Myron Beecher ¹

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Book: 1911.
Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa - page 792.

Although the gentleman whose name heads this sketch has been for several years a member of that silent realm from whose bourne no traveler returns, his memory is held in high regard by the friends and relatives who knew him well when on earth, and his sons and daughters have filled such positions of usefulness that their lives are his best monument, while some of them have gone to join their father in the land beyond.

Myron Beecher was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1813, the son of Samuel and Esther Beecher, who were the parents of five children, Bradford, Almon, Myron, Polly Ann and Harris, all deceased. Samuel Beecher and his wife were originally from Connecticut, and died in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where they had spent the greater portion of their lives in farming.

Myron Beecher grew up in Pennsylvania and attended the common schools there. He married Louisa Wakely Jones, of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, whose parents had come from Connecticut and died in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Beecher died on February 28, 1864, and in 1866 Mr. Beecher came west with his children, and lived in Hardin county, Iowa, until his death, on January 21, 1891. Mr. Beecher was a stanch Republican. A member of the Presbyterian church, he was a true and earnest Christian, of strong character, and was a man much esteemed and respected by those who knew him.

Myron and Louisa Beecher were the parents of seven children. Orman was a farmer in Hardin county, and married Eliza A. Conklin, who bore to him nine children. He is deceased and his widow lives in Eldora. Adelaide O. married Garrett Van Voorhis fc of Union township, and both she and her. husband are deceased.

Antoinette Beecher married Edward B. Chaffee, a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, who came to Union township, Hardin county, with the Beechers in 1867, and bought a farm on which he lived until his death, August 27, 1909. Mr. Chaffee, on August 6, 1862, enlisted at Harrisburg, Penn-sylvania, in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Regi-ment, and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division. He was a brave and efficient soldier, and took part in the following engagements : Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vanborn, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Ann River, Petersburg, Johnson's Road, Deep Bottom, Peter Springs Church, Boydton Road, Hatchers Run, Cold Harbor, Sailors Creek, Appomattox, and many skirmishes. For three weeks he was confined in the hospital at David's Island, later was transferred to Beverley, New Jersey, and received his dis-charge on May 29, 1865. Many times in the service his duties led him where he met with close calls for his life. After the war he was prominent in the Grand Army post at Union, in which he took much interest. On August 27, 1909, at the age of seventy-two, Mr. Chaffee died. He was known to many people in the community, and was esteemed and loved by all who knew him.

Emory Beecher, the fourth child of Myron Beecher, married William Gleneying, of Union township, and is now deceased. Gifford is farming at Lawn Hill, Iowa. Ernest was but ten years old when the family came to Hardin county. He married Minnie Haymond, who died in 1908, leaving one daughter, Marcia G. Ernest and his sister, Mrs. Chaffee, have always lived together. Ernest Beecher is a capable and prosperous farmer, well known in the county as one of her substantial citizens. One daughter of Myron Beecher, Effie, died on December 19, 1879. All the members of the Beecher family are well thought of in their communities, and have fulfilled their duties in their various stations in life.

Myron married Louisa Wakely Jones. (Louisa Wakely Jones was born on 27 May 1821 in , Susquehanna, PA,¹ died on 28 Feb 1869 in , Bradford, PA ^{1 2} and was buried in Le Raysville: Le Raysville Cemetery, Bradford, PA ².)