David C. Beaman Was an Early Pioneer

Submitted by Robert Kingrey

David C. Beaman was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, on November 22, 1838, the son of Rev. Gamaliel C. and Amelia (Crichton) Beaman.

His father, who was a native of Massachusetts, was a son of David Beaman, a selectman of his town; in youth, he was given excellent educational advantages and prepared for college at Amherst Academy, later graduating from Union College in Schenectady, New York, and 1831 completing the theological course at Andover. [Brother to James L. Beaman]

His First Charge

His first charge was in Piketon, Pike County, Ohio, and from there, he went to Burlington, Lawrence County, Ohio, where he served as a pastor of the church and also as principal for the academy.

In 1846 he removed to Montrose, Lee County, Iowa, and one of the most vivid recollections in our subject’s mind is the burning of the Mormon Temple just across the Mississippi River at Nauvoo, Ill., which took place two years after they settled in Iowa. At different points in Lee County, the father continued making his home until 1874 and settled in Croton. He died at the age of seventy-six years.

Moving to Iowa

At the time of removal to Iowa, David C. Beaman was less than eight years of age. His education was obtained in the public schools Denmark Academy and Oberlin College, with two years being spent in the preparatory department of the latter institution.

On returning to Iowa, he entered the railroad business as a station agent at Croton for the Des Moines Valley Railroad and combined with the same company until 1861, when he enlisted in the United States Service. However, before his company was mustered in, he entered the Revenue Service of the United States, which was connected to the railroad service.

His company took part in two engagements before he entered the Revenue Service. He and General Belknap were standing side by side when they heard the first shot of a rebel cannon in the Battle of Athens, Mo., and Mr. Beaman afterward secured the first ball, which he preserves as a memento of the rebellion.

His Mercantile Business

Upon leaving the railroad and revenue service, Mr. Beaman entered the mercantile business, which he carried on for a few years. During that time, he began the study of law, and in 1869 he was admitted to the bar in Van Buren County, Iowa, where he was then living.

He carried on legal practice in the same place for five years and then moved to the county seat, Keosauqua, where he formed a partnership with Joseph C. Knapp, who was a member of the committee appointed by the church to try Henry Ward Beecher, on account of the Tifton affair; the committee, however, reported that there were no charges against the famous preacher except vague newspaper rumors and hence the trail never came off.

From 1874, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Knapp, Mr. Beaman had an important and lucrative practice and also bore a prominent part in public affairs. At one time, he was the Republican nominee for the legislature but was defeated. In 1882 he moved to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he formed a partnership with E.H. Stiles and remained there until 1887. While in Keosauqua and Ottumwa, he was an attorney for the Burlington and Rock Island Railroads, which constituted his principal practice.

Mr. Beaman Moves Again

In 1887 he came to Colorado and accepted the position of general attorney for the Colorado Fuel Company since merged into the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, in which he is a stockholder.

At Athens, Mo., on December 31, 1860, Mr. Beaman married Luella A. Smith, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Dalzell and Mary A. (Thome) Smith, and a relative of Professor Thome, of Cleveland, Ohio.

They are the parents of four children. The eldest, James L., born in Independent (now Selma), Van Buren County, Iowa, is a printer by trade and, at this writing, holds the office of sheriff of Pueblo County, Colo. He is married and has three children, George C., who is also married, is a chief clerk in the Company’s coal mines at Picton, Huerfano County, this state.

The only daughter, Mrs. Alice M. Harper, is the mother of two children and lives in Ottumwa, Iowa. The youngest son, Arthur D., who is married and has one child, is a mine clerk at Walsenburg, Huerfano County, for the company of which his father is secretary. The sons are capable businessmen and, in politics like their father, support the silver cause, being firm in their allegiance to the movement for the restoration of silver to its proper standard.

Rocky Mountain News, 31 Dec. 1910

Beamans Will Celebrate Golden Wedding Tonight

Four Children and Eleven Grandchildren will Attend Reunion to be Held at the Metropole Hotel.

 Surrounded by their four children and 11 grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Beaman are to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary tonight at the Metropole Hotel.

On New Year’s Eve 50 years ago, David Creighton Beaman, then a stripling of 22, leaped into a rowboat accompanied by several friends and rode from Denmark, Iowa, to Athens, Missouri.

In a joyous New Year mood, this young man raced up the village streets to the home of Miss Luella A. Smith. There was the preparation, for it was the wedding night of Miss Smith and the bridegroom D.C. Beaman.

Then Beaman was a clerk for the Rock Island railroad. Today rich in years and honors, he is retired after having been connected with the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company for more than a decade.

He has seen this industry grow into one of the greatest industrial combinations of the West. He has been the successful secretary, general counsel, vice president, and director. Last year he retired from active participation in the affairs.

At the dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Beeman will welcome John C. Osgood, who was instrumental in having Beaman come to Colorado and the first to welcome them on their arrival in 1887.

Mr. Beaman was born in Burlington, Lawrence County, Ohio, on November 22, 1838. His father was a Presbyterian minister born in Massachusetts. The family moved to Burlington, Ohio, in 1832. They went westward in 1847 and settled in Denmark, Iowa.

Batman was sent to school at Oberlin, Ohio, and later took up railroad work. He served in the union army, and later, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1869. Being well-versed in land and corporate law, he was called to Colorado by Osgood in 1887 as counsel for the Colorado fuel and parent company.

Four children will sit down to the wedding dinner tonight. They are all married. James L. Beaman is a resident of Pueblo. Another son, Frank Beaman, also resides in Pueblo. George C. Beaman, the youngest son, is a resident of California. Two married daughters also are present at the reunion and their children.

At the Denver bar and among his associates, Beaman is known as “Judge” but earned the title by being judged of more than 1000 trotting races here some years ago at the old overland track. He is a well-preserved man today and is interested in outdoor sports.

NOTED DENVER ATTORNEY DIES

Source: Rocky Mountain News, Colorado, 9 Sep 1916

Judge D. C. Beaman Reaches End of Long and Useful Professional Career. In the death of Judge D. C. Beaman, 77 years old, former Colorado Fuel & Iron Company vice president, yesterday afternoon at 2:05 o’clock at ‘the Metropole Hotel.

Denver and Colorado lost a distinguished citizen and a noted lawyer. As a lover and a promoter of clean sport, Judge Beaman occupied a place where he had few rivals. He was the moving spirit in the organization of the American Trotters’ Association, the parent of all Western track associations, serving as vice president and later as president of that organization.

Mind Keenly Legal

As a lawyer, Judge Beaman was known among his associates as a man “with a natural legal mind,” an ever-ready wit, and a remarkably quick perception of vital issues. He had an abundance of humor and often illustrated his points with apt stories, ‘many of which were drawn from his ear]y experiences and observations on lan lowa farm.

David Crichton Beaman was born in Burlington, Lawrence County, Ohio, on Nov 22, 1838. His parents were Gamaliel Carter Beaman, a Presbyterian minister and ardent abolitionist, and Emelia Crichton, born in Perthshire, Scotland, and a descendant of the family of which the “Admirable” Crichton was the most noted member.

As a sergeant in a lowa company of the Union army, he took part in the battle of Athens, Mo., on Aug. 5, 1861. His company engaged in the Battle of Athens before it was mustered into the regular army. Mr, Beaman was later assigned to the Federal Revenue Service, where he remained until the close of the war.  He presented a Confederate flag and cannonball captured at the Battle of Athens to the Iowa Historical Society.

He Retired Six Years Ago.

He was admitted to the bar in Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1869 and quickly rose to eminence. His ability was the cause of his being called to Colorado in 1887 by John C. Osgood, and he became connected with the operations of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. As vice president, director, secretary or general counsel, Mr. Beaman was identified for more than twenty-five years with that company.

In January 1910, he retired from active service. Mr. Beaman married Luella A. Smith in Athens, Mo., on Dec. 31, 1860. He visited Gunnison, Colo., and other points of the state from 1880 and 1887, when he moved to Glenwood Springs, coming to Denver in 1888. Besides his widow, Judge Beaman is survived by four children, James I. Beaman of Pueblo, Mrs. W. T. Harper of Ottumwa, Iowa, A. D. Beaman of Denver, and G. C. Beaman of Los Angeles.