, December 24, 1746, Mary Rich, and their son Chauncey was born in Goshen, Conn., November 11, 1748, and became the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
Chauncey Beach received his education in his native town, and was reared to the milling business, which he followed many years. He remained in Goshen until 1801, when he removed to West Bloomfield, N. Y., where he died May 13, 1825, a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Federalist originally, and dur- ing the later years of his life a Whig. On De- cember 24, 1772, he married Catherine Alvord, who was born November 21, 1750, and the following record of their family of children gives the names and dates of birth: Erastus, June 3, 1775; Olive, May 5, 1777; Lucy, October 6, 1778; Ambrose, August 14, 1780; Abram, May 12, 1782; Elisha, June 23, 1783; Theron, July 9, 1785; Catherine, June 29, 1787; Chauncey, May 5, 1789 and Nathaniel, October 26, 1791.
Channcey Beach, father of Charles E., was born in Goshen, Conn., where he received the earlier part of his education, and, as will be seen, was about twelve years old when his parents moved with their family to West Bloomfield, N. Y. After leaving school be learned the trade of cabinet maker, but abandoned it to take up that of his father, milling, which, having mastered, he carried on in West Bloomfield until 1836, when he moved to Parma, N. Y., thence to Ohio, to a place now known as Kent. There he remained seven years, at the end of which time he went to Painesville; then after a few years he proceeded to West Cleveland. At the latter place he resided but six months, when he moved to Akron, and thence, after three years, came to Monongahela City, all the time engaged in the milling business until old age compelled him to retire from active work. On August 19. 1813, Mr. Beach married Matilda Eggleston, of West Bloomfield, who became the mother of four children, viz.: Catherine, born August 2, 1814; James W., born October 2, 1816; Cbarles E., born January 31, 1819, and Cordelia, born August 29, 1821. The mother passed from earth July 21, 1866, the father May 19, 1870. He was a Whig until the change of the party was consummated, when he became a Republican.
Charles E. Beach was educated at the public schools of his native town -- proving a deep and diligent student. When n young man be entered his father's mill, and remained there several years. In 1847 the family moved to Monongahela, City, Penn., where he and his father bought the flouring mill, but in 1867 sold it, and then, in company with his father, bought an interest in the lumber yard and planing mill in Monongahela City, now owned by Blythe & Co. On account of poor health he sold his interest in 1876, and retired from business. On September 23, ] 858, he married Emma Pierce, and the children by that union were Matilda E., M. Edith and Amanda S., of whom the first and last named are deceased. The mother of these children died January 1, 1866, and March 29, 1870, Mr. Beach was married to Eliza- beth daughter of Thomas Heslep. One child, Nellie, was born to them. Our subject was a stanch Republican in his political views, and was recognized as a leading and enterprising man in the community. His widow is still a resident of Mo- nongahela City.
Thomas Heslep, father of Mrs. Elizabeth Beach, was born in Chester county, Penn., in 1801, a son of John Heslep, a native of the same county, who married a Miss Grant, nod had by her several children, of whom the following names are obtain- able: Robert, John, George and Thomas. John Heslep came to Washington county at an early day, and purchased a farm in Carroll township where he died. He was a Whig in politics, and in Cburch connection a Baptist. Thomas Heslep was reared partly in Washington county, partly in Pittsburgh. He married Margaret McCormick, of Pigeon Creek, and they then settled on n farm in Somerset town ship, where he died in 1860; his wife is also dead. He kind two children. Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles E. Beach) and John. Mr. Heslep was first a Whig, afterward a Republican, and in church connection he was a sound Presbyterian.
Text taken from page 219 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by John R. Mort of Salt Point, NY as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]