Second Generation

2. John Teeter Beam^6,7 was born in 1732 in Hamburg, Germany. John Teeter was born near Hamburg, Germany on the Elbe river in 1732. He emigrated in November 1767.⁸ He died on November 15, 1807 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He was buried in New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery, Cleveland County, NC.⁹ He was also known as Johann Dietrich Böhm. He was also known as John T. Beam. John T. was the first Beam to set foot on U.S. soil. He and his wife and two sons, John & David landed in Charleston, SC sometime in Nov., 1767. His wife Rebecca died in 1779 after having six children, three sons & three daughters. He Married his second wife Elizabeth Rudolph in 1781, she was also from Germany. To this union nine children were born. He is buried at New Prospect Church in Cleveland County. From "The Life of J. T. Beam and his Fifteen Children up to the Third Generation from 1742 to 1897", (1898) by A. R. Beam:
John T. Beam was an Elder in the Lutheran Church at the time of his death. In 1801 he built a Lutheran Church building where now stands New Prospect Baptist Church.
John Teeter Beam went from Hamburg, Germany to Geneva, Switzerland to learn the weaver's trade. There he met Rebecca Raynolds. She was of a good family, the niece of John James Rassaw, an eminent writer who died in 1778. Two of their sons, John and David, were born in Geneva. In 1767 they planned to return to Hamburg but there had been a great overflow of the Elbe River which caused a famine in that country. John and Rebecca with their two small children joined the immigration to America. They landed at Charleston, SC sometimes in November, 1767. Not being able to pay his passage, John Teeter contracted with Mr. Christy Eaker of Lincoln County to serve him seven years for paying his passage to the immigration commission. He was brought by Mr. Eaker to his home in Lincoln County. His faithful work so pleased Eaker that he was set free at six years and given an outfit for housekeeping.
Michael Beam, who was the father of John T. Beam, was born about the year 1702 and married to Sarah Rudolph about the year 1729 or 1730. He lived and raised a family near Hamburg. His occupation was farming, tanning, and merchandising. His farm was on or near the river Elbe.
When John Teeter Beam came to America in 1767, the area west of Catawba River was included in Mecklenburg County. One year later, 1768, Tryon County was formed, including all territories west of the Catawba River up to the mountains. This county was named in honor of William Tryson, Governor of North Carolina. In 1779 Tryson County was divided into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties, with the dividing line three miles easy of Shelby, but west of the pioneer's second home-site on Buffalo Creek. In 1841 Cleveland County was formed out of upper Lincoln and lower Rutherford counties. In 1846 the southern part of Lincoln county became Gaston County, throwing the original home-site of John Teeter Beam to Gaston County. Hence, as all legal records show, John Teeter Beam never moved out of Lincoln County. The two home-sites now in Gaston and Cleveland counties, respectively.
In 1790 John Teeter Beam (Pioneer of the Beam clan) received Land Grant No. 72 for 200 acres in Lincoln County on October 9, 1783, Located on Beaverdam Creek, Southfork of the Catawba, and Land Grant No. 79 for 250 acres in Lincoln County on the same day and same location. Both grants were entered on February 4, 1780.
In 1790 John Teeter Beam purchased land from William Killian on Buffalo Creek, Lincoln County. This later became his home-site, about 1794, according to Aaron Beam. (see "A History of John Teeter Beam Generations" by L. Carl Beam, page 14).
In 1794, John acquired the property that includes the site of the New Prospect Church from William Killian.
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The Cleveland Star
VOL. XX. NO. 88 SHELBY, NC TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 1911

BEAMS HAVE A BIG REUNION

CONGRESSMAN WEBB AND
ANTHONY SPEAK


Descendants of John Teter Beam Who Came From Germany Hold Reunion at New Prospect Church - Plan to Have Big Annual Event - Splendid Dinner And Speeches.

Saturday the descendants of John Teter Beam held their first annual reunion at New Prospect church and about 100 or more were present. The weather was unfavorable but a goodly crowd of those directly and indirectly descended from John Teter Beam gathered to trace their lineage, mingle in friendly relation and organize for an annual event to grow larger and larger in scope year by year. Editor Lee Beam Weathers had charge of affairs and after a song by the crowd, Miss Mayme Beam read a sketch of the life of Mr. Beam. Then Mr. H. A. Anthony, one of the descendants, related some history about the Beam children and told how they have always been industrious, honest and law-abiding citizens. Mr. Anthony's talk was highly interesting. He was followed by Congressman E. Y. Webb who explained the manner in which the Beams got their name. Being of German extraction, he said that Beam, meant, "bauman," a man who cut beams from timber in the Black Forest. Mr. Webb gave many illustrations of modern day inventions to show the wonderful progress that has been made since John Teter Beam came to this country. The dinner was spread on the ground. It was a bountiful repast. Next year another reunion will be held and a committee will be appointed later, composed of descendants of John Teter's children to work out the plans.
The sketch Miss Mayme Beam read reads as follows:
JOHN TETER BEAM
Two hundred and nine years ago, in Hamburg, Germany, a man by the name of Michael Beam was born, in the year 1702 and at the age of 28 he married Sarah Rudoplh, a daughter of the Emperor of Germany, and raised a family of twelve children, and among them was one named John Teter, and it was customary in that country that every male child should learn a trade of some kind. When very young he learned the weavers trade, and after learning said trade he went to Geneva, Switzerland, and while there he married a Miss Rebecca Reynolds, and he remained a few years and intended going back to see his father and mother, but owing to the great floods in that country at that time on the River Elbe, on which his father's plantation lay, and washing away principally all the products of the land. It caused great alarm in so much that a great many people left that country and came to the United States and he and wife Rebecca and two children, John and David, and a man by the name of Peter Lutz in about the year 1675 started on their way to this great country of ours, the land of liberty and landed at Charleston, South Carolina. Not being financially able to pay his fare and in a way he had to sell himself and family to pay the cost of getting across the great deep. After placing himself on the soil of America he commenced looking around, possibly inquiring, who would advance the money and let him work out the cost. It happened that a man by the name of Christopher Eaker from what is now Lincoln County, and after a little conversation Mr. Eaker agreed with Mr. J. T. Beam that if he and his family would work for seven years he would settle the bill. That was agreed upon. Mr. Eaker, immediately after the contract was signed up, geared up his team and carried them to his home and H. T. Beam worked faithfully at hid trade for six years, and then Eaker gave him his freedom, also giving him a fine horse and other necessaries for housekeeping. Up to this time he had six children, three sons and three daughters. Not long after this his wife died.
About two years thereafter he married Elizabeth Rudolph, all of German descent, and raised nine children, which constituted the family of John T. Beam.

The above text is presented as it appeared in the paper,
no alterations or corrections were made of any kind.
Transcribed by
Larry W. Gardner - Historian, New Prospect Baptist Church

With six small children in the wilds of America,with no father, mother, or sister to comfort him, the great tide of immigration had brought a family of Germans to his neighborhood by the name Aaron Rudolph. He married for his second wife Elizabeth, the daughter of Rudolph, in the year 1781. This union proved to be a happy one and by this union nine children were born to them all whom lived and raised large families.
After the marriage to Elizabeth the Rudolph family moved further west and there being but little communication at that time they lost sight of and nothing is known of them at this time.
President Garfield married a Miss Rudolph. I also find in some of the western states an established music house run by a man named Rudolph. All are Germans and are supposed to be descendants of the same family.
John T. Beam did not engage in the American war (Revolutionary War); his trade being worth more at home to the soldiers than his service in the army. He well remembered the first blood shed for American Independence and many great incidents of the great struggle was handed down by him to his children.
By his honest dealings and study habits he soon became a considerable land owner on Beaver Dam creek, in Lincoln county, where he run a farm in connection with his trade until about the year 1794, when he purchased the lands of William Killian on Buffalo creek, where the widow Susan Beam now lives. He built a corn and saw mill at this place where he was successful and continued to add to his means.
The first slave he ever bought was in Charleston in the year 1800 when an African trading vessel landed there, and he bought Bristow, then a boy of about twelve years of age. The boy knew nothing of the English language and when one of his young mistresses commanded him to do something, not understanding her, he made an attempt to kill her with an ax. But one of her brothers knocked him down which Bristow never forgot. He became obedient and made a faithful servant and lived to be a ripe old age.
In the year 1801 he built a small house of worship on the hill where now stands the New Prospect Church. This he erected for his own denomination-- Lutheran-- but as he was not prejudiced he always opened it to other denominations.
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The Shelby Star
'Salt of the earth' Date: 7/24/00
Comments: Its roots reach back two centuries, evolving from Lutheran to Baptist
Cassie Tarpley Star Staff Writer
SHELBY - On a hill not so far away, dragonflies buzz in the summer breeze across the gravestones at New Prospect Baptist Church.
Notable among them is the marker for a 10-day-old infant, Jacob Carpenter, who died in 1819, and headstones for some who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Towering above the rest are markers over the final resting places for the congregation's founder, John Teeter Beam, and for Thomas Dixon Sr., patriarch of a famed Cleveland County family and a Baptist leader in his own right.
It was German-born Beam who, in 1801, built the first house of worship - a Lutheran church with an open door policy - on the site along Buffalo Creek in eastern Cleveland County. As the community established itself and the immigrant Lutherans married the native Baptists, the church denomination evolved.
Oct. 6, 1854, is counted as New Prospect Baptist's birthday, and the Rev. Dixon was its first pastor.
Dixon served continuously for 55 years, apparently until his death in 1909, all the while preaching at and helping start dozens of other churches.
His influence is still felt.
Every pastor since has been able to see from the pulpit Dixon's imposing obelisk at the edge of the cemetery.
A portrait of him presides over the adult ladies' Sunday school class, which is also adorned with the original, antique velvet-covered pulpit furnishings he used.
The hand-carved oak leaf and acorn design pieces were once auctioned and bought by a church member, then repurchased from that estate and donated back to the congregation by John and Lillian Cline.
In 1953, at the dedication of an extensive building and renovation program, Dixon's grandson, former Alabama Gov. Frank Dixon, was the guest speaker.
A large chart is growing on one wall of the downstairs fellowship hall, where Shirley Hord has been working on a timeline of church history for several months, she said.
"The length of time Dixon was here," Mrs. Hord said, "more than 50 years, that just seems unbelievable. His tremendous tenure is very amazing to me."
Perhaps that strong foundation contributed to New Prospect being "a very traditional church," as Mrs. Hord described the congregation.
"We firmly believe that we are supposed to be in the world, but not of the world," she said. "Therefore, we do not desire to bring worldly activities into the church.
"We love to hear the Word preached, to participate in good hymn singing and Christian fellowship," she said.
That fellowship is highlighted at least twice a year by covering the 16 long concrete and stone tables in the churchyard with food, food and more food.
A traditional church Memorial Day is observed the third Sunday in May to - as Mrs. Hord put it in an invitation letter to former members - "revere the saints who have gone on and value the leadership they provided while they were in our midst."
The second big day is the annual Beam Reunion, held the third Sunday in August.
Other traditions have come and gone.
A project of the old Fidelis Sunday school class is one that Mary Davis remembers fondly.
"When I was very young, we worked with the senior adults and did a banquet for them every year," Mrs. Davis said.
"Our teacher, Lillian Cline, was the one who suggested we take that on," she said. "I have special memories of getting close to the older ladies of the church back then."
Louise Grigg joined in 1937, soon after she married the late Torrence Grigg, who grew up at New Prospect, she said.
She recalls her years teaching the beginners, juniors and young people, and remembers taking the children out for picnics near the creek.
"They used to baptize there," she said.
"I was a Methodist and had to be baptized when I joined my husband's church," she said. "They didn't have a baptistery and often baptized in the creek."
Mrs. Grigg, however, was baptized in a joint service at Waco Baptist Church.
The baptismal pool behind the altar was part of the 1953 additions, she said.
"I can remember the old church," she said. "When I first joined, we had lamps hanging from the ceiling."
The lamps were oil or gas, she said, because there was no electricity.


Dr. Gene Watterson, former president of the N.C. Baptist Convention and a 26-year veteran of First Baptist in Shelby before his retirement from fulltime work, has served as the intentional interim pastor at New Prospect since September.
Watterson said New Prospect members, who number about 185 now, are a dedicated group of people.
"These are salt of the earth people," he said.
Mrs. Davis, who played the organ for more than 20 years and served as church secretary under several pastors, agreed.
A member since the late 1960s, she grew up at First Baptist in Spruce Pine, she said.
"I guess I never thought when I moved here that I would find a church that would become my 'home' church," she said, "but they have reached out to me in a great way."
Recently, she has been playing the organ for other churches, she said.


"But I still feel close to New Prospect and have a lot of good friends."
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A.R. Beam told it right--he said John Teeter's goods that he furnished were more valuable than being a soldier. Qualifies for designation of patriot. Instead of soldier. Descendants who can prove with the proper paper work that they are a legitimate descendant can submit the paperwork to apply for membership. It is much harder to give proper verification now, more proof is required. But he is already listed in the DAR books containing the names of patriots and soldiers, applicant does not have to prove that he was a patriot, just that the person is a descendant. Marjorie

John Teeter Beam and Rebecca Reynolds were married in 1764 in Genevia, Switzerland. John Teeter paid five shillings for Rebecca Ranyalds, his first wife. The bill of sale was at the home of Frank Beam of Lincoln County Rebecca Reynolds^7,10 was born in 1744 in Geneva, Switzerland. She died in 1779 in Lincoln County, North Carolina.
Rebecca, J. T. Beam's first wife is referred to as having the maiden name Ranyolds, Raynolds, and Raynalds in the 1899 family history. She is said there to have been the niece of "John James Rassaw". This reference is believed by some of the Carolina clan to be to Jean Jacques Rousseau, the Geneva-born political philosopher whose writings were an inspiration to the French revolutionaries of the late 18th century. I have no direct evidence of the connection, however the times and dates are in agreement, that is, Rebecca could have been Rousseau's niece. As for her real name, it is tempting to think of it as having been Reynolds, since that is a proper English name and her first name (Rebecca) is acceptable as a British one. In searching Rousseau, I came across the name Raynal, another writer and philosopher of the same period, well known to and known by Rousseau. There is no other French name in the Britannica anything like Raynalds. Walter Beam, Jr.
In my church song book, I found Jean Jacques Rousseau has a song in it. I think he wrote the music. "Come, Ye Sinners" WORDS-Joseph Hart, 1759; MUSIC-Jean Jacques Rousseau, 1750
Justin Richardson



John Teeter Beam and Rebecca Reynolds had the following children:

+4	i.	John Derrick Beam.
+5	ii.	David Beam.
+6	iii.	Martin Beam Sr..
+7	iv.	Nancy Anna Beam.
+8	v.	Mary "Polly" Beam.
+9	vi.	Barbara Beam.

John Teeter Beam and Elizabeth Rudolph were married in 1781. Elizabeth Rudolph (daughter of Aaron Rudolph) was born in 1756 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. She died on October 7, 1841 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. She was buried in New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery, Cleveland County, NC. John Teeter married a second wife from a family of German immigrants. Elizabeth was daughter of Aaron Rudolph, a distant relation to John T. Beam's mother. Died at 85 Years old John Teter married a second wife from a family of German immigrants.
Elizabeth was daughter of Aaron Rudolph, a distant relation to John T.
Beam's mother. Died at 85 Years old John Teeter Beam and Elizabeth Rudolph had the following children:

10	i.	Michael Beam was born on June 7, 1782 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He died in 1849 in Tishamingo County, Mississippi. He was buried in Tishamingo County, Mississippi. Died single, He rode a horse to Cincinnati, OH Michael Beam was a natural genius and a gifted mechanic. He was never married. At the age of 32 years he rode on horseback to Cincinnati, Ohio; the country then being almost a wilderness. He drew a draft of a cotton factory and when he returned to his mother's on Buffalo Creek, he and Daniel Warlick commenced building a cotton factory and had it about completed when it was washed away by a freshet. They were not able at that time to rebuild. This article is found on page #7 of the "Millhand's and Preachers" by Liston Pope. "Articles of Agreement made and Entered into this 27th day of April 1816 between Michael Shenk & Absolom (Daniel maybe) Warlick of the County of Lincoln & State of North Carolina of the one part, and Michael Beam of the County and State aforesaid of the other part." (MS. in archives of the North Carolina Historical Commission, Raleigh), a contract whereby Shenk and Warlick agreed to pay Beam $1300 for making a spinning machine, a carding machine and a roving machine. He invented a cotton planter and rode on horseback to Washington D.C. to obtain a patent for it. He went west and was selling his cotton planter with success when he was taken sick and died in 1849, Tishamingo County.
+11	ii.	Christopher Beam.
+12	iii.	Peter Beam.
+13	iv.	Elizabeth Beam.
+14	v.	Jacob Beam.
+15	vi.	Teter Beam.
+16	vii.	Sallie Beam.
+17	viii.	Col. Joshua Beam.
+18	ix.	Aaron Beam Sr..