Beason marks 150 years
Part 4: Notable people from Beason

 

[September 20, 2022] 

Town namesake Silas Beason was a contemporary of Abraham Lincoln, served as an attorney in the area, was mayor of Lincoln eight times and later served in the state legislature.

John Hammerton was an influential businessman working in the hardware business and butcher shop during the town’s early years. His father, Elias Hammerton, was one of the founders and developers of the town.

After an 1893 fire in Beason, the Centennial Book said John Hammerton “rebuilt the block” where several businesses had been. John Hammerton established a general store with partner A. Dunseth. A.F. Parks later became partner of the store, which was open for many years. John Hammerton also served as a postmaster and was elected to various offices on the town board.

Beason native Dr. Alexander Chittick was born in 1872 on a farm south of Beason. Dr. Chittick has the distinction of developing intravenous medication and being the first to successfully administer the treatment. He also wrote medical textbooks, one of which contained one thousand answers and questions medical students used to prepare for state board exams.

Ellsworth Brown (1915-2009), AKA “Brownie,” became a baseball scout for the Chicago White Sox in 1946. He later worked for the Kansas City Athletics, Washington Senators and San Francisco Giants. From 1980, he was a scout for the Minnesota Twins, who recruited in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Notable players he recruited were Hall of Fame Outfielder Kirby Puckett and four time batting champion Bill Madlock.

W.G. (William G.) Colburn owned a coal hauling business, leased school buses to Beason and hauled gas after purchasing a tanker in 1949. Colburn was active in many area civic organizations such as the Shriners and Elks for more than 50 years. He served on the Logan County Board for 20 years and was a president of the Beason-Chestnut Water District.

The Logan County Fair was a big part of Colburn’s life. He was on the Logan County Fair Board for over 50 years and Superintendent of the Society Horse Shows for 25 years. At one point, Colburn served as the President of the State Association of County Fairs.

Beason High School graduate Ross Randolph went into the service after high school. He later served as Dewitt County Deputy Sheriff, was a prison warden, became a state detective, served as Director of Public Safety in Illinois and worked for the FBI.

Gene Burwell was born and raised in Beason, graduating from Beason High School in 1953. As his obituary says, he served in the Army, and then started his career as a carpenter and tradesman. He had a second job as a gas station attendant at a little station in Lincoln. When the owner retired, Gene Burwell bought that station with the help of family.

A December 11, 2020, Lincoln Daily News article by Jim Youngquist says, “that was the beginning of an extraordinary career and business empire. At the time of his retirement some 30 years later, Gene built Burwell Oil Service into 21 stations, truck stops, and other ancillary businesses.”

Additionally, “Burwell served his community and took part in community organizations, served on bank boards and on business boards.” Among ways people described Burwell was as a great family man, supportive friend, good storyteller, generous person and bigger than life.

Brenda Chapman (right) with daughter Emma
and local family friend Dr. Sethi

Brenda Chapman is a 1976 Beason Grade School graduate and 1980 Lincoln Community High School graduate, who went to Lincoln College and later Cal Arts. While in the area, she worked at Economy Fire and Casualty.

Chapman started in the movie industry as a storyboard artist erasing artists marks and later worked on storyboards for Little Mermaid, Hunchback of Notre Dame and Lion King. She was the movie director for the Prince of Egypt and Brave. In Brave, two of the main characters are named after women Chapman knew in Beason, Merida Drake and Elinor Keys.

Elinor and Howard Keys were well known in the Beason community, working on their family farm for over 60 years. The Keys were known for introducing minimum tillage techniques to the area. They were also active in Soil and Water Conservation and helped teach other farmers more about soil conservation. Howard Keys died in 2004 at age 87. Elinor Keys lived a long life, dying at the age of 99 in 2020. She had the distinction of being the oldest member of the Beason United Methodist Church, where she was very involved in their children’s ministry.

Dan White, also known as “Colonel” Dan White, is another Beason native. White was an auctioneer for many years, running White’s Auction House in Lincoln for 11 years. During those years, White ran nearly 40 auctions a year with help from his wife Pam, brothers Darrel and Dave and children Jason and Jenny. They have also hosted fundraisers for The Oasis and charity auctions for Ducks Unlimited and Quails Unlimited. For many years, they were part of the auction team at the Logan County Fair, doing it free of charge [LDN Archives].

Lifelong Beason resident David Sasse married Lincoln native Gail Apel. They became fourth generation farmers who have been awarded for their soil conservation practices. The Sasses currently run Gail’s Pumpkin Patch from September 1 to October 31. Each September, they host a Fall Farm Day, which is well attended by many families.

Others who have Beason ties and still live in the area that merit mention for their community involvement are Nancy (Drake) Uphoff, Kim Wiggers de Otte, Nancy Drake, Randy Wolf and David Irwin just to name a few. It could take a whole book to cover everyone who has played an influential role over the years.

Finally, Beason native Tracy Welch is currently Mayor of Lincoln having first been appointed a few years ago when Seth Goodman stepped down and by election since.
 

Since Beason was named after someone who had been an eight-time mayor of Lincoln, it seems fitting that a Beason native serves as Lincoln Mayor as the town celebrates 150 years.

Most of Beason’s Sesquicentennial Celebration will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Events include a parade, opening ceremony, antiques tractor show, a kiddie tractor show, ice cream social, car and bike cruise in, cake walk and entertainment by the Deja Voodoo Band. There will also be food vendors, bounce houses and kid’s games. Everyone is welcome to join this exciting celebration.

[Angela Reiners]

Past articles

Beason marks 150 years
Part 1: Beason gets its start
Part 2: Businesses
Part 3:  Organizational structures – church, school, government