Reuben A. Beecher ^{1 2}

   Other names for Reuben were Reuben Beechard and Ruben Beecher.

   FamilySearch ID: LD92-6BY.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1870 in Mifflin Twp., Franklin, OH. ³ William Beicher, shoe maker, 42, was living with wife Susan, 41; Frances, 16; Medora, 14; Laura A., 12; Jeremiah, 7; and Reuben, 6. The parents were born in Pennsylvania, and the children in Ohio, so William moved there before 1854. The post office was Gahanna.

2. Census in 1880 in Silver Lake, Shawnee, KS. ¹ William Beecker [as indexed in census, handwriting looks like Beecher], farmer, 54, was living with wife Susan, 52; son Francis M., laborer on farm, 25; daughter Modora, 22; son Jeremiah, 18; Reuben A., 16; and William A., 5. The parents and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. Francis and Maderu were born in Ohio, the younger children in Indiana.

3. Residence: 1883 Radges Topeka Directory in 1883 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁷ Beechard, Francis M., laborer, res. cor. Taylor and E streets.
Beechard, Jeremiah, painter, res. cor. Taylor and E streets.
Beechard, Reuben A., res. cor. Taylor and E streets.
Beechard, William, carpenter, res. cor. Taylor and E streets.

4. Newspaper: Daily Commonwealth: Warrant for Reuben Beechard, 27 Feb 1884, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁸ Another Bogus Order. On a complaint made by Greenwald & Co., a warrant was issued bv Justice Webb last evening for a young man, or boy, named Reuben A. Beechard. The complaint alleges that on the 9th inst. Beechard, who is about eighteen years of age, drew an order on Greenwald & Co. for a suit of clothes, and signed "Mr, Teneyck" to it. The goods were delivered and subsequently the young man paid $5 on them. Yesterday the clothing men showed the order to Mr. Teneyck and the gentleman said the signature was bogus and that he did not give or authorize it. Beechard is a painter and has been at work for Mr. Teneyck for some time and when questioned by a reporter said that by next Saturday night he hoped to have the clothes paid for. There really appears to have been no disposition to defraud anybody, but the whole matter has the appearance of having been done through ignorance. A bond in the sum of $500 was required for the appearance of the defendant this morning at 9 o'clock. The young man's parents live in North Topeka.

5. Newspaper: Daily Commonwealth: Reuben Beechard In Court, 28 Feb 1884, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁹ The Ten Eyck Order. Reuben A. Beechard, who was arrested the night before on the charge of forgery appeared before Justice Webb yesterday morning promptly at the hour set for the hearing of the case. He had secured the signature of J. A. P. Ten Eyck to his bond for appearance and been allowed to go home. After a careful examination of all the facts and circumstances surrounding the case the County Attorney filed an amended complaint charging obtaining property on false pretenses, and withdrew the one which alleged the commission of a felony. As stated in these columns yesterday there appears to have been no intention to defraud anyone, and as Mr. Ten Eyck, the gentleman whose name was signed to the order, took interest enough in the young man to go on his bond, it seems right that the case should be disposed of in this manner. As the value of the goods was below twenty dollars, of course the offense becomes simply a misdemeanor and punishable by fine. The father of young Beechard, when he learned yesterday morning for the first time of the trouble his son had become involved in, felt very badly indeed, and his sorrow was manifested by tears. Reuben, owing partially to his age and inexperience, has escaped fortunately from a troublesome and what might have been under certain circumstances very serious predicament, and it is hoped it may prove a profitable lesson and in future years show its good results.

6. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: Reuben Beecher Counterfeiter, 20 Apr 1884, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁰ Another Counterfeiter Caught. Brigham Young was yesterday arrested for passing counterfeit dollars on the north side of the river. In company with Reuben Beechard, he had been turning out wholesale quantities of the almighty dollar, which bore so poor a resemblance to the original that they were easily detected. In default of $1,000 bond Young was committed to jail, where Beechard, his partner in crime, already languishes. The dies, moulds and other tools used by the counterfeiters were taken and are now in possession of the United States attorney.

7. Newspaper: Daily Commonwealth: Reuben Beecher Again in Trouble, 21 Jun 1884, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹¹ Again In Trouble.
Some months ago Reuben Beecher, a young fellow living with his parents in North Topeka, drew an order for a suit of clothes on Greenwald Bros., signing the name of his employer, Mr. Ten Eyck, thereto. On its face the transaction had more of the appearance of ignorance than criminal intent and the matter was adjusted and all prosecution stopped. Like many another young man, Reuben profited not by his experience, and now is up on the charge of grand larceny, and admits his guilt. He was arrested yesterday by Constable Cullom, on a warrant issued by Justice Evans, the complainant alleging that on the 9th instant the defendant opened the trunk of J. G. Zellers, by means of a false key, and stole therefrom $65. Young Beecher's father is employed at the cracker factory, but keeps a boarding house on the North Side, and Zellers was one of their boarders, thus rendering it an easy matter for Reuben to get at the trunk. Justice Evans set the examination for this afternoon at 3 o'clock and fixed the bond at the trifling sum (?) of $2,000. Beecher is in the county jail.

8. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: Reuben Beecher Stole Money, 4 Oct 1884, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹² North Topeka. Mr. Earl Craig, special police, deserves great credit for the efficient manner in which he apprehended Reuben Beecher, who stole the money from Mr. Jones. He got a description of his man and in two hours had him safely behind the bars. He also succeeded in recovering part of the money.

9. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: R. A. Beechard plead guilty to petit larceny and was fined $40. Beechard is already under heavy bond to the district court under a charge of grand larceny. At request of his bondsmen he was turned over to the state for safe keeping., 4 Oct 1884, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹³

10. Kansas State Census census on 1 Mar 1885 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ² The 1885 Kansas state census recorded Wm. Beechard, laborer, 60, living with wife Susanna, 57; Francis M., farmer, 30; Medora E., 28; Laura A., 25; Jeramiah, 23; Reuben A., 21; and Wm. Arthur, 10. Wm. Sr. was born in Pennsylvania, Jeramiah and Reuben in Indiana, and all others in Ohio. They moved to Kansas from Ohio.

11. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: Reuben Beecher shot himself, 12 Mar 1886, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁴ North Topeka. Reuben Beecher, shot and seriously wounded himself Wednesday evening, while handling his revolver, which he was exhibiting to a friend. The ball -- a 38 -- entered the palm of his hand, between the middle fingers, and came out at the wrist joint, splintering the bone and causing a very painful, if not dangerous wound. Policeman Ward heard the firing, and secured the shooting iron, which he placed in safe-keeping, as Beecher is evidently unfit to handle such articles.

12. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: "U.S. District Courts. United States vs. Brigham Young, Reuben Beecher, and Shorty. Rebuen Beecher arraigned and pleads guilty. Two years of hard labor in the penitentiary and $1.00 fine.", 22 Apr 1886, Topeka, Shawnee, KS.

13. Newspaper: Topeka State Journal: Madora Beechard Wants $10,000, 4 May 1889, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁵ Madora E. Beechard, a young unmarried woman, wants the district court to grant her $10,000 for personal damages and loss of character, caused by Thomas J. Ragland, under promise of marriage. The young woman lives with her parents in this city and is about 20 years of age, but unable to write her a own name, and was compelled to attach "her mark" to the petition on file. She also made an affidavit of poverty as cause for not depositing the usual sum as security. The marriage was to have occurred on Thanksgiving day, but Ragland left the city and turned his $8,000 worth of property over to his friends.

14. Kansas State Census census on 1 Mar 1895 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁴ The 1895 Kansas census recorded William Bucher [handwriting fuzzy Beecher], 70, living with wife Susanah, 69; Jerry, 34; Rubin, 30; William Jr., 20; Frank, 40; and Laura, 36. William Sr. and Susanah were born in Pennsylvania; Jerry and Rubin in Indiana, and the others in Ohio.

15. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: R. A. Beecher Testifies, 30 Oct 1895, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁶ Ben Jordan is again a prisoner in the city jail, serving a sentence for selling whisky. He had his trial yesterday morning. City Attorney Bird had returned from Leavenworth and he prosecuted the case with extra vigor and was successful in sticking his prisoner to the extent of a $150 fine. Policeman Hobson and R. A. Beecher who lives at 112 Gordon street, were the principal witnesses for the city. Those two men went to Jordan's house and bought a pint of whisky, paying 25 cents for it. Hobson furnished the money and Beecher bought the wet goods. Jordan was represented by Attorney J. J. Schenck. He intends appealing the case to the district court, but was unable to furnish an appeal bond yesterday.

16. Newspaper: Daily North Topeka Newsletter, 1 Jun 1899, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁷ R. A. Beecher, who is painting the Voland house on Jackson street got a good shaking up this morning by being thrown from his ladder. He was painting under the eaves at time. Men were cutting trees preparing to make room for the removal of the house on the north of the Volland house, when one of the big walnut trees fell against the ladder throwing Mr. Beecher to the ground, but we are glad to say that he was not hurt and this afternoon reported for work.

17. Census in 1900 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ⁵ The 1900 census recorded renting at 123 Railroad Street: Ruben A. Bucker [sic, as indexed by census taker], house painter, 36, born Mar 1864 in Ohio. HIs parents were born in Pennsylvania. With him is his wife of 2 years, Fanny, dressmaker, born Mar 1852 in Louisiana by parents born in New York. She had previouisly been married since the census columns state she had birthed 8 children and 6 were alive in 1900.

18. Residence: Topeka City Directory: Beecher, Reuben, painter, res. 122 W. Curtis st. In 1902 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁸ Beecher, Jerry, carpenter, res. 1219 E. Tenth ave.
Beecher, Reuben, painter, res. 122 W. Curtis st.
Beecher, William, laborer, 618 N. Kansas av.

19. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Herald: Beecher's Dog Visits Him in Jail, 17 Feb 1905, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. DOG WAS FAITHFUL
When his master, R. A. Beecher, a painter, was locked up for being drunk in the police station last night, Gip, a black dog, lay outside the cell room door and howled for and hour until the jailer let him inside. He then dashed for the iron cot upon which his master lay in a drunken slumber, climbed on top of the man, and went to sleep. The two came out together into the court room this morning. Beecher was fined $5 by Judge Hamilton and sent back to jail, still accompanied by the dog. Friends came in toward noon and paid the fine. Man and dog walked away together.

20. Occupation: Painter in 1907 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ¹⁹ The 1907 Polk-Radges Directory for Topeka, Kansas recorded:
Beecher, Reuben A., painter, r. 533 N. Kansas Av.
Beecher, Rose (wid Jerry), r 1219 E 10th
Beecher, Wm, carp, b 533 N Kansas Av.
Beecher, Wm A., helper Whieker Bros, b 811 N. Jackson.

21. Census in 1910 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁰ The 1910 census recorded Ruben Beecher, painter, 45, single, as a roomer at 602 N. Kansas Avenue. He was born in Indiana and his parents in Pennsylvania.

22. Residence: 842 N. Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS in 1916 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²¹

23. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: Reuben Beecher Brought Back from Death at Hospital, 9 Sep 1916, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²² STABBED, PERHAPS FATALLY SHIELDING CONVICT'S WIFE
Reuben Beecher Brought Back from Death at Hospital
Frank White, Paroled to Die, Attempts to Kill Friend Who Protected Wife from Him.
Whisky caused a stabbing last night that may be murder before the day is over. Frank White. 35 years old, paroled from the state penitentiary to die, stabbed Reuben Beecher, 52 years old, a painter, during a quarrel shortly before 10 o'clock last night. The men were in White's home at 123 Adams street. Beecher is in St. Francis hospital on the verge of death. He was stabbed because he attempted to protect Mrs. Frank White from being attacked by her husband. White is in the county jail.
Stabs His Friend and Runs.
Both men had been drinking. Neither gave a clear explanation of how the fight started. Mrs. White said that her husband and Beecher were in the back yard when the quarrel began. They came into the house and when Mrs. White spoke to her husband he replied to her, "Yes, and I'll knock your block off, too." White started towards his wife and Beecher sprang between them. It was then that White stabbed him. The blade struck him in the abdomen, slightly to the right and penetrated his liver. After he had stubbed Beecher, White turned and ran.
Beecher went to Tony Jordan's grocery store at the comer of First and Jefferson streets and asked for assistance. Jordan telephoned to police headquarters and when the police arrived the found Beecher calmly sitting in front of the store.
Leads Police to Scene.
"White stabbed me." Beecher told the police. "Come on up and I'll show you where to get him." He led the patrolmen to White's house, bat White had gone. Mrs. White corroborated Beecher's story that he was attempting to protect her from her husband when he was stabbed. She said that she did not know where her husband was. Beecher was taken to police headquarters where Dr. C. R. Silverthorne was called to attend him. Doctor Silverthorne took the wounded man to St. Francis hospital where he found that the lower part of his liver had been penetrated. For several minutes while Beecher was on the operating table he was believed to be dying. He stopped breathing, but finally was revived. He is very weak from loss of blood and the operation necessary to sew up his internal wound, but still has a chance to live.
Half of Life in Prison.
White was arrested by G. A. Fergason and Jake Mays, patrolmen, near the city electric light plant, Second and Adams streets, half an hour after the stabbing occurred. White has spent nearly half his life in the state penitentiary and reformatory. Nearly twenty years ago he was sentenced by Z. T. Hazen, then judge of the Shawnee county district court, to twenty-one years for burglary. At various times he has been released on parole and returned to the penitentiary because of other offenses he committed.
White was first arrested when a boy 12 years old. He was then a bootblack and in an argument with a man whose shoes he had blacked, threw a stone and struck him. Frank Parcell, now jailer at police headquarters, saw the quarrel and arrested White. A few months ago White obtained a parole from the penitentiary on the plea that he was dying with tuberculosis. Warden Codding purchased him a ticket for Douglas, Ariz., and accompanied him to his train. White tearfully thanked the warden and promised to lead a better life. The "better life" resolution lasted only until his train reached Topeka where he got off, sold his ticket to Arizona and has been here ever since.
Beecher, the man who was stabbed, is a painter. He has been boarding at the White home for more than a year. His sister, Mrs. George Grieser, lives near Hoyt. Another sister lives in Texas.

24. Newspaper: Topeka Daily State Journal: Reuben Beecher Stabbed, 9 Sep 1916, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²³ STABS A CRIPPLE
-----
Reuben Beecher May Die After Battle Over Whiskey
Mrs. Frank White Implicates Husband In Affivavit.
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Mrs. Frank White Implicates Husband in Affidavit.
-----
Reuben Beecher, stabbed Friday night by Frank White, is in serious condition today at St. Francis hospital. Mrs. White made an affidavit and signed it today testifying that White stabbed Beecher, and giving all the details. Despite the affidavit Mrs. White cannot be compelled to testify against her husband when the case comes to trial.
According to Mrs. White's affidavit the fight grew out of the theft of whisky. J. E. Widener, an old crippled man, who lives at 113 Adams street received a shipment of a gallon of whisky in half pint bottles Friday.
Widener hid his whisky in a hole between the inner and outer walls. White had already had a drink of Widener's whisky. Mrs. White states that she saw White outside the Widener house cutting a hole in the weather boarding with a knife. She watched him and saw him remove some of the bottles.
Then, says Mrs. White, she rushed out and declared he should not steal whisky from a cripple. She began picking up the bottles and placing them in her apron.
"I'll cut your heart out," she testifies White yelled as he ran towards her. Just then Beecher came around the house. White saw him. "What in are you doing here?" White demanded. "What are you doing?" came back Beecher.
Then, Mrs. White says, White lunged at Beecher with his knife and wounded him. The two men fought all over the yard. Mrs. White says she picked up a board and tried to defend herself and Beecher but was unable to do anything with the infuriated White.
White was arrested last night. He is 35 years of age and has served two or three terms in the penitentiary. He is a paroled convict.

25. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: Reuben Beecher Stabbed by Ex-Con, 10 Sep 1916, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁴ Sunday, September 10, 1916. THE TOPEKA DAILY CAPITALS
WHITE AGAIN FACES TERM IN PRISON; VICTIM ALIVE
Free Six Months After Completing Term for Burglary.
Man Who Has Spent Half His Life in Prison Tried to Kill Peacemaker, Mrs. White Swears.
County Attorney W. K. Atchison yesterday afternoon Issued a. warrant against Frank White, charging him with assault with intent to kill. White is the man who stabbed Reuben Beecher Friday night in a fight in the bottoms. Beecher is at St. Francis hospital, dangerously wounded. His assailant is in the county jail. White had completed his term in the penitentiary not having been paroled, as was reported. Court attaches yesterday were recalling the day in 1902 when White was sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary by Judge Z. T. Hazen in the Shawnee county district court. White had been tried and found guilty of burglary and larceny. As Hazen informed White that he was "giving him the limit," the prisoner turned toward the bench in surprise, and said: "Why, you bald headed old blankety blank, I'll live to see the day you are dead, yet." Later he wrote from the penitentiary and apologized to Hazen.
White began his criminal career as a boy, being sent to the reform school and later to the reformatory. When he appeared in district court and was found guilty, Judge Hazen decided to stop the budding career. According to an affidavit made by Mrs. Laura White, formerly Mrs. Ruff Ready, Beecher was the innocent bystander who attempted to act as peacemaker when he was stabbed. Mrs. White, J. E. Wldener, a cripple, and White, were having a regular family Jar when Beecher arrived on the scene. White ran toward Beecher and with a loose, underhand swing, drove the knife Into his midriff. Then the two men fought until Mrs. White secured the family ax to use on White, when he ran.
This is White's second trip outside the penitentiary since he started on the 20-year sentence. Several years ago he was paroled and stayed In Topeka long enough to steal a cow from John Diehl and attack an old man named Rigdon, in the bottoms. He was returned. He was released about six months ago having completed his sentence.
At the hospital last night it was said that Beecher was in a very serious condition and had shown no improvement during the day. According County Attorney Atchison, if Beecher dies the charge of assault with intent to kill, now lodged against White, will be changed to murder.

26. Newspaper: Topeka Daily Capital: Rebuen Beecher Stabbed, 11 Sep 1916, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁵ "Reuben Beecher, who was stabbed in a drunken brawl Friday night by Frank White, a former convict, is much improved and his chances for recovery are excellent according to reports yesterday. He was resting well last night and without complications will recover."

27. Newspaper: Topeka Daily: T. B. Brings Another Release, 20 Oct 1916, Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁶ T. B. Brings Another Release -- "T. B." [tuberculosis] has released Frank White from prison for the fourth and perhaps the last time. Several weeks ago White stabbed Reuben Beecher during a quarrel at his home in the bottoms. He was captured and has been held in the county jail on a charge of assault with attempt to kill. Beecher was all but dead when taken to the hospital, but has since recovered and has disappeared from Topeka. Yesterday afternoon Beecher was taken in an ambulance from the county jail to his home. He was released on bond because his condition was such that the other prisoners were in great danger of becoming infected. White is 35 years old, and has been arrested several times.

28. Census in 1920 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁷ The 1920 census recorded Reuben A. Beecher, 51, born in Ohio, living in the household of Laura L. White, 39, born in Indiana. Also in the home is James W. Springate, 40, born in Ohio.

29. Census in 1930 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁸ The 1930 census recorded Rubin A. Beecher, 66, single, living as a lodger in the household headed by Fred A. Doan, 81. Rubin was born in Ohio.

30. Census in 1940 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ²⁹ The 1940 census recorded living at 812 North Quincy street: Rubin Beacher [sic, as written by census taker], occupation "old age pension", single, 78, born in Ohio. He was a lodger in the home of Rosie Pounds, widow, 61, and her son Roy, grocery clerk, 36, both born in Kansas.

31. Residence: 1948 Topeka City Directory: Beecher, Reuben: 117 Clay Street in 1948 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³⁰

32. Census in 1950 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³¹ The 1950 census recorded Ruben A. Beecher, single, 76, living as a lodger at 1101 VanBuren Street, a building where many elderly males were living. He was born in Ohio.

33. Residence: 1950 Polk's Topeka City Directory: Beecher Reuben A. R1101 VanBuren in 1950 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³²

34. Residence: Topeka City Directory: Beecher Ruben r1101 Van Buren in 1952 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³³

35. Obituary: Topeka State Journal on 28 Feb 1957 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³⁴

36. He has conflicting death information of Feb 1957 and Topeka, Shawnee, KS. ³⁴

37. Tombstone: Siblings Medora, William and Reuben Beecher are buried at A-Acacia Lawn, Lot 288, sp. 2A, 1 Apr 1957, Topeka: Memorial Park Cemetery, Shawnee, KS.

Reuben married Fanny about 1898 in Topeka, Shawnee, KS. (Fanny was born in Mar 1852 in , , LA.)