Beach Family

THE BEACH FAMILY. — A large part of the history of the Beach family in the United States is gathered only by tradition. Joseph Perkins Beach of Boston, a son of the founder of the New York Sun, has been engaged in writing a history of this family, and has succeeded in getting the names of two thousand seven hundred and fifty-three descendants of two brothers who came to this country from Scotland in 1639. From that year up to 1735 little is known of the family, though there are accounts of valuable services rendered by its members to their country, who filled responsible positions both in mercantile and public life. About the year 1730 one of the family moved from New York city to Sussex county, New Jersey. His son, James, remained in New Jersey and reared a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. James Beach was twice married, first to a Miss Peck, whose father remarked he had a bushel of girls because he had four Pecks. His second wife was Betsey Morehouse. He died in 1820 at the age of sixty-two. His son, Jared, remained on the homestead but the others removed to different parts of the country. Stephen Whited Beach, the leading subject of this sketch, learned the shoemaker’s trade, and in 1809 married Miss Sarah Simpson, whose grandfather came from Scotland in 1700 and settled in New Jersey. Her grandmother, after whom she was named, was of German descent. Stephen Whited Beach and wife, Sarah, lived seven years on the homestead. Four children were born to them. Mrs. Sarah Beach, who in after years was known as "Mother" Beach, at the earnest request of her brother, John Simpson, who settled on the head-waters of Wolf creek, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, persuaded her husband to immigrate to western Pennsylvania, where land was cheap and a home could be secured. In November, 1816, they started for the West, and on reaching Dutch Valley, New Jersey, were persuaded to remain there and open a shoemaking shop. They did so and lived there two years, when they again started westward. They chose their route via Easton, Scranton, and Harrisburg, and on reaching the summit of the Alleghenies met an acquaintance, Henry Darr, a blacksmith, who persuaded Beach to remain in his neighborhood over night, and then resumed their journey westward, his good wife urging him against his will to keep on toward the setting sun, with the intention of reaching her brother John’s home in Mercer county. In due time they reached Pittsburgh without serious mishap, and spending the night with a number of other movers, crossed the Allegheny river the following morning, and finally arrived at the house of James Brannon on Muddy creek, Butler county. Here "Mother" Beach’s energy gave out, having walked all but fifty miles of the distance. Mr. Brannon gave them a hearty welcome, and after a few days’ rest, they pursued their journey to the home of John Simpson, on Wolf creek, their whole capital on arriving consisting of but twenty five cents. The winter of 1818-19 they passed at the home of Samuel Waldron, in the meantime looking around for a suitable location. Mr. Beach returned to the home of Henry Darr for a portion of a load which they had left behind. In 1819 they bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Irwin township, Venango county, now owned by William Beach, at one dollar per acre, and immediately settled upon it. Here they endured the toil, hardships, and trials of pioneer life, but from the time their settlement was completed, unsullied happiness prevailed in their household. On the 28th of May, 1865, Mr. Beach died in the seventy-ninth year of his age, having been born February 15, 1787. He was a lifelong member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and died as he had lived, a faithful member thereof. His wife was born September 10, 1789, and survived him until February 6, 1888, living to the advanced age of nearly ninety-nine years.

The emigration and prosperity of the Beach family was largely due to the energy of this pioneer lady. She was sagacious and farseeing, and the good fortune of the family was undoubtedly due to those qualities. Though none of the family have occupied prominent positions, yet when the flag was insulted by the English in 1812, Stephen Whited Beach went out in defense of his country. And when the throes or civil war convulsed the land many of the family entered the ranks of the Union army to battle for the old flag. Stephen Whited and Sarah Beach were the parents of thirteen children: Caroline, deceased wife of James McConnell; Effie, deceased wife of Azor Bagley; James, a resident of Indiana; John, who died in Indiana; Susan, deceased wife of Patrick McDowoll; Israel, of Irwin township; Sarah, who married Samuel Baker; Stephen, of Indiana; William, of Irwin township; Oliver, of Worth township, Mercer county; Henry, who died in Irwin township; Jane, deceased wife of Andrew Lyons, and Daniel, of Butler county.