-- OF –
THE LIFE OF J. T. BEAM
-- AND –
HIS FIFTEEN CHILDREN
-- UP TO –
The Third Generation
From 1742 to 1897
-- BY –
A. R. BEAM
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year
1898
by A. R. BEAM
In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
Under these impressions and the opportunity now afforded me, I have not been able to execute my plans to its entire extent. In the event of fulfilling my purpose I do not propose to include every member of the family to any extent; I propose to speak only of those whom I have heard sufficiently often to catch their modes of living, and in regard to these I disclaim all pretensions to adjust their comparative merits.
THE AUTHOR
Editor's note: A xerographic copy of the original booklet was scanned and converted to text using optical character recognition. Scanning errors were removed. References to Genaria have been changed to Geneva (Switzerland). Several footnotes have been added with information of general interest in connection with the Beam family.
Walter R. Beam September 1996.
This text copy of the original booklet has been reviewed and changes made. In the event of mistakes in the original booklet, the errors were maintained where it was noticed.
James L. Beam August, 1998
Rudolph, once Emperor of Germany, had seven beautiful daughters, who contracted alliances that proved to be happy ones.
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 in Hamburg. His occupation was farming, tanning and merchandising. His farm was on or near the River Elb.
After receiving a liberal education and serving his term in the army, as was customary under the laws of Germany, he learned the weaver's trade and to finish his trade he went to Geneva, Switzerland. There he married Miss Rebecca Ranyolds. She was of a good family, a niece of John James Rassaw an eminent writer, who died in 1778.
After his marriage to Miss Ranyolds he intended returning to Germany to his father; About that time, 1767, the great overflow of the River Elbe caused a scarcity to almost terminate in a famine in that country.
About that time the great tide of immigration commenced to America. and he with his wife and two children, John and David, in company with a Mr. Peter Lutz, sailed for America. Landing in Charleston, S. C., sometime in November 1767. Not being able to pay his passage. he contracted with Mr. Christy Eaker, of Lincoln county, N. C., 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, and his faithful work so pleased Eaker that he was set free at six years and given an outfit for house-keeping. He then had six children, three sons and three daughters, and to sadden his eventful life about the year 1779 he lost by death his lamented Rebecca..
With six small children in the then 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 of 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 of whom lived and raised large families.
Aaron Rudolph was a distant relation to John T. Beam's mother.
After the marriage of Elizabeth the Rudolph family moved further west, and there being but little communications at that time, they were 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; 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 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 (sic) a farm, in connection with his trade, until about the year of 1794, when he purchased the lands of Wm. 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 wears of age. The boy knew nothing of the English language, and when one (of) his young mistresses commanded him to do some errand, 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 a ripe old age.
In the year 1801 he built a small house of worship on the hill where now stands New Prospect church. This he erected for his own denomination — Lutheran — but, as he was not prejudiced, he always opened it to other denominations.
After he had been successful in accumulating goods and lands in this county he had made arrangements, at different times, to visit his native land. but wars and other troubles between Germany and other countries prevented him. Great trauble (sic) continued between these countries from 1777 until 1801, when his health began to fail, and he never saw his native home after he left it about the Year 1762.
He had other brothers and sisters, whom he left in Hamburg, but the great overflows and other troubles must have scattered them, or they lost their lives in the great struggles. He had one sister married to a man of note in Hamburg, name forgotten; but he died in 1803 and was buried with great honor.
He had a brother. David, who belonged to the army and held an office, but whether he was lost or not in some of the wars is not known.
John T. Beam was a pious, good man, and led a faithful christian life, and was an elder of the Lutheran church at the time of his death. He was highly respected and loved by his neighbors.
He was born in Hamburg about 1732, came to America in 1767 and died in 1807; aged 75 years. He was buried at New Prospect church.
His wife, Elizabeth, survived him many years. She died in 1841, aged 85 years, and is buried by the side of her husband.
His father, Michael Beam, of Hamburg, was a man of considerable property, having a landed estate on the River Elb, including property in the city of Hamburg. From the different wars and troubles in Germany he never received any of the estate that was due him, which is still in the Courts of Chancery at Hamburg.
The Rudolph family traces their ancestors back to about 1300, when Rudolph became Emperor of Germany under peculiar circumstances. He was a Swiss Baron, the owner of thirteen Cantons. He was Steward of the House of the King of Bohemia. The Electors at Hamburg disagreeing made Rudolph their Emperor and he made his only surviving son Duke of Austria, which Goodrich says the Rudolph family held the Imperial power until 1830.
Tradition teaches us that many mechanical traits have been handed down from the Rudolph family, as we find that Rudolph the II would spend whole days in gun and clock shops and other places gathering the arts of improvement, sometimes neglecting the duties of State.
The first marriage of J. T. Beam to Miss Rebecca Ranyalds, of Geneva, Switzerland, was about the year 1764. The custom of that country then was to pay five shillings for a bill of sale for the wife to the Court of Ordinary. The original bill of sale is yet in possession and at the house of (the) widow (of) Frank Beam, of Lincoln county.
There is no account of any of the Ranyalds family ever coming to America. If any of the younger generation wishes to trace further the family of Beam, of Hamburg, Ranyalds. of Geneva or Rudolph, of Hamburg or Austria. the foregoing dates will start on a direct line of their ancestry.
It has been about one hundred and thirty, years since John T. Beam came to America. With his success in life in worldly goods, he was blessed with fifteen living children, ten sons and five daughters, who lived to raise large families, except one son, Michael, who never married. The progeny of this family of fifteen has reached to the sixth generation and numbers over fifteen thousand souls.
They are in different states, scattered over the United States, but are more numerous in Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland and Rutherford counties, this state.
He was a kind husband and an affectionate father.
Ex-Clerk David Beam was a delegate to our State Convention, in framing our new Constitution of 1868; also a representative m the Legislature, both from Cleveland and Rutherford counties since then.
He married Miss Mary Hoyle, of Lincoln county, and soon became a large landowner, with many slaves, and left at his death a large land estate and several slaves to each of his children.
He had built previous to his death a large dwelling house on Beaver Dam creek, near his father's old homestead. which has since been burned down.
By his marriage to Miss Mary Hoyle there were born to them five sons and three daughters. Michael married Susan Warlick, David married Mary Wacaster, John married Mary Carpenter, Teter never married, Peter married Mary Shires, Anna married Jonas Rudasill, Mary married Jacob Rudasill, Margaret married Jonas Rudasill. The three Rudasills here spoken of are not brothers, but perhaps cousins.
The progeny of this family is numerous. as it is now in the sixth generation, and the most of them are still Lutherans, the faith of their ancestors. We find some brilliant business men of this family — Rudasill & Aderholdt — with many leading mechanics — Frank Beam, dec'd, and his brother, George, and sons of Frank are gifted in mechanical traits. They are the sons of David Beam.
M. E. Rudasill, of Shelby, the son of Mary and Jacob Rudasill, is a gifted mechanic. He and his sons have led active. industrious lives in building up their town, Shelby.
We find some fine farms owned and cultivated in Lincoln and Gaston counties by the descendants of this family; also fine stock with granaries and households well filled.
John Beam died about the year 1830 and was buried at St. Mark's church in Gaston county. His wife survived him many years.
John Rudasill, son of Jacob, with his sons, Augustus, Erastus and others, are now manufacturers of cotton in Lincoln county. P. C. Beam, Charlie Beam and others of this family are engaged in the mill business.
He was a very pious, quiet man and highly respected and loved by his neighbors. He was taught and raised in the Lutheran church, but became a Baptist under the teachings of Rev. Drury Robbins, and he died in that faith. with a full hope of a glorious victory after death, which his record will prove to us of such men who die and leave us. His wife survived him many years.
His children are, Martin Beam, married a Miss Harrill; David married Mrs. Alexander; John married Miss Bridges; J. Whitten married Miss Harrill; Hettie married a Mr. Magness: Biddie first married a Mr. Crowder; he died and she married Mr. Edwards. Annie married Mr. Evans. Sallie married Mr. Gocia, and his son, David Beam, was Superior Court Clerk of Cleveland county for a number of years, and has been successful in all business and has accumulated a considerable estate. His sons are all sober, industrious and men of business capacity.
His daughters are accomplished and married men of business.
Martin Beam's family, a part of them are living in Rutherford county, and are successful farmers; Capt. W. P. Beam, of Shelby, being one of them. He, with several of his brothers, were faithful soldiers during the late war.
John Beam died without issue.
Whitten Beam raised an interesting family, but the writer is unacquainted with them.
Hettie Magness has sons doing business in South Carolina; Judson. a successful merchant of Spartanburg. Benjamin, a brilliant scholar and a citizen of South America; David, a brave officer of our late war, now of Illinois.
Biddie Crowder, afterwards Edwards, has several sons and daughters, who are successful citizens of Rutherford and Cleveland.
Sallie Gocia had two daughters; one married Capt. Wm. Alexander, of Iredell county, but became a citizen of Cleveland. His wife died shortly after their marriage.
The second daughter of Sallie married a Mr. Tratson, of Arkansas. and died leaving two children. Tom, the son, w as shot through the lungs at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5th, 1864. and died at the writer's feet.
J. C. Beam and D. Augustus Beam, of Shelby, Ed., :Martin Luther, and Alexander P. Beam, of Rutherford county, are sons of David Beam, Jr., of this family. W. P. Beam, of Shelby, and John Beam. of Rutherford county, are sons of Martin Beam, of this family.
John Beam married a Miss Carpenter and raised a large family of sons and daughters.
Andrew Beam first married Margaret Adams; she died and he married Sarah Smith. By his first wife several children were born, who are gifted in music. Two sons were lost in our late war. One or two of his grandsons are leading lawyers in one of the western states. (By name Dalton.)
Martin Beam married a Miss Petty, and several sons and daughters were born to them, who are making a success in life in different vocations. His oldest son, John, is a learned scholar, a brilliant speaker, a successful teacher, a competent writer and is now located at Flint Hill, N. C., as local minister (Baptist) and teacher.
Adam married Miss Violet Whitworth. Several sons and daughters were born to them. He died while his children were young. They are now successful in farming and some of them are merchants.
David married in Georgia and nothing is known of his family at this writing.
One daughter married Jacob Sain and his family is not known by the writer.
Two daughters married brothers, by name Williams, and moved to Georgia and but little is known of their families now.
One daughter married a Mr. Gardner, the father of Dr. O. P. Gardner, of Shelby, who has made quite a success in life and happily boasts of his accomplished daughters and brilliant sons. Dr. Gardner had one other brother who, I think, lost his life in our late war.
Mary Beam, a single daughter, went to Georgia and it is not known whether she is living or dead.
In this family we find some brilliant orators. ministers and doctors, which has been handed down to them from John James Rassaw, their paternal ancestor — not religiously, but as scholars, as he was inclined to be an infidel, but he was a brilliant writer and died in Geneva in 1778 of apoplexy.
The above includes the three sons and three daughters that were born to J. T. Beam by Rebecca Ranyalds, whom he married in Geneva, Switzerland. After her death he married Elizabeth Rudolph.
The father of J. T. Beam, as has been mentioned, whose name was Michael, married Sarah Rudolph, which brings both sets of children closely connected on the maternal side.
Sarah Rudolph must have been a descendant of Rudolph, the Duke of Austria, he being the only surviving son out of the seven sons born to Rudolph, (the 1st) who became Emperor of Germany.
At the age of thirty-two years he rode on horseback to Cincinnati, O.; 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, (where Susan Beam now lives) 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 the time to rebuild.
He then went West and invented a cotton planter, and rode on horseback to Washington city and obtained a patent for it.
In 1835 he came home to see his mother and while here he built the grist mill where Columbus Beam now lives, for his brother, Joshua. He again went West and was selling his cotton planter with success when he was taken sick and died in 1849 in Tishamingo county. Mississippi.
By this union there was born to them five sons and five daughters. All that are living have proven to be worthy citizens.
Christopher settled on Brushy creek, in upper Cleveland, where he accumulated a good estate, both of land and slaves. He was a man of good judgement and gifted with business capacity. He died in 1849 and is buried at Zion church. His wife survived him many years.
His children are, John, married a Miss Bennett; Abel married a Miss Camp. He went to the Mexican war and died of sickness near Chapultepec. Mexico. Jordan died at residence of his father. He never married. Oliver married Miss Tucker and died in our late war, leaving one son now in Mississippi. LaFayette died in our late war; he never married Elizabeth married Ansil Irvin. Louisa married Abel Irvin. Sallie married Jackson Elliott. Ann married Walton Green. Esther died young.
This family has been reduced in number by the death of several of the young ones, but yet feel grateful that there are still a great many grandchildren, and some of them of considerable note. S. J. Green, the only child and son of Ann, is an intelligent and business man and has been in the banking business in the town of Shelby for a number of years. Albert Blanton married the daughter of Louisa. He has been a successful merchant of Shelby for a number of years. The son of Elizabeth Irvin, Abel Irvin, is a popular Baptist minister, and has a good record among the faithful of his denomination. There are other young men of this family who are noted for their business capacity, in different locations.
The original, or maternal parent, Gordon, was of a good family and of the Presbyterian faith. I give the outlines of this family so far as I know:
Two of the sons, Oliver and LaFayette, lost their lives in our Lost Cause. Rev. A. C. Irvin, S. S. Green, distinguished characters of this family, with many other grandchildren, was brave and distinguished soldiers in our late war.
Jane married John Harm on. John T. first married Emiline Doggett. She died and he married Narcissus Harmon. Margaret married Daniel Froneberger. Elizabeth married C. Grigg, once sheriff of Cleveland county. D. M. married Lettie Nolan. Susana married Phillip Froneberger. Rachael married C. Conner. Joshua married Miss Craw, of Maine. Letty Ann married Geo. Cabaniss. Jacob married Margaret Oates. Peter married Margaret Conner. Aaron first married Mrs. Margaret Jackson. She died and he married Mrs. Mary Lowry. After her death he married Alice Cahill. a lady of Mecklenberg county.
Peter Beam's second marriage was to Elizabeth Houser, and one child was born to them, Isaac, who is now in Texas with a large family of sons and daughters. His third marriage was to Susan Lattimore.
We find in this family many successful business men, though scattered in different states. No professional men or politicians belong to this family. Mechanics, merchants, tanners and farmers are their general vocations and most of them have been successful.
J. Y. Hord, a successful lumberman and farmer, married a daughter of John Harmon, also Benjamin Ormand, of Gaston, married a daughter of Harmon.
Wm. Froneberger, of Gastonia, Pinkney Froneberger, of Bessemer City, are successful men, sons of Daniel Froneberger; also R. G. Brown, of Gaston county, married a daughter of Harmon.
The sons of John T. Beam died young, leaving the widow, Barbra Beam, with many young children. She has been successful in raising them with much honor.
The daughters of John Beam married M. J. Aydlott and D. Hughes.
The sons and daughters of P. Froneberger are scattered in the West.
H. N. Beam, of Beebe, Arkansas, and E. M. Beam, of Shelby, are successful merchants. Thos. Cline. who married one of the daughters. is a successful business man. B. C. Beam. M. E. Beam are farmers. These constitute the family of D. M. Beam.
L. P. Conner. son of C. Conner, merchant of Shelby, and there are several others in different vocations.
The sons of Joshua Beam, Jr., of California, are, George, a wholesale dealer, Frank, Peter, a stock man. with other sons and sons-in-law in different occupations, all so far successful.
George Cabaniss' family: One son, William, a farmer in Oklahoma, a son-in-law, Riddle, a druggist in Texas, besides he has other children in Texas and Alabama.
Jacob Beam. died young, leaving two daughters in Cleveland county.
Peter Beam died young, during the late war, leaving one son. His widow married A. W. Stroup, who has an interesting family of sons and daughters.
A. R. Beam engaged in farming and merchandising for several years, but owing to bad health has retired from active life.
Peter Beam, the father of this family, engaged in the manufacture of cotton seed and flax seed oil, in connection with cotton gin and mill, which was a very profitable business during the forties and fifties. He continued this business until old age. His place of business was where B. C. Beam now lives.
Four sons and four daughters were born to them. Stanhope married a Miss Graham, Hariet married Mr. Wood. He died and she married a Mr. Lipscomb. John married a Miss Ormand. Austin married in Georgia, Pamelia died single, Susana married a Mr. Dickson, Elizabeth married Mr. Aaron Quinn, Jacob died Young.
Elizabeth and her husband lived on Buffalo creek. near her father's homestead, until the death of her husband in 1848 or 1849. Her husband having purchased a large farm in lower Cleveland on Buffalo creek, she moved her family there and spent the remainder of her days in quietude and peace. She died at the age of 86 and now sleeps at New Prospect by the side of her husband.
Her children who are now living are in their declining years. S. H. Anthony, her oldest son. has been a brilliant business man, was for many years general superintendent, and stockholder in the old Cherokee Iron Works, in York County, S. C.
After the war he retired to a private life on his farm. in lower Cleveland, and devoted his attention to the education of his children, which has been quite a success, and I am proud to say that some of them have commenced life with bright prospects. A son, J. A. Anthony, a successful lawyer, and Senator in our State Legislature, an accomplished daughter who married a leading Baptist minister, and other children, who are equal in their vocations.
Mr. Aaron Quinn, the husband of Elizabeth, was general manager at the Buffalo Iron Works in Cleveland for a number of years. He left two intelligent and interesting children, one daughter and one son, J. H. Quinn, now Clerk of Superior Court of this county. The daughter married a Mr. Rhyne.
Hope Dickson, quite a business man, but now diving a retired life on a farm with his mother, Susana. Hariet's family is not known to the writer, but I think have settled in different states.
Jacob Anthony, the father of this family, was successful in life and accumulated a good property for his children, who have made worthy citizens of our county.
Caroline married Mr. William Kendrick, of this county; Emiline married C. Crowder, who settled in Arkansas. John married a Mrs. McEntire, of this county, but settled and died in Arkansas. Esther married Wm. Alexander of Iredell county, but lived and died in Cleveland; having first married Miss Gocia. of which mention has already been made. He was a descendant of the Alexander brothers of Revolutionary fame.
Jane married Mr. Thos. L. Kendrich. She lived and died in Cleveland county. Many of her children still survive her
Roxana married Rufus Allen and lived and died in this county. Her husband and family still survive her.
Margaret married a Mr. Hubbard. She died leaving a young family and husband. David married Miss Crow, and is now living in Cheraw, S. C.
David is a mechanic and engaged in saw mill, and building contractor.
Teter, the father of this family, was engaged in farming and merchandising, also in making hats ( customary at that time ) of wool. which boys could hardly wear out.
Teter Beam's sons, John and David. were both engaged in our late war. His daughters Caroline and Esther, are still living. Their sons and daughters, many of them are citizens of Cleveland. Blanche Alexander, of Belwood, a carpenter and cotton buyer, Thos. Kendrick, a carpenter and contractor. Others of this family are shrewd traders and successful mechanics. Rufus Allen and sons are worthy citizens of this county.
There were born to them two sons and five daughters. Narcissus married Fendel Whitworth, of this county; Atalicia married Jacob Hoyle; Arvazenia married Osborne Wilson; Bettie first married Barkley; he died and she married Wilson; he died and she married a Mr. Webber. After his death she married a Mr. Lovelace. Martin married Margaret Hord; Matilda married Jefferson Hord; Samuel died single during our late war. All raised large and industrious families, who are now principally farmers in this county. Bettie and Martin have no children.
Samuel Cornwall was a man of more than ordinary judgement. He was uneducated — did not know a letter in the book, but was a good farmer, a successful trader, and was always pleasant. His house was always open to friends and company and he was always delighted to entertain them at his bountiful table.
He took great interest in raising fine stock at the time of the late war. At that time he owned two fine stallions — the Rattler and the Hornet. The Yankees took one of them and the Southern men the other. A fine Hornet mare was saved by hiding her. He regretted the loss of his stock and, it is thought, this, with the loss of his negroes, shortened his days.
After his death he left his children all a good landed estate and his grand children following his steps are making good use of their property.
After his death money was found in different buildings where he had stored it away. He being a large landowner, he went with his two boys to every corner and made them bump their heads against each tree, or corner, believing they would never forget it by the impression made on their memory.
He once owned an educated gander that would follow him over his plantation, and he would often amuse himself with the boys by letting the gander hiss and fly at them.
Samuel Cornwall, Sr., died in 1866, aged 69 years. His wife, Sallie, survived him many years and died in 1893, aged 96 Years.
His father died while he was quite young, leaving him with his mother .and one younger brother at the old homestead. He was always dutiful and obedient to his mother until her death in 1845.
Previous to the death of his mother he married Miss Matilda Mauney, a daughter of Dr. Mauney, a woman of noble character. By this union seven children were born to them — two sons and five daughters.
Elizabeth first married James Wilson, a son of Thomas Wilson, owner of the celebrated Cleveland Springs. Her second marriage was to M. Hauser. Mahulda married Virgil Elliott; Hattie married Mr. Jesse Jenkins, a man of refinement and Christian character. He was a merchant for a number of years in Shelby; also Superior Court Clerk for a number of years. Was Senator in our State Legislature and made himself useful and pleasant in all his business transactions with his fellow man. Finally taking a law course he became an expert, with his much experience. He moved to Texas and by his practice there accumulated a fortune. He was also a member of the Legislature of that state. and died during his term of service in that capacity. His remains were brought to Shelby by his wife and interred in the Shelby cemetery. His wife survives him. He died without issue
Rufus F. Beam first married Mrs. Jane Bradshaw. She died and he married Mary Lippard. After her death he married Lettie Froneberger. By this last union they had several sons and daughters. He is a practicing physician in Oklahoma. He also has two sons that are in the same profession with him
Annie married Wm. Putnam and settled in Alabama, but the war brought them back to their native state, where they have raised an interesting family of sons and daughters.
Cameron Beam died single and in a northern prison during the war;
Elvina, a daughter, died in infancy.
Joshua Beam's second marriage to Miss Susan Heavner, a beautiful and noble lady of Lincoln county, N. C., a family of fine traits of character. By this union ten children were born to them — six sons and four daughters.
Matilda married T. D. Lattimore, who distinguished himself as a brave soldier and officer in our late war. After the war he was elected Superior Court Clerk, which he held a number of years. He is now a stockholder and general superintendent of the Buffalo Manufacturing Company, of this county. Their family consists of several sons and daughters.
Eliza married D. O. McBrayer, who was a brave soldier in our late war. He died young, leaving a large family of young children, and by his young wife's industry and economy she has succeeded in raising them with honor and credit, her daughters marrying men of means and business qualifications. Her sons also are young men of great promise to her.
John T. Beam, not married, is a citizen of California and a master mechanic. His service commands five dollars per day in that state
Susan married a Mr. Hill, of Lincoln county, a farmer; they have a family of several sons and daughters.
Hillard died in infancy; also Clinton died in infancy.
Columbus married a Miss Baker and has built a large and beautiful house on an eminence a few hundred yards below his father's old mansion, near the mill. In connection with mill. store and farm, with an interesting family of small children, he is enjoying the pleasures of life.
Jacob married a Miss Wilkins but died soon afterward. One child born to him after his death.
Florence married Mr. Wm. Hoyle, a merchant off Waco, this county. A man of great resolution, having met with heavy losses by fire in his mercantile business, he rebuilt more extensively and is successful in all his undertakings. A quick and good trader, pleasant and accommodating to all his customers, attentive to the sick, liberal to his church, and is a stock-holder in the Buffalo Manufacturing Company.
Joshua married a Miss Bridges, daughter of Rev. J. M. Bridges, a lady of culture and refinement. He is a farmer and now a citizen of Waco.
Col. Joshua Beam owned a considerable estate in land and shares. His landed estate was in different parts of North Carolina, So. Carolina, and Alabama.
He commenced the manufacture of iron at the old Beam homestead in the early forties. It was pleasant to hear him giving directions and orders before starting on a journey. He traveled a great deal: "Dab must keep the coal wagon going; Jim must haul ore and bring the iron up at night; you must see that Starling keeps the mill in good order, and run the mill at night if necessary. You must let. the wood choppers have rations, but you must not let Reed nor Neal have any money or iron until Saturday evening; if you do they will get drunk and stop the forge. Dan must take the carriage and carry the girls to the camp-meeting tomorrow; Jack must take his mistress and the children to her father's next week; Allen must feed the steers, cows, sheep, and haul wood for Josh in the coaling ground, if he needs it. Lillie must take the young colored girls on fine days and plow; when they cannot plow they can spin." Now comes orders for the white children: "You must go to school regular and behave yourselves; if you don't the teacher will whip you, and I will too."
He had only one son of my age, and just as soon as he was off we were too — down to the forge with the dogs, over the hills running the horses, driving the cows in the millpond to see them swim; tying bells to the colts' tails to see them run, and threats to tell on us, but they never did.
We would have fine times frolicking and hunting with the colored boys at night. We had no knife to cut or pistol to shoot; if we "fell out" with each other we would fisticuff awhile and all was over.
At 4 o'clock every morning the sound of the forge hammer, the rattle of the wagon, the blowing of the blast aroused us fresh for a new day. The neigh of the horse the bray of the mule, the crack of the whip, the whoop of the driver gave us new vigor for the day.
A short while ago I passed over these hills. I looked at the beautiful old mansion, all the rustle and bustle is gone; it all seemed as if I had been dreaming.
I was with this family from early childhood until the war. After the war I went there again and remained with my uncle, who acted and treated me as a father, until his death. which occurred February 12th, 1869.
Col. Joshua Beam was a member to our State Legislature in 1848.
Her children are, Barbra, married Mr. E. Elliott, of this county, a business man of good Christian traits; no children born to them.
Mary married Rufus Botts, a farmer of good moral character. He died young, leaving his widow with several industrious, fine looking, and interesting sons and daughters.
Sallie married B. F. Eskridge, of Cleveland county. one who has accumulated a good estate. They have two children, one son and one daughter.
Joshua F. Beam married Miss Eugenia Parham, an educated and accomplished lady. He is now a successful physician. He has also made quite a success farming. They have several sons and daughters.
David A. Beam first married Mary, the daughter of Wiley Rudasill. She died and he married Emma, daughter of John Rudasill. He is a man of sound judgement, gifted in business qualities: has been a successful farmer and is a good trader. He has several children.
Virgil Beam married Miss Jane Botts, a lady noted for her Christian piety. He has been quite successful in farming, saw-milling and ginning. They have no children.
Susan married Richard Eskridge, a mechanic and farmer. He made quite a success in business. but died young, leaving a family of young boys and girls.
Aaron Beam, Sr., the father of the above family. was the youngest of fifteen children. He lost his health when a young man, but it seemed that all things prospered with him.
He was a successful trader and accumulated a good estate for his children, which his wife, who is still living, has managed with success, and added to it. He was a man of quiet disposition, affectionate to his children. kind to his servants and highly honored and respected by his neighbors.
He and Mr. C. Eaker had become inseparable friends. At one time while they were on a visit to Wm. Killian, on Buffalo creek, within a few hundred yards of where New Prospect church now stands. This visit was probably in view of purchasing the property which he did afterwards. While down on the base of the hill near the shoal, to their great surprise James G. Beatty, a Loyalist, with several men, was coming up the creek near them. Their only chance was the fleetness of their horses, which they reached and mounted, and taking pathways reached their home on Beaver Dam and fled to the swamps, for fear of pursuit.
At another time they were out, when Cornwallis was coming in the direction of Tryon Court House. They came near riding up at the head of his column, but wheeled and saved themselves.
J. G. Beatty married Miss Ann Graham, daughter of Archibald Graham, of Virginia, and sister of Col. Wm. Graham. He settled on Buffalo creek, now owned by Rev. Thos. Dixon. He became such a terror to the American Cause that Col. Wm. Graham sent a squad of soldiers, under command of Captain Isaac White and Lieut. Espy, to arrest him. They found him at home. Some of the soldiers were so enraged at his political principles that they killed him in his own house.
Beatty left three children, one son and two daughters. The son went to Alabama Mollie married Preston Goforth, who became the mother of Beatty, George William, Preston, and Mrs. John Dickson. Margaret or Peggy, married a Mr. Ware, who became the mother of Lerdanius, John Henderson Ware and others. all worthy citizens and true patriots in our late war.
After the war the widow Ann Beatty married John Long, who was a faithful soldier in Col. Wm. Graham's regiment, and lies buried near the Damron house on the road leading from Lincolnton to Spartanburg, a patriot to the American Cause, while on the same road and a few miles apart sleeps Beatty, traitor to the cause of American liberty — both the husband (sic) of one wife.
John Long became the father of Ann Long. who married Peter Beam
John T. Beam, previous to the breaking out of the war, was socially intimate with Beatty and also with Moses Moore, father of Col. John Moore, who led the Tories at Ramsour's mill; but their political differences placed Beam in a condition that he had always to be on his guard.
After the battle at Ramsour's mill J. T. Beam, with several of his neighbors, went to the scene, found some of their neighbors killed, some fighting under the Tory, John .Moore, while others for their native land, neighbor and patriot. Capt. Daniel McKissick, of Lincoln, was severely wounded but recovered.
Many other incidents has (sic) been handed down in regard to his many narrow escapes. During the war at that time a great many Cherokee Indians, and very hostile, were not many miles from his section. Often they would have to flee to a place of safety by their depredations.
Several years after the war, as has been stated, he moved his family to Buffalo, where he lived in quietude and peace until his death. His house was within a few hundred yards of where Columbus Beam, a grandson, now lives, and on the road leading from Shelby to Newton.
It has been handed down that Gen. Morgan opened this route on his retreat from Cowpens to the Catawba, and crossed Buffalo on the shoal where the cotton gin now stands.
I suggest that a tribute of respect to the honor of the old pioneer father of fifteen children, by holding a reunion of the Beam family in the early future. Reunions to be held at the old homestead, where Susan and Columbus Beam now lives; that the younger generation may view and see where their forefathers and mothers roamed and enjoyed the hills and home of their parents and view the resting place on the hill where he now sleeps.
A fatal fever visited the Buffalo neighborhood during the year of 1795, from which the families of Killian, Attom, Goodman and Foggies became almost extinct by death.
For further information by referring to the different dates and corresponding with the (Bergamaster) the Beam or Baum family at Hamburg, Germany, the Rudolph family at Hapsburg, the Raynalds family at Geneva. Switzerland.
Aaron Rudolph, mentioned in these sketches, was born in Hamburg, Germany. He was a brilliant business man, of noble traits of character. Owned a considerable land estate on the River Elbe. Surrounded with all the comforts of life until the War with Turkey, which commenced in 1777, also a great drought in that country. He. with his family, fled to America. leaving his valuable estate
Being personally acquainted with John T. Beam in Germany, he came to his home in Lincoln county, arriving there penniless and destitute. He remained in Lincoln county until about the year 1782; the war still continued in Germany, he not being able to see after his interests there. He went farther west. During the time he remained in Lincoln county his daughter, Elizabeth, was married to J. T. Beam, as his second wife, she being the only member of the family left.
The Rudolph name became extinct in Lincoln county.
The different wars with Germany and other powers deprived the Rudolph family of getting their landed estate up to the death of Elizabeth Beam in 1841, or since. The estate is supposed to be in the Court of Equity in Hamburg.