Union County, Ohio Biographies Project - Orrin Beem
ORRIN BEEM
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Orrin Beem, a pike contractor, was born in Licking County, Ohio, July
24. 1830; he is the son of Jacob and Phoebe (Rose) Beem, the former a
native of Maryland and the latter of Licking County, Ohio, of English
and German descent. His father came to Union County in 1830 and
settled in Claibourne Township. Our subject was raised on a farm
and followed farming until thirty-four years of age. In 1855, be went
to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 1864, when he
enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry,
Company K, under Col. Goodwin, and served as First Lieutenant of his
company until the close of the war. He carried his Christian
character with him in the army, did his duty like a good soldier and
was highly respected by both officers and men. On his return to
civil life he returned to this county and purchased the hotel still
known as the Beem House, in Richwood, which he conducted for some
years. He operated a saw mill in 1872 and has since been
variously engaged, now being a partner of P. G. Wynegar in contracting
for and building turnpike roads. He owns forty or fifty town lots
and a handsome residence now occupied by his family. He laid off
Beem's Addition to the town of Richwood and takes a deep interest in
any thing tending to the growth or improvement of his town. On
June 11, 1855, he married Ellen B. Woodward, a daughter of Moses
Woodward, a native of Vermont, of English and German descent.
Seven children are the issue of this marriage, viz., Isaac N.; Mary,
wife of Dr. M. J. Jenkins; Aurora, deceased; Minnie a graduate of the
Richwood High School in the class of '80; Rose, a junior in the
Richwood High School; Jacob and Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Beem are
members of the Protestant Church of Richwood.