Union County, Ohio Biographies Project - Jacob Beem
JACOB BEEM
Jacob Beem was born in Alleghany County,
Md., and when twelve years old emigrated with his brother's, family to
Jersey Township, Licking County. He there married Phoebe Rose and
in 1834 came to Claibourne Township, settling on a farm about two and
one-half miles south of Richwood. Mr. Beem possessed a strong and
hardy character, well fitted to cope with the difficulties incident to
pioneer life. He remained a life-long and well-esteemed citizen
of the township. His death occurred in December, 1878.
JACOB BEEM
Jacob Beem , one of a family of eleven
children, was born in Allegheny County, Md.. March 4, 1799, and was the
son of Michael Beem, who was born in Germany March 6, 1755. his father
came to America when Mike was six years old. He had one brother,
Richard, who was shortly after killed by a mule kicking him, leaving
but one of the name in America, and to date we have never met any one
of the name except the descendants of Michael. At about the time
of the breaking-out of the Revolution, he married Elizabeth Green,
niece of Gen. Green, (who was active in the Revolutionary struggle in
gaining our independence). He enlisted early in the Revolutionary
war, was on Gen. Washington's staff and was in service until the close
of the war, after which he engaged in mercantile business, in
Westernport, Md., for a time, the returned to farming. In 1812,
he removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming .
On the 15th of November, 1827, Jacob, the younger son, was married to
Phoebe Rose, the daughter of Rev. Philip Rose, and remained in that
county until 1832, in which year he came to Union County, with the
intention of buying 600 acres of land where Richwood now stands, but
was a few days too late, the land having been purchased by Philip
Plummer. He, however, bought 400 acres of the Clarks, part of
which be retained and lived on at the time of his death in 1878.
He was a man of strong physical, mental and moral powers, thought and
acted for himself, would mold to the ideas of others only when they
were consistent with reason and, upon the whole, just such a character
as would brave the hardships of a new country and pioneer life, and
awaken energy, enterprise and moral force in the circle in which he
moved. He bought, sold and traded in lands and stock, farmed
quite extensively and also took contracts to clear land. Perhaps
he and his boys cleared more land than any other family in the
township. He was a Universalist in religious belief, believing
that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a
revelation of the character of God and of the duty, interest and final
destination of mankind, and that there is one God whose nature is love,
revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ by one Holy Spirit of grace, who will
finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness;
also that holiness and happiness are inseparably connected, and in
order to be happy one must practice only such principles as produce the
best results, denying self of all ungodliness and worldly lust.
He was the father of nine sons and one daughter, being the only one in
the township who could boast of a seventh son. "He died at the ripe age
of seventy-nine years, leaving a wife and eight children to mourn his
loss, two of the sons having given their lives in the service of their
country in the war of the rebellion.
**The History of Union County
gives two accounts for Jacob Beem.**