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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.
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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.
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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 |
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