From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 693
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
ALONZO BEAMAN
Throughout an active business career Alonzo Beaman has followed farming, but is now practically living retired in Sterling, enjoying a well earned rest. He was born in Antwerp, Jefferson county, New York, August 22, 1841. His father, David Beaman, was a native of Wooster, Massachusetts, born in October, 1797. The grandfather, Joseph Beaman, was a blacksmith by trade and saw considerable military service as captain of a militia company in Wooster, Massachusetts. He wedded Annis Bemis, and they reared five sons and three daughters, but all are now deceased. The grandfather died in the prime of life, but his widow lived to be an octogenarian. Her remains were laid to rest in Antwerp, New York. In the year 1820 David Beaman took up his abode upon a farm near Antwerp, New York, and there he resided for sixty-four years, his death occurring on the old homestead on the 16th of April 1884. He married Sally Ann Mosher, who was born in Jefferson county, New York, March 4, 1815. Her death occurred July 12, 1901, when she had attained the age of eighty-seven years and four months. She had three children, - Alonzo, and Alice and Annis, twins. They are still residing in the Empire state at Antwerp. The father was twice married, his first union having been with Lucy Porter, who died leaving three of her four children, and two are yet living, namely: Jane, the wife of Anson Miller of Rodman, Jefferson county, New York. She has six children by two husbands. The third surviving member of the family is George P Beaman, of Gouverneur, New York.
Mr Beaman of this review was reared to farm life, and the old family homestead upon which his father settled in 1820 is still owned by his daughters. He acquired a good district school education, also spending two terms in a seminary and pursued a course in Eastman’s Business College, of Poughkeepsie, New York. At the age of eighteen he began teaching and followed that profession for two years in the Empire state, for two years in Illinois and for three years in Kansas. On the 4th of March, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Imogene A Foster, who was born in Theresa, Jefferson county, New York, July 24, 1844, her parents being David and Amanda (Mann) Foster, the former a native of Swanzey, New Hampshire, and the latter of Watertown, New York. They were farming people and had two children, Mrs Beaman and an elder sister, Mrs Emmoretta Phillips, who is living on the old homestead in the east. Mrs Beaman was only two years of age at the time of her mother’s death. The father afterward married again and had two sons and a daughter by his second wife. One soon died at the age of nineteen years and the other, Wallace S Foster, a Methodist minister, was called to his final rest while residing in Michigan. The father departed this life in 1860. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Abraham Lincoln, for whom he gave his ballot in the year of his death.
For six years after their marriage Mr and Mrs Beaman resided upon the old family homestead in the Empire state and then removed to Du Page county, Illinois, where both engaged in teaching in the rural districts, following the profession for three terms. Mr Beaman also acted as police magistrate for one year. On leaving Illinois they came to Rice county, Kansas, where they have resided for twenty-four years. They settled one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land and two years later Mr Beaman purchased forty acres of school land. In 1886 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of school land and for many years he continued the cultivation of his fields, including three hundred and twenty acres. In the fall of 1901 he sold a quarter section and removed to Sterling, where they have an acre village lot. He has also made some judicious investments in town property on both sides of his home. For ten years prior to leaving the farm he was engaged in the stock business and during the past few years wheat has been the leading crop, averaging twenty-two and a half bushels per acre. He has raised nine thousand bushels in one year. He has also grown forty-five hundred bushels of corn in one year. His farming operations have been carried on successfully, for he has followed progressive methods and honorable dealing. He thoroughly understands the business in every department, and, although he is now somewhat retired from practical business life, he yet superintends the operation of his one hundred and sixty acres.
The home of Mr and Mrs Beaman has been blessed with five sons and two daughters, but four of the sons died in infancy. Jay Foster, the living son, is a graduate of the Cooper Memorial College, of the class of 1893, and is now a student in the Kansas State University. He wedded Clara B Koonts, and they have three children, two sons and a daughter. He is a splendid athlete, being one of the finest in this line in Kansas. From a newspaper account we learn that as an athlete Mr Jay F Beaman is almost the equal of the noted Sandow and is a “record smasher.” Besides Sandow, Arthur Tyng, of Harvard University, is the only man reported ahead of him, but that report is not official. His little son, five years of age, is now with his grandparents, and, like his father, is a splendid type of physical perfection. Annis Imogene, the second of the family, is a young lady of sixteen years, now in school. Alice Emaret completes the family and is a student in the high school of Sterling. In his political views Mr Beaman is a Republican and has served as township trustee, as clerk and as a member of the school board. He and his wife have been prosperous in their affairs, and his life record illustrates the potency of energy, determination and indefatigable labor in winning success.