|
 Beason is an unincorporated census-designated
place in Oran Township created as a result of the railroad being
built throughout the state. Silas Beason and William Gelsthorp got
the railroad from Chicago to come through Beason and Lincoln.
Early history
Stringer’s History of Logan County Illinois says, “The village of
Beason was laid out July 29, 1872, by Silas Beason, Jonathan R.
Hall, George Gelsthorp, Elias Hammerton, Lewis C. Turk and Joseph
Wilson on the newly completed line of the Havana, Lincoln and
Eastern, now the Champaign and Havana branch of the Illinois Central
Railroad. [The] survey was made by Thomas G. Gardner, county
surveyor.”
The town was named for Silas Beason, an attorney and one of the
promoters of the new railroad. Stringer says the first store was
built by Berryman H. Pendleton and used as a grocery. The second
store was erected by M. R. Hall and occupied by Joseph Barwick with
a general stock of goods.
John A. Evans built the first dwelling in town and very shortly
after William Verry and Berryman H. Pendleton erected houses. The
latter was the first postmaster. Rudolph & Evans built the first
shop in Beason, and Pruitt & Gelsthorp erected the first elevator.
The first post office was established June 2, 1873, almost a year
after the town was laid out.
Beason would face challenges in its first two decades. Stringer
says, “In May of 1891, Armstrong & Company's elevator was destroyed
by fire at a loss in building and grain consumed of $ 40,000.
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Another fire in 1893 destroyed nearly half the business
structures in the town.” Fortunately, “The principal buildings have since been
replaced by a new brick block erected by J. H. Hammerton. The present
schoolhouse was erected in 1893. In 1904, the Methodists built a new church at a
cost of $5,000.”
A blacksmith shop was there in the early days.
In the early 1900s, Beason owned and controlled its own phone system.
Beason had become something of a self-sufficient community by 1911. Businesses
included the Commercial Hotel, John Bumcrots Lumber Company, two grain elevators
and two general stores.
By 1926, Beason had electricity.
[Angela Reiners]
Part two of the four-part
series will continue tomorrow (Saturday, September 17th with a look at the
business community in Beason from the earliest days to the current day.
Come join Beason’s 150th Celebration
CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE |
