Isaac Newton Harvey Beahm (1859-1950)

Obituary
November 1950
Untimely Death of Rev. I. N. H. Beahm

Only two weeks ago this paper carried an article on the outstanding career of one of the most versatile ministers in Northern Virginia, the Reverend I. N. H. Beahm, of the Church of the Brethren, and it is with sorrow that it now records his untimely death. Rev. Beahm, 91, was killed in an automobile accident last Saturday night in a head-on collision two miles south of Martinsville, Va. Four other persons were injured.

Known throughout the state of Virginia as "Brother Beahm," the deceased minister had been a pastor in the churches of the Brethren for over sixty-nine years and was returning from the denomination's church at Ridgeway when the accident happened. He had been scheduled to preach at a Leaksville, N.C. church on Sunday. C. W. Sweitzer, principal of the Ridgeway High School and driver of the car in which Mr. Beahm was riding, and Clinton Amos and Ernest Cannaday, of Martinsville, and Grady Lawson, of Bassett, who were in the other car, were all taken to the Martinsville hospital.

Rev. Isaac Newton Harvey Beahm was born at Good's Mill in Rockingham County on May 14, 1859, and was graduated from Bridgewater College as valedictorian of his class in 1887. After earning a degree in anthropology in New York, he returned to Bridgewater in 1888 to teach.

One of the founders of the Daleville College, he acted as its principal from 1890 to 1894. He was also principal of Lordsburg College from 1899 to 1900 and of Elizabeth Town College from 1903 to 1909, when he began preaching at Nokesville.

Rarely did Mr. Beahm miss an annual conference of his church and was yearly in attendance at district and regional meetings. A familiar figure on trains and buses as he went through the country to preach, he always wore a long frock coat and plain collar. During his illustrious career, Mr. Beahm preached in most of the 48 states and had once spent some time in Jerusalem where he reported one of his most attentive audiences.

Mr. Beahm's wife, the former Miss Mary Bucher, of Pennsylvania, preceded him in death several years ago ... Last rites were held at Nokesville on Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock with Rev. Rufus Rucker, of York, Pa., and Rev. Fleshman, of Nokesville, officiating. Ministers and friends from all over Northern Virginia were in attendance, attesting to the love and esteem in which he was held ...