(NOTE: Frank Beach was the last living veteran from Co. K of the 86th Illinois and of the 992 men who served in the 86th Illinois, only one man, Pvt. Andrew G. Church, of Co. H, outlived him. So, when Frank Beach died, there was only one surviving veteran left from the 86th Illinois.
Frank Beach probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War and he got so sick so early in the war, that he never made it to Nashville, Tennessee, where most of the photographs of the veterans of the 86th were taken while they were in uniform. If however, he did have a portrait made while he was in uniform and in the service, it would be in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or, more likely, in the form of what was called a CDV, which was a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card.
Frank Beach survived his ailment and the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Frank probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that picture of him in uniform, if he did have one made, but at this time, I would be thrilled just to see some MORE pictures of him, perhaps some as a younger man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter))
Private FRANK BEACH, Co. K, 86th Illinois
Frank Beach was born on December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois in Peoria County one of at least eight children born to Lester Orville Beach and Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach. They were;
1. Amine Beach, born __________ __, 18__; John Reves (Reeves) is listed as being married to Annie E. Beach on December 1, 1856 in Rock Island County, Illinois;
2. Elvira Beach, born March 4, 1841 possibly during the move from Ohio to Farmington, Fulton County, Illinois; married to Enos Frost; Elvira (Beach) Frost died Nov. 7, 1893 in Gage County, Nebraska.
3. Frank Beach, born December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois.
4. Cornelia Beach, born Dec. 15, 1845 near Princeville, Illinois; died on Jan. 5, 1868 near Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas.
5. Lydia Beach, born __________ __, 1847 near Princeville, Illinois; died __________ __, 1852 near Princeville; buried in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville.
6. Emily "Emma" Beach, born
7. William "Willie" Beach, born
8. Orville Beach, born
In 1913, Frank's sister's, Amine (Beach) Reeves and Emma (Beach) Ferbrache, wrote the following for the Princeville, Illinois History and Reminiscences series about their parents;
"Lester Beach was born in Rochester, New York in 1804. He served an apprenticeship and learned the Carpernter trade in the City of Rochester. After the death of his parents, he and his brother Charles went as young men to the vicinity of Clyde, Ohio. Here Mr. Lester Beach engaged in farming for a short time and was married to Lydia Chase, who was an aunt of General McPherson of the Civil War.
About the year 1837 he came to Farmington, Illinois, from which place he sent back for Mrs. Beach. She came with her baby Amine, and accompanied by Charles Beach. Mrs. Beach used on this trip an iron tea-kettle that is still in possession of the family, just at present loaned to Cutter's log cabin. Interesting stories are told of the faithful mastiff dog 'Old Tige,' that Mrs. Beach brought on this trip, remembered by many of the early settlers; at one time he stayed faithfully by a runaway team; and at another time took the pants leg off of a thief who would otherwise have gotten Mrs. Beach's horses.
Arriving at Farmington the family could get no dwelling except the old 'council house,' a bark covered structure where the white men and Indians had been in the habit of meeting for their parleys. Mrs. Beach often told her children how the roof leaked and how the shadows in the large recesses suggested Indians to her even when there were none around.
The next year the family moved to Princeville where Mr. Beach built the first house East of town for the Sloan's. For himself he rented land from Wm. C. Stevens, the house being a double log one-half mile North of the Cutter house. Here the children remember their father often driving a steady old nag right into the house to drag in a log for the large fire place. There were no floors in some of the cabins, nor in any of the stores and blacksmith shops of that day. In the stores, men could sit on a box or barrel and spit tobacco juice wherever convenient.
Children were born, including the one in Ohio, in the following order: Amine, Elvira, Frank, Cornelia, Lydia, Emma, Willie and Orville. The oldest child Amine was sent first to school in the log school house near Mr. Slane's southeast of town. Mrs. Cutter and Solomon Cornwell were the first teachers and at this late date the pupil now recollects that one of these teacher, perhaps Mrs. Cutter, wished to punish little Elvira for pulling a tame flower in some forbidden spot; but as Elvira was too little, the teacher punished Amine instead. This enraged the father, who went and informed the teacher that any whipping to be done might be taken out on him. Mr. Cornwell who was developing his land as well as teaching school, had a habit of announcing to the scholars that if it were rainy or stormy on the following day they might come back to school, but if fair weather they need not come as he would be working on his place.
Later on Mr. Beach moved northeast of town to his own farm in the neighborhood of McGinnis, Peet and Clussman. This was on the southeast quarter of Section 6, Akron, now known as the Blue farm. Here he helped to build a new school house. Selling this farm Mr. Beach bought one mile east of Princeville where he lived until he died in 1859, and his widow continued to live continuously until her death in 1906. This is the place remembered by the children as the old home and where they remember their mother carding wool and many other scenes that have long since gone out of date in the Illinois home. The daughter Emma still has in her possession a coverlet made of home spun wool raised on their own sheep, with the year '1840' and Grandmother Slocum's name woven in it. Mother Beach often remarked that her husband did not like farming as well as carpentering and after becoming a farmer he did not whistle at his work as he had formerly........"
The story continued, "Of the children, Amine Reeves, of Abilene, Kansas and Emma Ferbrache, of Sutherland, Nebraska, are the writers of this article. Elvira Frost died in 1893 and is survived by he husband, Enos Frost (also a veteran of the Civil War), her children, Mrs. Cora Nixon, of Princeville, Ill., Miss Lydia, who lives with her father in Wymore, Nebraska, Lester Enos, of Canada, and Mrs. Flora James, of Denver Colorado. Frank is still living at Dumont, Iowa. Lydia died at the age of five years, and Cornelia at the age of twenty-three. Willie and Orville went West as young men and have never been heard from..........."
Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach was born on August 27, 1818 in Penn Yan, Yates County, New York. Frank grew as stated above, grew to manhood working the land beside his father there in Princeville.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Beach family is found residing in Peoria County. I believe that they were already in the area that would become Akron Township, but they are listed in what is called Peoria Township;
1663 Beach Liler O. 45 M Farmer 800 NY
1663 Beach Lydia 32 F NY
1663 Beach Armina 11 F Ohio
1663 Beach Alvina 9 F Ill
1663 Beach Frank 7 M Ill
1663 Beach Cornelia 5 F Ill
1663 Beach Lydia 3 F Ill
1663 Beach Emily 1 F Ill
Frank Beach became the man of the family when his father died on April 23, 1859. The earthly remains of Lester Orville Beach were laid in the Princeville Township Cemetery.
At the time of the 1860 census, the family is found in Princeville Township. They are found in Akron Township. Amine is married to John Reeves by this time and live next door to the Beach's with their daughter Ella. Enos Frost, the future husband of Elvira is working as a farmhand for the Reeves'. Enos is listed as being 17, though he is actually about 22 at this time;
158 Reeves John 30 M farmer 635 OH
158 Reeves Ami 21 F OH
158 Reeves Ella M. 2 F IL
158 Frost Enos 22 M farmhand OH
159 Beach Lydia 42 F 5,000 736 NY
159 Beach Eloisa 19 F teacher IL
159 Beach Frank 17 M farmer IL
159 Beach Cornelia 15 F IL
159 Beach Emma 11 F IL
159 Beach William 9 M IL
159 Beach Orville 5 M IL
At the time of the 1870 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County;
009 Beach Lydia 51 F Farmer 9,000 1,500 New York
009 Beach Emma 24 F Illinois
009 Beach Orville 15 M Illinois
009 Marsh Betsy 90 F Conn.
009 Glaze William 22 M Farm Laborer Illinois
At the time of the 1880 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County. She is widowed, she is farming and her parents are bot listed as having been born in Massachusetts;
Lydia Beach F 62 New York
Emma Beach F 30 Illinois
At the time of the 1900 census, Lydia is still found in Akron Township. Daniel Cornell and his family reside with her;
74 75 Beach Lydia M. Head Jun 1840 59 M 34 Michigan Vermont New York Farmer
In at least the last few months of her life, perhaps just the winter of 1905/06, Lydia went to live with her son, Frank Beach in Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Lydia died there on March 19, 1906. Her mortal remains were sent back to Peoria County, where they were laid to rest on March 22, 1906 beside those of her husband, Lester Orville Beach, in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville, Illinois.
Now to continue with the biography of Frank Beach;
On August 7, 1862, Frank volunteered at Princeville, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville by a Princeville School teacher by the name of John French.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name BEACH, FRANK
Rank PVT Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 6 1/2 Hair BLACK
Eyes GRAY Complexion FAIR Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 7, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY OCT 17, 1862 AT LOUISVILLE KY
After getting over 100 volunteer, John took his company into Camp Lyons, near present day Glen Oak Park, in Peoria, Illinois. On August 26, 1862, John French was elected Captain of the Princeville company and the following day, John, Frank and 94 of the other volunteers from Princeville were mustered into service as Co. K of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th marched from Camp Lyon, through the crowded streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war. There they boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later the 86th was in the field as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade in pursuit of Confederate troops in Kentucky.
However, many of the green troops were already having difficulties with the quality of food and the new lifestyle. Private Frank Beach was so sick that he was almost certainly one of the many men who were left behind in the Army Hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, when the 86th left the Louisville area. The men of the 86th Illinois fought briefly at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky on October 8, 1862, suffering 14 casualties.
On October 17, 1862, the army was so concerned about Frank's health that they discharged him so that he could go home. They hoped that with the help of family and home cooking he would survive his ailment and he was soon on his way back home to Princeville.
Once back home, Frank slowly did recover his health and after quite some time was working in the fields beside his father again. On December 29, 1864, Frank was married to Sarah Elsey in Whiteside County, Illinois. Sarah was born in Essex, England the daughter of Robert Elsey and Mary (Baker) Elsey. Robert Elsey was born on January 19, 1812 in Epson, Surrey, England, while Mary Baker was born in 1820 in England. Sarah was born about 1846 and her parents brought the family to America about 1849, according to the 1900 census. Sarah's parents are both believed to have died by 1860. At the time of the 1860 census of Peoria, 14 year old Sarah Elsey is found residing with Leverett and Sarah Mansfield, who are both in their 70's and residing in the City of Princeville. Incidentally, Sarah had an older sister by the name of Mary Ann Elsey, who married Thomas Wilson. Thomas and Mary Ann Wilson were grandparents of a young man by the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, who went on to become President of the United States.
Four children were born to Frank and Sarah Beach. They are;
1. Lydia E. Beach, born Jan. 7, 1866; died Feb. 21, 1867; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
2. Emily C. "Emma" Beach, born May 7, 1869. Emily was married to Fred H. Foote on January 4, 1893. Emily and Fred had two children, before her death at the age of 27 on May 23, 1896. Emily's mortal remains were buried in the Dumont Cemetery. Her two children were;
A. Walter Homer Foote, born November 22, 1893 in Buchanan County, Iowa. After their mother's death, Walter and his sister, Ethel, went to live with their Foote grandparents, Maria and Horace Foote, who was Clergyman in Earlville, Iowa. By 1910, however, Walter was back living with his father and stepmother, Annie M. (_________) Foote in Byron Township of Buchanan County, Iowa.
Walter was married to Edith ___________ c. 1920. Their children include;
a. Donald Foote, born c. 1921
b. Harlan Foote, born c. 1923
c. Lois Foote, born c. 1928
d. Margaret Ann Foote, born c. 1936
B. Ethel M. Foote, born April __, 1896 in Iowa. Her mother died on May 23, 1896, after which, Ethel and her brother, Walter, were sent to live with their Foote grandparents. Ethel was married c. 1915 to Frank Harold Moore Sr. Five children were born to Ethel and Frank;
a. Mabel Moore, born c. 1917.
b. Bessie Moore, born c. 1920.
c. Ruth Moore, born c. 1923.
d. Frank Harold Moore Jr., born __________ __, 1932. Frank was married on August 31, 1952 to Janice Lorraine King, who was born in Oelwein, Iowa to Leonard and Ruth (Pardee) King on December 14, 1932. Janice graduated from Oelwein High School in 1951. Four children were born to Frank and Janice, including Frank L., Michael, and twin daughters, Debra and Diane.
Frank and Jan farmed and milked cows near Oelwein, West Union, and Fredericksburg until moving to Cresco in 1969. There they established a Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire hog farm. Besides being a farm wife, Jan worked as the Howard County 4-H and Youth Assistant for 15 years. She was active in the organization of the Howard County Porkette's and received the Bell Ringer award in 1975. She and Frank were Grand Marshalls of the Cresco Ag Fest in 2005 and inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2010. Jan enjoyed flea markets and collecting antiques, starting when you could buy a full box for 25 cents. Through the years, Janice had two antique shops and displayed her wares at numerous flea markets. She made cornhusk dolls, loved playing cards, going to casinos, and Frank and Janice enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and traveling to Arizona in the winter.
Janice Moore passed away on December 17, 2014 in Rock Island, Illinois.
e. Mary Moore, born c. 1935.
In the 1930 and1940 census records, Ethel and her family are found in Hazelton, Iowa in Buchanan County.
3. Lillian M. Beach, born in 1877. Lillian was married to William A. Brandenburg on __________ __, 19__. Lillian and William are not believed to have had any children. In 1920, Lillian and William are found in West Point Township, Butler County, Iowa, where William is a Merchant of a General Store. In 1940, they are found residing in Dumont, Iowa in Bulter County. Lillian died on __________ __, 1960; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
4. Frank William Beach, born in April 23, 1880 in Franklin County, Iowa, probably in Geneva Township. The family moved to Butler County, Iowa sometime between 1900 and 1910.
Frank never married. He was still residing with his parents in Butler County in 1920 and was living with his sister, Lillian (Beach) Bradenburg, in the city of Dumont, Butler County, Iowa in 1940. Frank died on __________ __, 1962; buried in the Dumont Cemetery
In 1866, Frank sold his land in Peoria County and moved west to Iowa, where Frank, Sarah and their first child, Lydia, moved onto 80 acres of land, which he had purchased earlier, near Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Frank's mother also went to Iowa with her son. While he was here, Frank's daughter, Lydia, passed away and she was laid to rest in the Dumont Cemetery. He eventually sold his Butler County land and moved to Franklin County, Iowa where he eventually owned, farmed and raised stock on 400 acres of valuable land in Geneva Township.
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Frank Beach stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend five reunions through the years, the distance to be traveled and the difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Frank Beach attended the 3rd reunion in 1889 when he was able to spend time with 14 other veterans of old Co. K, some of whom he had not seen since the war. He then was able to attend the reunions of 1903, 1907, 1915 and 1919, the 1919 reunion proving to be the last that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Beach family is found in the Geneva & Reeves Townships census of Franklin County, Iowa. Frank's father and mother are listed as having been born in New York and Ohio, respectively and he is listed as having been married 35 years. According to the census, Frank and Sarah had four children, two of whom were living at this time;
Head Frank Beach M 58 Illinois
Wife Sarah Beach F 55 England
Daughter Lillie M Beach F 23 Iowa
Son Frank W Beach M 20 Iowa
Frank farmed until 1908, when he retired, started renting his property and moved into Dumont, Iowa. Frank was a member of the School Board of Franklin County for many years, was a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County for two years and in Butler County for three.
In the 1914 History of Butler County, the following biography of Frank Beach is found;
"Frank Beach, living retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests of Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, December 26, 1842. He was reared upon a farm in that locality and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky, later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. He was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois, where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years. In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa, making the journey with teams and coming directly to Butler county, where he located on an eighty acre tract of wild land, which he had previously purchased. Soon afterward, however, he went to Franklin county, where he rented land, operating this for one year and at the same time breaking the soil upon his property in Madison township and building upon it a comfortable home. Afterward he took up his residence upon this place and while carrying forward the work of its development engaged in breaking land for his neighbors, receiving as a compensation for this service the first two crops grown upon the farm. Mr. Beach afterward sold his land in Madison township and bought two hundred and forty acres in Franklin county which he broke, cleared and improved, from time to time adding to his holdings until he accumulated four hundred acres of valuable land, which he still owns. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon this property until 1908, when he rented the tract and moved into Dumont, where he has since lived retired. He has valuable property interests here, owning a number of residence lots upon which he has erected two dwellings.
On the 29th of December, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, England, and a daughter of Robert Elsey, who emigrated to America and located at Rome, New York, where he passed away. His wife survived him and later moved to Elgin, Illinois, where Mrs. Beach was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Beach became the parents of four children: Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months; Lillian, the wife of William Brandenberg, a merchant of Kesley; Frank W., who lives at home, and Emily C, the deceased wife of Fred Foote, by whom she had two children.
Mr. Beach has given his political allegiance to the republican party since he cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has been very active in public affairs and has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to various positions of public trust and responsibility, his official record being characterized by the accomplishment of a great deal of important work. He was for four years assessor of Madison township and while a resident of Franklin county was identified with the work of the school board for a quarter of a century. He served for two years as justice of the peace in Franklin county and for three years in Dumont. He has been a delegate to numerous county conventions both in Butler and Franklin counties. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Dumont, and Mr. Beach is a charter member of the Dumont lodge of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Grand Army post at Ackley. He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who have had business or personal relations with him. He is an own cousin of General McPherson of military fame and moreover, he, himself, is entitled to a place in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war, to whom the country owes a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid."
Through the years, Frank also attended many of the reunions that were organized by the surviving members of the 86th Illinois back in Peoria, Illinois. The last 86th reunion that Frank was able to attend was the reunion in August of 1919.
Frank's mother, Lydia, passed away on March 19, 1906 in Dumont, but her earthly remains were sent back to Princeville, where they were laid to rest beside those of her husband.
Sarah (Elsey) Beach died in Dumont at the age of 78 on November 4, 1924. Her earthly remains were laid beside those of her children in the Dumont Cemetery in Dumont, Butler County, Iowa.
Currently, it is believed that only three men out of the 992 men who had served in the 86th Illinois during the war lived to ring in the New Year of 1937. These were Andrew G. Church, of Co. H, and Frank Beach and Emanuel Keller. both from Co. K. When Emanuel Keller died on April 20th of 1937, this left Private Frank Beach as the last living member of Co. K.
Both, Andrew G. Church and Frank Beach lived to ring in the new year of 1938, but, Frank may not have been doing very well as he passed away on January 18, 1938 at the age of 95. With his passing, Co. K was no more. The following copy of Frank Beach's obituary was sent to me by Don Woodley, of Greene, Iowa. This obituary appeared in the Greene Iowa Recorder, Page 1 of the January 19th, 1938 edition of the newspaper;
"FRANK BEACH, CIVIL WAR VETERAN, DIED TUESDAY
Frank Beach, having retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests in Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Princeville, Peoria County, Ill. December 26, 1842 and departed this life on January 18, 1938 at the age of ninety-five years and twenty-four days.
Mr. Beach was reared upon a farm in the locality of Princeville and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. Three months later he was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years.
In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa making the journey with teams, and coming directly to Clutterville where he located, on wild land which he had previously purchased. Ten years afterwards he went to Franklin county, Geneva township where he built a comfortable home and reared his family.
He engaged in general farming and stockraising upon this property until 1906 when he rented a tract and moved to Dumont where has lived since then.
On December 29, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, Surrey county, England. Four children were born to this union, Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months, Emily C. deceased wife of Fred Foote, Lillian, wife of William Brandenburg and Frank W. The latter two have lived with Mr. Beach since the death of the wife and mother, and have tenderly cared for him.
Monday morning about 2:45 he arose and fell in his bedroom, where he broke his hip. He was taken to Hampton hospital where he passed away Tuesday morning at 8:00 A.M.
He leaves to mourn his daughter Lillian and son, Frank W. Two grandchildren, Mrs. Ethel Foote Moore, of Hazelton and Walter H. Foote, of Ventura, California, also nine great grandchildren and a host of neighbors and friends.
He was a member of the Methodist church, Knights of Pythias, was the last member if the Grand Army of the Republic in this community and the oldest person in the vicinity.
He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who he had business and personal relations with him.
Funeral services will be held at two o'clock at the home Thursday afternoon in charge of C. W. Batten, pastor of the Methodist church. Members of the American Legion will be casketbearers."
Private Frank Beach's earthly remains were laid to rest beside those of Sarah's and their two children in the Dumont Cemetery.
The 86th was now represented by one living veteran, Andrew G. Church. When Andrew G. Church passed on April 4, 1938, the 86th was no more.
by Baxter B. Fite III
(Baxter Fite would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might have more information about Frank and his family and Baxter would especially enjoy getting a better photograph of Frank, especially one of his in unform, if any were ever made, for his Find A Grave site and for the Princeville Historical Society.)
Frank Beach probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War and he got so sick so early in the war, that he never made it to Nashville, Tennessee, where most of the photographs of the veterans of the 86th were taken while they were in uniform. If however, he did have a portrait made while he was in uniform and in the service, it would be in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or, more likely, in the form of what was called a CDV, which was a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card.
Frank Beach survived his ailment and the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Frank probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that picture of him in uniform, if he did have one made, but at this time, I would be thrilled just to see some MORE pictures of him, perhaps some as a younger man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter))
Private FRANK BEACH, Co. K, 86th Illinois
Frank Beach was born on December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois in Peoria County one of at least eight children born to Lester Orville Beach and Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach. They were;
1. Amine Beach, born __________ __, 18__; John Reves (Reeves) is listed as being married to Annie E. Beach on December 1, 1856 in Rock Island County, Illinois;
2. Elvira Beach, born March 4, 1841 possibly during the move from Ohio to Farmington, Fulton County, Illinois; married to Enos Frost; Elvira (Beach) Frost died Nov. 7, 1893 in Gage County, Nebraska.
3. Frank Beach, born December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois.
4. Cornelia Beach, born Dec. 15, 1845 near Princeville, Illinois; died on Jan. 5, 1868 near Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas.
5. Lydia Beach, born __________ __, 1847 near Princeville, Illinois; died __________ __, 1852 near Princeville; buried in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville.
6. Emily "Emma" Beach, born
7. William "Willie" Beach, born
8. Orville Beach, born
In 1913, Frank's sister's, Amine (Beach) Reeves and Emma (Beach) Ferbrache, wrote the following for the Princeville, Illinois History and Reminiscences series about their parents;
"Lester Beach was born in Rochester, New York in 1804. He served an apprenticeship and learned the Carpernter trade in the City of Rochester. After the death of his parents, he and his brother Charles went as young men to the vicinity of Clyde, Ohio. Here Mr. Lester Beach engaged in farming for a short time and was married to Lydia Chase, who was an aunt of General McPherson of the Civil War.
About the year 1837 he came to Farmington, Illinois, from which place he sent back for Mrs. Beach. She came with her baby Amine, and accompanied by Charles Beach. Mrs. Beach used on this trip an iron tea-kettle that is still in possession of the family, just at present loaned to Cutter's log cabin. Interesting stories are told of the faithful mastiff dog 'Old Tige,' that Mrs. Beach brought on this trip, remembered by many of the early settlers; at one time he stayed faithfully by a runaway team; and at another time took the pants leg off of a thief who would otherwise have gotten Mrs. Beach's horses.
Arriving at Farmington the family could get no dwelling except the old 'council house,' a bark covered structure where the white men and Indians had been in the habit of meeting for their parleys. Mrs. Beach often told her children how the roof leaked and how the shadows in the large recesses suggested Indians to her even when there were none around.
The next year the family moved to Princeville where Mr. Beach built the first house East of town for the Sloan's. For himself he rented land from Wm. C. Stevens, the house being a double log one-half mile North of the Cutter house. Here the children remember their father often driving a steady old nag right into the house to drag in a log for the large fire place. There were no floors in some of the cabins, nor in any of the stores and blacksmith shops of that day. In the stores, men could sit on a box or barrel and spit tobacco juice wherever convenient.
Children were born, including the one in Ohio, in the following order: Amine, Elvira, Frank, Cornelia, Lydia, Emma, Willie and Orville. The oldest child Amine was sent first to school in the log school house near Mr. Slane's southeast of town. Mrs. Cutter and Solomon Cornwell were the first teachers and at this late date the pupil now recollects that one of these teacher, perhaps Mrs. Cutter, wished to punish little Elvira for pulling a tame flower in some forbidden spot; but as Elvira was too little, the teacher punished Amine instead. This enraged the father, who went and informed the teacher that any whipping to be done might be taken out on him. Mr. Cornwell who was developing his land as well as teaching school, had a habit of announcing to the scholars that if it were rainy or stormy on the following day they might come back to school, but if fair weather they need not come as he would be working on his place.
Later on Mr. Beach moved northeast of town to his own farm in the neighborhood of McGinnis, Peet and Clussman. This was on the southeast quarter of Section 6, Akron, now known as the Blue farm. Here he helped to build a new school house. Selling this farm Mr. Beach bought one mile east of Princeville where he lived until he died in 1859, and his widow continued to live continuously until her death in 1906. This is the place remembered by the children as the old home and where they remember their mother carding wool and many other scenes that have long since gone out of date in the Illinois home. The daughter Emma still has in her possession a coverlet made of home spun wool raised on their own sheep, with the year '1840' and Grandmother Slocum's name woven in it. Mother Beach often remarked that her husband did not like farming as well as carpentering and after becoming a farmer he did not whistle at his work as he had formerly........"
The story continued, "Of the children, Amine Reeves, of Abilene, Kansas and Emma Ferbrache, of Sutherland, Nebraska, are the writers of this article. Elvira Frost died in 1893 and is survived by he husband, Enos Frost (also a veteran of the Civil War), her children, Mrs. Cora Nixon, of Princeville, Ill., Miss Lydia, who lives with her father in Wymore, Nebraska, Lester Enos, of Canada, and Mrs. Flora James, of Denver Colorado. Frank is still living at Dumont, Iowa. Lydia died at the age of five years, and Cornelia at the age of twenty-three. Willie and Orville went West as young men and have never been heard from..........."
Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach was born on August 27, 1818 in Penn Yan, Yates County, New York. Frank grew as stated above, grew to manhood working the land beside his father there in Princeville.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Beach family is found residing in Peoria County. I believe that they were already in the area that would become Akron Township, but they are listed in what is called Peoria Township;
1663 Beach Liler O. 45 M Farmer 800 NY
1663 Beach Lydia 32 F NY
1663 Beach Armina 11 F Ohio
1663 Beach Alvina 9 F Ill
1663 Beach Frank 7 M Ill
1663 Beach Cornelia 5 F Ill
1663 Beach Lydia 3 F Ill
1663 Beach Emily 1 F Ill
Frank Beach became the man of the family when his father died on April 23, 1859. The earthly remains of Lester Orville Beach were laid in the Princeville Township Cemetery.
At the time of the 1860 census, the family is found in Princeville Township. They are found in Akron Township. Amine is married to John Reeves by this time and live next door to the Beach's with their daughter Ella. Enos Frost, the future husband of Elvira is working as a farmhand for the Reeves'. Enos is listed as being 17, though he is actually about 22 at this time;
158 Reeves John 30 M farmer 635 OH
158 Reeves Ami 21 F OH
158 Reeves Ella M. 2 F IL
158 Frost Enos 22 M farmhand OH
159 Beach Lydia 42 F 5,000 736 NY
159 Beach Eloisa 19 F teacher IL
159 Beach Frank 17 M farmer IL
159 Beach Cornelia 15 F IL
159 Beach Emma 11 F IL
159 Beach William 9 M IL
159 Beach Orville 5 M IL
At the time of the 1870 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County;
009 Beach Lydia 51 F Farmer 9,000 1,500 New York
009 Beach Emma 24 F Illinois
009 Beach Orville 15 M Illinois
009 Marsh Betsy 90 F Conn.
009 Glaze William 22 M Farm Laborer Illinois
At the time of the 1880 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County. She is widowed, she is farming and her parents are bot listed as having been born in Massachusetts;
Lydia Beach F 62 New York
Emma Beach F 30 Illinois
At the time of the 1900 census, Lydia is still found in Akron Township. Daniel Cornell and his family reside with her;
74 75 Beach Lydia M. Head Jun 1840 59 M 34 Michigan Vermont New York Farmer
In at least the last few months of her life, perhaps just the winter of 1905/06, Lydia went to live with her son, Frank Beach in Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Lydia died there on March 19, 1906. Her mortal remains were sent back to Peoria County, where they were laid to rest on March 22, 1906 beside those of her husband, Lester Orville Beach, in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville, Illinois.
Now to continue with the biography of Frank Beach;
On August 7, 1862, Frank volunteered at Princeville, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville by a Princeville School teacher by the name of John French.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name BEACH, FRANK
Rank PVT Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 6 1/2 Hair BLACK
Eyes GRAY Complexion FAIR Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 7, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY OCT 17, 1862 AT LOUISVILLE KY
After getting over 100 volunteer, John took his company into Camp Lyons, near present day Glen Oak Park, in Peoria, Illinois. On August 26, 1862, John French was elected Captain of the Princeville company and the following day, John, Frank and 94 of the other volunteers from Princeville were mustered into service as Co. K of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th marched from Camp Lyon, through the crowded streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war. There they boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later the 86th was in the field as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade in pursuit of Confederate troops in Kentucky.
However, many of the green troops were already having difficulties with the quality of food and the new lifestyle. Private Frank Beach was so sick that he was almost certainly one of the many men who were left behind in the Army Hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, when the 86th left the Louisville area. The men of the 86th Illinois fought briefly at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky on October 8, 1862, suffering 14 casualties.
On October 17, 1862, the army was so concerned about Frank's health that they discharged him so that he could go home. They hoped that with the help of family and home cooking he would survive his ailment and he was soon on his way back home to Princeville.
Once back home, Frank slowly did recover his health and after quite some time was working in the fields beside his father again. On December 29, 1864, Frank was married to Sarah Elsey in Whiteside County, Illinois. Sarah was born in Essex, England the daughter of Robert Elsey and Mary (Baker) Elsey. Robert Elsey was born on January 19, 1812 in Epson, Surrey, England, while Mary Baker was born in 1820 in England. Sarah was born about 1846 and her parents brought the family to America about 1849, according to the 1900 census. Sarah's parents are both believed to have died by 1860. At the time of the 1860 census of Peoria, 14 year old Sarah Elsey is found residing with Leverett and Sarah Mansfield, who are both in their 70's and residing in the City of Princeville. Incidentally, Sarah had an older sister by the name of Mary Ann Elsey, who married Thomas Wilson. Thomas and Mary Ann Wilson were grandparents of a young man by the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, who went on to become President of the United States.
Four children were born to Frank and Sarah Beach. They are;
1. Lydia E. Beach, born Jan. 7, 1866; died Feb. 21, 1867; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
2. Emily C. "Emma" Beach, born May 7, 1869. Emily was married to Fred H. Foote on January 4, 1893. Emily and Fred had two children, before her death at the age of 27 on May 23, 1896. Emily's mortal remains were buried in the Dumont Cemetery. Her two children were;
A. Walter Homer Foote, born November 22, 1893 in Buchanan County, Iowa. After their mother's death, Walter and his sister, Ethel, went to live with their Foote grandparents, Maria and Horace Foote, who was Clergyman in Earlville, Iowa. By 1910, however, Walter was back living with his father and stepmother, Annie M. (_________) Foote in Byron Township of Buchanan County, Iowa.
Walter was married to Edith ___________ c. 1920. Their children include;
a. Donald Foote, born c. 1921
b. Harlan Foote, born c. 1923
c. Lois Foote, born c. 1928
d. Margaret Ann Foote, born c. 1936
B. Ethel M. Foote, born April __, 1896 in Iowa. Her mother died on May 23, 1896, after which, Ethel and her brother, Walter, were sent to live with their Foote grandparents. Ethel was married c. 1915 to Frank Harold Moore Sr. Five children were born to Ethel and Frank;
a. Mabel Moore, born c. 1917.
b. Bessie Moore, born c. 1920.
c. Ruth Moore, born c. 1923.
d. Frank Harold Moore Jr., born __________ __, 1932. Frank was married on August 31, 1952 to Janice Lorraine King, who was born in Oelwein, Iowa to Leonard and Ruth (Pardee) King on December 14, 1932. Janice graduated from Oelwein High School in 1951. Four children were born to Frank and Janice, including Frank L., Michael, and twin daughters, Debra and Diane.
Frank and Jan farmed and milked cows near Oelwein, West Union, and Fredericksburg until moving to Cresco in 1969. There they established a Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire hog farm. Besides being a farm wife, Jan worked as the Howard County 4-H and Youth Assistant for 15 years. She was active in the organization of the Howard County Porkette's and received the Bell Ringer award in 1975. She and Frank were Grand Marshalls of the Cresco Ag Fest in 2005 and inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2010. Jan enjoyed flea markets and collecting antiques, starting when you could buy a full box for 25 cents. Through the years, Janice had two antique shops and displayed her wares at numerous flea markets. She made cornhusk dolls, loved playing cards, going to casinos, and Frank and Janice enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and traveling to Arizona in the winter.
Janice Moore passed away on December 17, 2014 in Rock Island, Illinois.
e. Mary Moore, born c. 1935.
In the 1930 and1940 census records, Ethel and her family are found in Hazelton, Iowa in Buchanan County.
3. Lillian M. Beach, born in 1877. Lillian was married to William A. Brandenburg on __________ __, 19__. Lillian and William are not believed to have had any children. In 1920, Lillian and William are found in West Point Township, Butler County, Iowa, where William is a Merchant of a General Store. In 1940, they are found residing in Dumont, Iowa in Bulter County. Lillian died on __________ __, 1960; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
4. Frank William Beach, born in April 23, 1880 in Franklin County, Iowa, probably in Geneva Township. The family moved to Butler County, Iowa sometime between 1900 and 1910.
Frank never married. He was still residing with his parents in Butler County in 1920 and was living with his sister, Lillian (Beach) Bradenburg, in the city of Dumont, Butler County, Iowa in 1940. Frank died on __________ __, 1962; buried in the Dumont Cemetery
In 1866, Frank sold his land in Peoria County and moved west to Iowa, where Frank, Sarah and their first child, Lydia, moved onto 80 acres of land, which he had purchased earlier, near Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Frank's mother also went to Iowa with her son. While he was here, Frank's daughter, Lydia, passed away and she was laid to rest in the Dumont Cemetery. He eventually sold his Butler County land and moved to Franklin County, Iowa where he eventually owned, farmed and raised stock on 400 acres of valuable land in Geneva Township.
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Frank Beach stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend five reunions through the years, the distance to be traveled and the difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Frank Beach attended the 3rd reunion in 1889 when he was able to spend time with 14 other veterans of old Co. K, some of whom he had not seen since the war. He then was able to attend the reunions of 1903, 1907, 1915 and 1919, the 1919 reunion proving to be the last that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Beach family is found in the Geneva & Reeves Townships census of Franklin County, Iowa. Frank's father and mother are listed as having been born in New York and Ohio, respectively and he is listed as having been married 35 years. According to the census, Frank and Sarah had four children, two of whom were living at this time;
Head Frank Beach M 58 Illinois
Wife Sarah Beach F 55 England
Daughter Lillie M Beach F 23 Iowa
Son Frank W Beach M 20 Iowa
Frank farmed until 1908, when he retired, started renting his property and moved into Dumont, Iowa. Frank was a member of the School Board of Franklin County for many years, was a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County for two years and in Butler County for three.
In the 1914 History of Butler County, the following biography of Frank Beach is found;
"Frank Beach, living retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests of Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, December 26, 1842. He was reared upon a farm in that locality and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky, later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. He was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois, where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years. In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa, making the journey with teams and coming directly to Butler county, where he located on an eighty acre tract of wild land, which he had previously purchased. Soon afterward, however, he went to Franklin county, where he rented land, operating this for one year and at the same time breaking the soil upon his property in Madison township and building upon it a comfortable home. Afterward he took up his residence upon this place and while carrying forward the work of its development engaged in breaking land for his neighbors, receiving as a compensation for this service the first two crops grown upon the farm. Mr. Beach afterward sold his land in Madison township and bought two hundred and forty acres in Franklin county which he broke, cleared and improved, from time to time adding to his holdings until he accumulated four hundred acres of valuable land, which he still owns. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon this property until 1908, when he rented the tract and moved into Dumont, where he has since lived retired. He has valuable property interests here, owning a number of residence lots upon which he has erected two dwellings.
On the 29th of December, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, England, and a daughter of Robert Elsey, who emigrated to America and located at Rome, New York, where he passed away. His wife survived him and later moved to Elgin, Illinois, where Mrs. Beach was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Beach became the parents of four children: Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months; Lillian, the wife of William Brandenberg, a merchant of Kesley; Frank W., who lives at home, and Emily C, the deceased wife of Fred Foote, by whom she had two children.
Mr. Beach has given his political allegiance to the republican party since he cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has been very active in public affairs and has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to various positions of public trust and responsibility, his official record being characterized by the accomplishment of a great deal of important work. He was for four years assessor of Madison township and while a resident of Franklin county was identified with the work of the school board for a quarter of a century. He served for two years as justice of the peace in Franklin county and for three years in Dumont. He has been a delegate to numerous county conventions both in Butler and Franklin counties. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Dumont, and Mr. Beach is a charter member of the Dumont lodge of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Grand Army post at Ackley. He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who have had business or personal relations with him. He is an own cousin of General McPherson of military fame and moreover, he, himself, is entitled to a place in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war, to whom the country owes a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid."
Through the years, Frank also attended many of the reunions that were organized by the surviving members of the 86th Illinois back in Peoria, Illinois. The last 86th reunion that Frank was able to attend was the reunion in August of 1919.
Frank's mother, Lydia, passed away on March 19, 1906 in Dumont, but her earthly remains were sent back to Princeville, where they were laid to rest beside those of her husband.
Sarah (Elsey) Beach died in Dumont at the age of 78 on November 4, 1924. Her earthly remains were laid beside those of her children in the Dumont Cemetery in Dumont, Butler County, Iowa.
Currently, it is believed that only three men out of the 992 men who had served in the 86th Illinois during the war lived to ring in the New Year of 1937. These were Andrew G. Church, of Co. H, and Frank Beach and Emanuel Keller. both from Co. K. When Emanuel Keller died on April 20th of 1937, this left Private Frank Beach as the last living member of Co. K.
Both, Andrew G. Church and Frank Beach lived to ring in the new year of 1938, but, Frank may not have been doing very well as he passed away on January 18, 1938 at the age of 95. With his passing, Co. K was no more. The following copy of Frank Beach's obituary was sent to me by Don Woodley, of Greene, Iowa. This obituary appeared in the Greene Iowa Recorder, Page 1 of the January 19th, 1938 edition of the newspaper;
"FRANK BEACH, CIVIL WAR VETERAN, DIED TUESDAY
Frank Beach, having retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests in Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Princeville, Peoria County, Ill. December 26, 1842 and departed this life on January 18, 1938 at the age of ninety-five years and twenty-four days.
Mr. Beach was reared upon a farm in the locality of Princeville and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. Three months later he was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years.
In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa making the journey with teams, and coming directly to Clutterville where he located, on wild land which he had previously purchased. Ten years afterwards he went to Franklin county, Geneva township where he built a comfortable home and reared his family.
He engaged in general farming and stockraising upon this property until 1906 when he rented a tract and moved to Dumont where has lived since then.
On December 29, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, Surrey county, England. Four children were born to this union, Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months, Emily C. deceased wife of Fred Foote, Lillian, wife of William Brandenburg and Frank W. The latter two have lived with Mr. Beach since the death of the wife and mother, and have tenderly cared for him.
Monday morning about 2:45 he arose and fell in his bedroom, where he broke his hip. He was taken to Hampton hospital where he passed away Tuesday morning at 8:00 A.M.
He leaves to mourn his daughter Lillian and son, Frank W. Two grandchildren, Mrs. Ethel Foote Moore, of Hazelton and Walter H. Foote, of Ventura, California, also nine great grandchildren and a host of neighbors and friends.
He was a member of the Methodist church, Knights of Pythias, was the last member if the Grand Army of the Republic in this community and the oldest person in the vicinity.
He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who he had business and personal relations with him.
Funeral services will be held at two o'clock at the home Thursday afternoon in charge of C. W. Batten, pastor of the Methodist church. Members of the American Legion will be casketbearers."
Private Frank Beach's earthly remains were laid to rest beside those of Sarah's and their two children in the Dumont Cemetery.
The 86th was now represented by one living veteran, Andrew G. Church. When Andrew G. Church passed on April 4, 1938, the 86th was no more.
by Baxter B. Fite III
(Baxter Fite would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might have more information about Frank and his family and Baxter would especially enjoy getting a better photograph of Frank, especially one of his in unform, if any were ever made, for his Find A Grave site and for the Princeville Historical Society.)
(NOTE: Frank Beach was the last living veteran from Co. K of the 86th Illinois and of the 992 men who served in the 86th Illinois, only one man, Pvt. Andrew G. Church, of Co. H, outlived him. So, when Frank Beach died, there was only one surviving veteran left from the 86th Illinois.
Frank Beach probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War and he got so sick so early in the war, that he never made it to Nashville, Tennessee, where most of the photographs of the veterans of the 86th were taken while they were in uniform. If however, he did have a portrait made while he was in uniform and in the service, it would be in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or, more likely, in the form of what was called a CDV, which was a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card.
Frank Beach survived his ailment and the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Frank probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that picture of him in uniform, if he did have one made, but at this time, I would be thrilled just to see some MORE pictures of him, perhaps some as a younger man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter))
Private FRANK BEACH, Co. K, 86th Illinois
Frank Beach was born on December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois in Peoria County one of at least eight children born to Lester Orville Beach and Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach. They were;
1. Amine Beach, born __________ __, 18__; John Reves (Reeves) is listed as being married to Annie E. Beach on December 1, 1856 in Rock Island County, Illinois;
2. Elvira Beach, born March 4, 1841 possibly during the move from Ohio to Farmington, Fulton County, Illinois; married to Enos Frost; Elvira (Beach) Frost died Nov. 7, 1893 in Gage County, Nebraska.
3. Frank Beach, born December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois.
4. Cornelia Beach, born Dec. 15, 1845 near Princeville, Illinois; died on Jan. 5, 1868 near Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas.
5. Lydia Beach, born __________ __, 1847 near Princeville, Illinois; died __________ __, 1852 near Princeville; buried in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville.
6. Emily "Emma" Beach, born
7. William "Willie" Beach, born
8. Orville Beach, born
In 1913, Frank's sister's, Amine (Beach) Reeves and Emma (Beach) Ferbrache, wrote the following for the Princeville, Illinois History and Reminiscences series about their parents;
"Lester Beach was born in Rochester, New York in 1804. He served an apprenticeship and learned the Carpernter trade in the City of Rochester. After the death of his parents, he and his brother Charles went as young men to the vicinity of Clyde, Ohio. Here Mr. Lester Beach engaged in farming for a short time and was married to Lydia Chase, who was an aunt of General McPherson of the Civil War.
About the year 1837 he came to Farmington, Illinois, from which place he sent back for Mrs. Beach. She came with her baby Amine, and accompanied by Charles Beach. Mrs. Beach used on this trip an iron tea-kettle that is still in possession of the family, just at present loaned to Cutter's log cabin. Interesting stories are told of the faithful mastiff dog 'Old Tige,' that Mrs. Beach brought on this trip, remembered by many of the early settlers; at one time he stayed faithfully by a runaway team; and at another time took the pants leg off of a thief who would otherwise have gotten Mrs. Beach's horses.
Arriving at Farmington the family could get no dwelling except the old 'council house,' a bark covered structure where the white men and Indians had been in the habit of meeting for their parleys. Mrs. Beach often told her children how the roof leaked and how the shadows in the large recesses suggested Indians to her even when there were none around.
The next year the family moved to Princeville where Mr. Beach built the first house East of town for the Sloan's. For himself he rented land from Wm. C. Stevens, the house being a double log one-half mile North of the Cutter house. Here the children remember their father often driving a steady old nag right into the house to drag in a log for the large fire place. There were no floors in some of the cabins, nor in any of the stores and blacksmith shops of that day. In the stores, men could sit on a box or barrel and spit tobacco juice wherever convenient.
Children were born, including the one in Ohio, in the following order: Amine, Elvira, Frank, Cornelia, Lydia, Emma, Willie and Orville. The oldest child Amine was sent first to school in the log school house near Mr. Slane's southeast of town. Mrs. Cutter and Solomon Cornwell were the first teachers and at this late date the pupil now recollects that one of these teacher, perhaps Mrs. Cutter, wished to punish little Elvira for pulling a tame flower in some forbidden spot; but as Elvira was too little, the teacher punished Amine instead. This enraged the father, who went and informed the teacher that any whipping to be done might be taken out on him. Mr. Cornwell who was developing his land as well as teaching school, had a habit of announcing to the scholars that if it were rainy or stormy on the following day they might come back to school, but if fair weather they need not come as he would be working on his place.
Later on Mr. Beach moved northeast of town to his own farm in the neighborhood of McGinnis, Peet and Clussman. This was on the southeast quarter of Section 6, Akron, now known as the Blue farm. Here he helped to build a new school house. Selling this farm Mr. Beach bought one mile east of Princeville where he lived until he died in 1859, and his widow continued to live continuously until her death in 1906. This is the place remembered by the children as the old home and where they remember their mother carding wool and many other scenes that have long since gone out of date in the Illinois home. The daughter Emma still has in her possession a coverlet made of home spun wool raised on their own sheep, with the year '1840' and Grandmother Slocum's name woven in it. Mother Beach often remarked that her husband did not like farming as well as carpentering and after becoming a farmer he did not whistle at his work as he had formerly........"
The story continued, "Of the children, Amine Reeves, of Abilene, Kansas and Emma Ferbrache, of Sutherland, Nebraska, are the writers of this article. Elvira Frost died in 1893 and is survived by he husband, Enos Frost (also a veteran of the Civil War), her children, Mrs. Cora Nixon, of Princeville, Ill., Miss Lydia, who lives with her father in Wymore, Nebraska, Lester Enos, of Canada, and Mrs. Flora James, of Denver Colorado. Frank is still living at Dumont, Iowa. Lydia died at the age of five years, and Cornelia at the age of twenty-three. Willie and Orville went West as young men and have never been heard from..........."
Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach was born on August 27, 1818 in Penn Yan, Yates County, New York. Frank grew as stated above, grew to manhood working the land beside his father there in Princeville.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Beach family is found residing in Peoria County. I believe that they were already in the area that would become Akron Township, but they are listed in what is called Peoria Township;
1663 Beach Liler O. 45 M Farmer 800 NY
1663 Beach Lydia 32 F NY
1663 Beach Armina 11 F Ohio
1663 Beach Alvina 9 F Ill
1663 Beach Frank 7 M Ill
1663 Beach Cornelia 5 F Ill
1663 Beach Lydia 3 F Ill
1663 Beach Emily 1 F Ill
Frank Beach became the man of the family when his father died on April 23, 1859. The earthly remains of Lester Orville Beach were laid in the Princeville Township Cemetery.
At the time of the 1860 census, the family is found in Princeville Township. They are found in Akron Township. Amine is married to John Reeves by this time and live next door to the Beach's with their daughter Ella. Enos Frost, the future husband of Elvira is working as a farmhand for the Reeves'. Enos is listed as being 17, though he is actually about 22 at this time;
158 Reeves John 30 M farmer 635 OH
158 Reeves Ami 21 F OH
158 Reeves Ella M. 2 F IL
158 Frost Enos 22 M farmhand OH
159 Beach Lydia 42 F 5,000 736 NY
159 Beach Eloisa 19 F teacher IL
159 Beach Frank 17 M farmer IL
159 Beach Cornelia 15 F IL
159 Beach Emma 11 F IL
159 Beach William 9 M IL
159 Beach Orville 5 M IL
At the time of the 1870 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County;
009 Beach Lydia 51 F Farmer 9,000 1,500 New York
009 Beach Emma 24 F Illinois
009 Beach Orville 15 M Illinois
009 Marsh Betsy 90 F Conn.
009 Glaze William 22 M Farm Laborer Illinois
At the time of the 1880 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County. She is widowed, she is farming and her parents are bot listed as having been born in Massachusetts;
Lydia Beach F 62 New York
Emma Beach F 30 Illinois
At the time of the 1900 census, Lydia is still found in Akron Township. Daniel Cornell and his family reside with her;
74 75 Beach Lydia M. Head Jun 1840 59 M 34 Michigan Vermont New York Farmer
In at least the last few months of her life, perhaps just the winter of 1905/06, Lydia went to live with her son, Frank Beach in Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Lydia died there on March 19, 1906. Her mortal remains were sent back to Peoria County, where they were laid to rest on March 22, 1906 beside those of her husband, Lester Orville Beach, in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville, Illinois.
Now to continue with the biography of Frank Beach;
On August 7, 1862, Frank volunteered at Princeville, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville by a Princeville School teacher by the name of John French.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name BEACH, FRANK
Rank PVT Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 6 1/2 Hair BLACK
Eyes GRAY Complexion FAIR Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 7, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY OCT 17, 1862 AT LOUISVILLE KY
After getting over 100 volunteer, John took his company into Camp Lyons, near present day Glen Oak Park, in Peoria, Illinois. On August 26, 1862, John French was elected Captain of the Princeville company and the following day, John, Frank and 94 of the other volunteers from Princeville were mustered into service as Co. K of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th marched from Camp Lyon, through the crowded streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war. There they boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later the 86th was in the field as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade in pursuit of Confederate troops in Kentucky.
However, many of the green troops were already having difficulties with the quality of food and the new lifestyle. Private Frank Beach was so sick that he was almost certainly one of the many men who were left behind in the Army Hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, when the 86th left the Louisville area. The men of the 86th Illinois fought briefly at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky on October 8, 1862, suffering 14 casualties.
On October 17, 1862, the army was so concerned about Frank's health that they discharged him so that he could go home. They hoped that with the help of family and home cooking he would survive his ailment and he was soon on his way back home to Princeville.
Once back home, Frank slowly did recover his health and after quite some time was working in the fields beside his father again. On December 29, 1864, Frank was married to Sarah Elsey in Whiteside County, Illinois. Sarah was born in Essex, England the daughter of Robert Elsey and Mary (Baker) Elsey. Robert Elsey was born on January 19, 1812 in Epson, Surrey, England, while Mary Baker was born in 1820 in England. Sarah was born about 1846 and her parents brought the family to America about 1849, according to the 1900 census. Sarah's parents are both believed to have died by 1860. At the time of the 1860 census of Peoria, 14 year old Sarah Elsey is found residing with Leverett and Sarah Mansfield, who are both in their 70's and residing in the City of Princeville. Incidentally, Sarah had an older sister by the name of Mary Ann Elsey, who married Thomas Wilson. Thomas and Mary Ann Wilson were grandparents of a young man by the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, who went on to become President of the United States.
Four children were born to Frank and Sarah Beach. They are;
1. Lydia E. Beach, born Jan. 7, 1866; died Feb. 21, 1867; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
2. Emily C. "Emma" Beach, born May 7, 1869. Emily was married to Fred H. Foote on January 4, 1893. Emily and Fred had two children, before her death at the age of 27 on May 23, 1896. Emily's mortal remains were buried in the Dumont Cemetery. Her two children were;
A. Walter Homer Foote, born November 22, 1893 in Buchanan County, Iowa. After their mother's death, Walter and his sister, Ethel, went to live with their Foote grandparents, Maria and Horace Foote, who was Clergyman in Earlville, Iowa. By 1910, however, Walter was back living with his father and stepmother, Annie M. (_________) Foote in Byron Township of Buchanan County, Iowa.
Walter was married to Edith ___________ c. 1920. Their children include;
a. Donald Foote, born c. 1921
b. Harlan Foote, born c. 1923
c. Lois Foote, born c. 1928
d. Margaret Ann Foote, born c. 1936
B. Ethel M. Foote, born April __, 1896 in Iowa. Her mother died on May 23, 1896, after which, Ethel and her brother, Walter, were sent to live with their Foote grandparents. Ethel was married c. 1915 to Frank Harold Moore Sr. Five children were born to Ethel and Frank;
a. Mabel Moore, born c. 1917.
b. Bessie Moore, born c. 1920.
c. Ruth Moore, born c. 1923.
d. Frank Harold Moore Jr., born __________ __, 1932. Frank was married on August 31, 1952 to Janice Lorraine King, who was born in Oelwein, Iowa to Leonard and Ruth (Pardee) King on December 14, 1932. Janice graduated from Oelwein High School in 1951. Four children were born to Frank and Janice, including Frank L., Michael, and twin daughters, Debra and Diane.
Frank and Jan farmed and milked cows near Oelwein, West Union, and Fredericksburg until moving to Cresco in 1969. There they established a Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire hog farm. Besides being a farm wife, Jan worked as the Howard County 4-H and Youth Assistant for 15 years. She was active in the organization of the Howard County Porkette's and received the Bell Ringer award in 1975. She and Frank were Grand Marshalls of the Cresco Ag Fest in 2005 and inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2010. Jan enjoyed flea markets and collecting antiques, starting when you could buy a full box for 25 cents. Through the years, Janice had two antique shops and displayed her wares at numerous flea markets. She made cornhusk dolls, loved playing cards, going to casinos, and Frank and Janice enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and traveling to Arizona in the winter.
Janice Moore passed away on December 17, 2014 in Rock Island, Illinois.
e. Mary Moore, born c. 1935.
In the 1930 and1940 census records, Ethel and her family are found in Hazelton, Iowa in Buchanan County.
3. Lillian M. Beach, born in 1877. Lillian was married to William A. Brandenburg on __________ __, 19__. Lillian and William are not believed to have had any children. In 1920, Lillian and William are found in West Point Township, Butler County, Iowa, where William is a Merchant of a General Store. In 1940, they are found residing in Dumont, Iowa in Bulter County. Lillian died on __________ __, 1960; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
4. Frank William Beach, born in April 23, 1880 in Franklin County, Iowa, probably in Geneva Township. The family moved to Butler County, Iowa sometime between 1900 and 1910.
Frank never married. He was still residing with his parents in Butler County in 1920 and was living with his sister, Lillian (Beach) Bradenburg, in the city of Dumont, Butler County, Iowa in 1940. Frank died on __________ __, 1962; buried in the Dumont Cemetery
In 1866, Frank sold his land in Peoria County and moved west to Iowa, where Frank, Sarah and their first child, Lydia, moved onto 80 acres of land, which he had purchased earlier, near Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Frank's mother also went to Iowa with her son. While he was here, Frank's daughter, Lydia, passed away and she was laid to rest in the Dumont Cemetery. He eventually sold his Butler County land and moved to Franklin County, Iowa where he eventually owned, farmed and raised stock on 400 acres of valuable land in Geneva Township.
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Frank Beach stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend five reunions through the years, the distance to be traveled and the difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Frank Beach attended the 3rd reunion in 1889 when he was able to spend time with 14 other veterans of old Co. K, some of whom he had not seen since the war. He then was able to attend the reunions of 1903, 1907, 1915 and 1919, the 1919 reunion proving to be the last that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Beach family is found in the Geneva & Reeves Townships census of Franklin County, Iowa. Frank's father and mother are listed as having been born in New York and Ohio, respectively and he is listed as having been married 35 years. According to the census, Frank and Sarah had four children, two of whom were living at this time;
Head Frank Beach M 58 Illinois
Wife Sarah Beach F 55 England
Daughter Lillie M Beach F 23 Iowa
Son Frank W Beach M 20 Iowa
Frank farmed until 1908, when he retired, started renting his property and moved into Dumont, Iowa. Frank was a member of the School Board of Franklin County for many years, was a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County for two years and in Butler County for three.
In the 1914 History of Butler County, the following biography of Frank Beach is found;
"Frank Beach, living retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests of Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, December 26, 1842. He was reared upon a farm in that locality and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky, later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. He was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois, where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years. In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa, making the journey with teams and coming directly to Butler county, where he located on an eighty acre tract of wild land, which he had previously purchased. Soon afterward, however, he went to Franklin county, where he rented land, operating this for one year and at the same time breaking the soil upon his property in Madison township and building upon it a comfortable home. Afterward he took up his residence upon this place and while carrying forward the work of its development engaged in breaking land for his neighbors, receiving as a compensation for this service the first two crops grown upon the farm. Mr. Beach afterward sold his land in Madison township and bought two hundred and forty acres in Franklin county which he broke, cleared and improved, from time to time adding to his holdings until he accumulated four hundred acres of valuable land, which he still owns. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon this property until 1908, when he rented the tract and moved into Dumont, where he has since lived retired. He has valuable property interests here, owning a number of residence lots upon which he has erected two dwellings.
On the 29th of December, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, England, and a daughter of Robert Elsey, who emigrated to America and located at Rome, New York, where he passed away. His wife survived him and later moved to Elgin, Illinois, where Mrs. Beach was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Beach became the parents of four children: Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months; Lillian, the wife of William Brandenberg, a merchant of Kesley; Frank W., who lives at home, and Emily C, the deceased wife of Fred Foote, by whom she had two children.
Mr. Beach has given his political allegiance to the republican party since he cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has been very active in public affairs and has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to various positions of public trust and responsibility, his official record being characterized by the accomplishment of a great deal of important work. He was for four years assessor of Madison township and while a resident of Franklin county was identified with the work of the school board for a quarter of a century. He served for two years as justice of the peace in Franklin county and for three years in Dumont. He has been a delegate to numerous county conventions both in Butler and Franklin counties. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Dumont, and Mr. Beach is a charter member of the Dumont lodge of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Grand Army post at Ackley. He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who have had business or personal relations with him. He is an own cousin of General McPherson of military fame and moreover, he, himself, is entitled to a place in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war, to whom the country owes a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid."
Through the years, Frank also attended many of the reunions that were organized by the surviving members of the 86th Illinois back in Peoria, Illinois. The last 86th reunion that Frank was able to attend was the reunion in August of 1919.
Frank's mother, Lydia, passed away on March 19, 1906 in Dumont, but her earthly remains were sent back to Princeville, where they were laid to rest beside those of her husband.
Sarah (Elsey) Beach died in Dumont at the age of 78 on November 4, 1924. Her earthly remains were laid beside those of her children in the Dumont Cemetery in Dumont, Butler County, Iowa.
Currently, it is believed that only three men out of the 992 men who had served in the 86th Illinois during the war lived to ring in the New Year of 1937. These were Andrew G. Church, of Co. H, and Frank Beach and Emanuel Keller. both from Co. K. When Emanuel Keller died on April 20th of 1937, this left Private Frank Beach as the last living member of Co. K.
Both, Andrew G. Church and Frank Beach lived to ring in the new year of 1938, but, Frank may not have been doing very well as he passed away on January 18, 1938 at the age of 95. With his passing, Co. K was no more. The following copy of Frank Beach's obituary was sent to me by Don Woodley, of Greene, Iowa. This obituary appeared in the Greene Iowa Recorder, Page 1 of the January 19th, 1938 edition of the newspaper;
"FRANK BEACH, CIVIL WAR VETERAN, DIED TUESDAY
Frank Beach, having retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests in Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Princeville, Peoria County, Ill. December 26, 1842 and departed this life on January 18, 1938 at the age of ninety-five years and twenty-four days.
Mr. Beach was reared upon a farm in the locality of Princeville and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. Three months later he was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years.
In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa making the journey with teams, and coming directly to Clutterville where he located, on wild land which he had previously purchased. Ten years afterwards he went to Franklin county, Geneva township where he built a comfortable home and reared his family.
He engaged in general farming and stockraising upon this property until 1906 when he rented a tract and moved to Dumont where has lived since then.
On December 29, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, Surrey county, England. Four children were born to this union, Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months, Emily C. deceased wife of Fred Foote, Lillian, wife of William Brandenburg and Frank W. The latter two have lived with Mr. Beach since the death of the wife and mother, and have tenderly cared for him.
Monday morning about 2:45 he arose and fell in his bedroom, where he broke his hip. He was taken to Hampton hospital where he passed away Tuesday morning at 8:00 A.M.
He leaves to mourn his daughter Lillian and son, Frank W. Two grandchildren, Mrs. Ethel Foote Moore, of Hazelton and Walter H. Foote, of Ventura, California, also nine great grandchildren and a host of neighbors and friends.
He was a member of the Methodist church, Knights of Pythias, was the last member if the Grand Army of the Republic in this community and the oldest person in the vicinity.
He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who he had business and personal relations with him.
Funeral services will be held at two o'clock at the home Thursday afternoon in charge of C. W. Batten, pastor of the Methodist church. Members of the American Legion will be casketbearers."
Private Frank Beach's earthly remains were laid to rest beside those of Sarah's and their two children in the Dumont Cemetery.
The 86th was now represented by one living veteran, Andrew G. Church. When Andrew G. Church passed on April 4, 1938, the 86th was no more.
by Baxter B. Fite III
(Baxter Fite would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might have more information about Frank and his family and Baxter would especially enjoy getting a better photograph of Frank, especially one of his in unform, if any were ever made, for his Find A Grave site and for the Princeville Historical Society.)
Frank Beach probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War and he got so sick so early in the war, that he never made it to Nashville, Tennessee, where most of the photographs of the veterans of the 86th were taken while they were in uniform. If however, he did have a portrait made while he was in uniform and in the service, it would be in the form of what was called a "Tin type" or, more likely, in the form of what was called a CDV, which was a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card.
Frank Beach survived his ailment and the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Frank probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that picture of him in uniform, if he did have one made, but at this time, I would be thrilled just to see some MORE pictures of him, perhaps some as a younger man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter))
Private FRANK BEACH, Co. K, 86th Illinois
Frank Beach was born on December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois in Peoria County one of at least eight children born to Lester Orville Beach and Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach. They were;
1. Amine Beach, born __________ __, 18__; John Reves (Reeves) is listed as being married to Annie E. Beach on December 1, 1856 in Rock Island County, Illinois;
2. Elvira Beach, born March 4, 1841 possibly during the move from Ohio to Farmington, Fulton County, Illinois; married to Enos Frost; Elvira (Beach) Frost died Nov. 7, 1893 in Gage County, Nebraska.
3. Frank Beach, born December 26, 1842 near Princeville, Illinois.
4. Cornelia Beach, born Dec. 15, 1845 near Princeville, Illinois; died on Jan. 5, 1868 near Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas.
5. Lydia Beach, born __________ __, 1847 near Princeville, Illinois; died __________ __, 1852 near Princeville; buried in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville.
6. Emily "Emma" Beach, born
7. William "Willie" Beach, born
8. Orville Beach, born
In 1913, Frank's sister's, Amine (Beach) Reeves and Emma (Beach) Ferbrache, wrote the following for the Princeville, Illinois History and Reminiscences series about their parents;
"Lester Beach was born in Rochester, New York in 1804. He served an apprenticeship and learned the Carpernter trade in the City of Rochester. After the death of his parents, he and his brother Charles went as young men to the vicinity of Clyde, Ohio. Here Mr. Lester Beach engaged in farming for a short time and was married to Lydia Chase, who was an aunt of General McPherson of the Civil War.
About the year 1837 he came to Farmington, Illinois, from which place he sent back for Mrs. Beach. She came with her baby Amine, and accompanied by Charles Beach. Mrs. Beach used on this trip an iron tea-kettle that is still in possession of the family, just at present loaned to Cutter's log cabin. Interesting stories are told of the faithful mastiff dog 'Old Tige,' that Mrs. Beach brought on this trip, remembered by many of the early settlers; at one time he stayed faithfully by a runaway team; and at another time took the pants leg off of a thief who would otherwise have gotten Mrs. Beach's horses.
Arriving at Farmington the family could get no dwelling except the old 'council house,' a bark covered structure where the white men and Indians had been in the habit of meeting for their parleys. Mrs. Beach often told her children how the roof leaked and how the shadows in the large recesses suggested Indians to her even when there were none around.
The next year the family moved to Princeville where Mr. Beach built the first house East of town for the Sloan's. For himself he rented land from Wm. C. Stevens, the house being a double log one-half mile North of the Cutter house. Here the children remember their father often driving a steady old nag right into the house to drag in a log for the large fire place. There were no floors in some of the cabins, nor in any of the stores and blacksmith shops of that day. In the stores, men could sit on a box or barrel and spit tobacco juice wherever convenient.
Children were born, including the one in Ohio, in the following order: Amine, Elvira, Frank, Cornelia, Lydia, Emma, Willie and Orville. The oldest child Amine was sent first to school in the log school house near Mr. Slane's southeast of town. Mrs. Cutter and Solomon Cornwell were the first teachers and at this late date the pupil now recollects that one of these teacher, perhaps Mrs. Cutter, wished to punish little Elvira for pulling a tame flower in some forbidden spot; but as Elvira was too little, the teacher punished Amine instead. This enraged the father, who went and informed the teacher that any whipping to be done might be taken out on him. Mr. Cornwell who was developing his land as well as teaching school, had a habit of announcing to the scholars that if it were rainy or stormy on the following day they might come back to school, but if fair weather they need not come as he would be working on his place.
Later on Mr. Beach moved northeast of town to his own farm in the neighborhood of McGinnis, Peet and Clussman. This was on the southeast quarter of Section 6, Akron, now known as the Blue farm. Here he helped to build a new school house. Selling this farm Mr. Beach bought one mile east of Princeville where he lived until he died in 1859, and his widow continued to live continuously until her death in 1906. This is the place remembered by the children as the old home and where they remember their mother carding wool and many other scenes that have long since gone out of date in the Illinois home. The daughter Emma still has in her possession a coverlet made of home spun wool raised on their own sheep, with the year '1840' and Grandmother Slocum's name woven in it. Mother Beach often remarked that her husband did not like farming as well as carpentering and after becoming a farmer he did not whistle at his work as he had formerly........"
The story continued, "Of the children, Amine Reeves, of Abilene, Kansas and Emma Ferbrache, of Sutherland, Nebraska, are the writers of this article. Elvira Frost died in 1893 and is survived by he husband, Enos Frost (also a veteran of the Civil War), her children, Mrs. Cora Nixon, of Princeville, Ill., Miss Lydia, who lives with her father in Wymore, Nebraska, Lester Enos, of Canada, and Mrs. Flora James, of Denver Colorado. Frank is still living at Dumont, Iowa. Lydia died at the age of five years, and Cornelia at the age of twenty-three. Willie and Orville went West as young men and have never been heard from..........."
Lydia Mary (Chase) Beach was born on August 27, 1818 in Penn Yan, Yates County, New York. Frank grew as stated above, grew to manhood working the land beside his father there in Princeville.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Beach family is found residing in Peoria County. I believe that they were already in the area that would become Akron Township, but they are listed in what is called Peoria Township;
1663 Beach Liler O. 45 M Farmer 800 NY
1663 Beach Lydia 32 F NY
1663 Beach Armina 11 F Ohio
1663 Beach Alvina 9 F Ill
1663 Beach Frank 7 M Ill
1663 Beach Cornelia 5 F Ill
1663 Beach Lydia 3 F Ill
1663 Beach Emily 1 F Ill
Frank Beach became the man of the family when his father died on April 23, 1859. The earthly remains of Lester Orville Beach were laid in the Princeville Township Cemetery.
At the time of the 1860 census, the family is found in Princeville Township. They are found in Akron Township. Amine is married to John Reeves by this time and live next door to the Beach's with their daughter Ella. Enos Frost, the future husband of Elvira is working as a farmhand for the Reeves'. Enos is listed as being 17, though he is actually about 22 at this time;
158 Reeves John 30 M farmer 635 OH
158 Reeves Ami 21 F OH
158 Reeves Ella M. 2 F IL
158 Frost Enos 22 M farmhand OH
159 Beach Lydia 42 F 5,000 736 NY
159 Beach Eloisa 19 F teacher IL
159 Beach Frank 17 M farmer IL
159 Beach Cornelia 15 F IL
159 Beach Emma 11 F IL
159 Beach William 9 M IL
159 Beach Orville 5 M IL
At the time of the 1870 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County;
009 Beach Lydia 51 F Farmer 9,000 1,500 New York
009 Beach Emma 24 F Illinois
009 Beach Orville 15 M Illinois
009 Marsh Betsy 90 F Conn.
009 Glaze William 22 M Farm Laborer Illinois
At the time of the 1880 census, Lydia is found in Akron Township in Peoria County. She is widowed, she is farming and her parents are bot listed as having been born in Massachusetts;
Lydia Beach F 62 New York
Emma Beach F 30 Illinois
At the time of the 1900 census, Lydia is still found in Akron Township. Daniel Cornell and his family reside with her;
74 75 Beach Lydia M. Head Jun 1840 59 M 34 Michigan Vermont New York Farmer
In at least the last few months of her life, perhaps just the winter of 1905/06, Lydia went to live with her son, Frank Beach in Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Lydia died there on March 19, 1906. Her mortal remains were sent back to Peoria County, where they were laid to rest on March 22, 1906 beside those of her husband, Lester Orville Beach, in the Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville, Illinois.
Now to continue with the biography of Frank Beach;
On August 7, 1862, Frank volunteered at Princeville, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in Princeville by a Princeville School teacher by the name of John French.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name BEACH, FRANK
Rank PVT Company K Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 6 1/2 Hair BLACK
Eyes GRAY Complexion FAIR Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL
Service Record
Joined When AUG 7, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY OCT 17, 1862 AT LOUISVILLE KY
After getting over 100 volunteer, John took his company into Camp Lyons, near present day Glen Oak Park, in Peoria, Illinois. On August 26, 1862, John French was elected Captain of the Princeville company and the following day, John, Frank and 94 of the other volunteers from Princeville were mustered into service as Co. K of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th marched from Camp Lyon, through the crowded streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war. There they boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later the 86th was in the field as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade in pursuit of Confederate troops in Kentucky.
However, many of the green troops were already having difficulties with the quality of food and the new lifestyle. Private Frank Beach was so sick that he was almost certainly one of the many men who were left behind in the Army Hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, when the 86th left the Louisville area. The men of the 86th Illinois fought briefly at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky on October 8, 1862, suffering 14 casualties.
On October 17, 1862, the army was so concerned about Frank's health that they discharged him so that he could go home. They hoped that with the help of family and home cooking he would survive his ailment and he was soon on his way back home to Princeville.
Once back home, Frank slowly did recover his health and after quite some time was working in the fields beside his father again. On December 29, 1864, Frank was married to Sarah Elsey in Whiteside County, Illinois. Sarah was born in Essex, England the daughter of Robert Elsey and Mary (Baker) Elsey. Robert Elsey was born on January 19, 1812 in Epson, Surrey, England, while Mary Baker was born in 1820 in England. Sarah was born about 1846 and her parents brought the family to America about 1849, according to the 1900 census. Sarah's parents are both believed to have died by 1860. At the time of the 1860 census of Peoria, 14 year old Sarah Elsey is found residing with Leverett and Sarah Mansfield, who are both in their 70's and residing in the City of Princeville. Incidentally, Sarah had an older sister by the name of Mary Ann Elsey, who married Thomas Wilson. Thomas and Mary Ann Wilson were grandparents of a young man by the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, who went on to become President of the United States.
Four children were born to Frank and Sarah Beach. They are;
1. Lydia E. Beach, born Jan. 7, 1866; died Feb. 21, 1867; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
2. Emily C. "Emma" Beach, born May 7, 1869. Emily was married to Fred H. Foote on January 4, 1893. Emily and Fred had two children, before her death at the age of 27 on May 23, 1896. Emily's mortal remains were buried in the Dumont Cemetery. Her two children were;
A. Walter Homer Foote, born November 22, 1893 in Buchanan County, Iowa. After their mother's death, Walter and his sister, Ethel, went to live with their Foote grandparents, Maria and Horace Foote, who was Clergyman in Earlville, Iowa. By 1910, however, Walter was back living with his father and stepmother, Annie M. (_________) Foote in Byron Township of Buchanan County, Iowa.
Walter was married to Edith ___________ c. 1920. Their children include;
a. Donald Foote, born c. 1921
b. Harlan Foote, born c. 1923
c. Lois Foote, born c. 1928
d. Margaret Ann Foote, born c. 1936
B. Ethel M. Foote, born April __, 1896 in Iowa. Her mother died on May 23, 1896, after which, Ethel and her brother, Walter, were sent to live with their Foote grandparents. Ethel was married c. 1915 to Frank Harold Moore Sr. Five children were born to Ethel and Frank;
a. Mabel Moore, born c. 1917.
b. Bessie Moore, born c. 1920.
c. Ruth Moore, born c. 1923.
d. Frank Harold Moore Jr., born __________ __, 1932. Frank was married on August 31, 1952 to Janice Lorraine King, who was born in Oelwein, Iowa to Leonard and Ruth (Pardee) King on December 14, 1932. Janice graduated from Oelwein High School in 1951. Four children were born to Frank and Janice, including Frank L., Michael, and twin daughters, Debra and Diane.
Frank and Jan farmed and milked cows near Oelwein, West Union, and Fredericksburg until moving to Cresco in 1969. There they established a Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire hog farm. Besides being a farm wife, Jan worked as the Howard County 4-H and Youth Assistant for 15 years. She was active in the organization of the Howard County Porkette's and received the Bell Ringer award in 1975. She and Frank were Grand Marshalls of the Cresco Ag Fest in 2005 and inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2010. Jan enjoyed flea markets and collecting antiques, starting when you could buy a full box for 25 cents. Through the years, Janice had two antique shops and displayed her wares at numerous flea markets. She made cornhusk dolls, loved playing cards, going to casinos, and Frank and Janice enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and traveling to Arizona in the winter.
Janice Moore passed away on December 17, 2014 in Rock Island, Illinois.
e. Mary Moore, born c. 1935.
In the 1930 and1940 census records, Ethel and her family are found in Hazelton, Iowa in Buchanan County.
3. Lillian M. Beach, born in 1877. Lillian was married to William A. Brandenburg on __________ __, 19__. Lillian and William are not believed to have had any children. In 1920, Lillian and William are found in West Point Township, Butler County, Iowa, where William is a Merchant of a General Store. In 1940, they are found residing in Dumont, Iowa in Bulter County. Lillian died on __________ __, 1960; buried in the Dumont Cemetery.
4. Frank William Beach, born in April 23, 1880 in Franklin County, Iowa, probably in Geneva Township. The family moved to Butler County, Iowa sometime between 1900 and 1910.
Frank never married. He was still residing with his parents in Butler County in 1920 and was living with his sister, Lillian (Beach) Bradenburg, in the city of Dumont, Butler County, Iowa in 1940. Frank died on __________ __, 1962; buried in the Dumont Cemetery
In 1866, Frank sold his land in Peoria County and moved west to Iowa, where Frank, Sarah and their first child, Lydia, moved onto 80 acres of land, which he had purchased earlier, near Dumont, Iowa in Butler County. Frank's mother also went to Iowa with her son. While he was here, Frank's daughter, Lydia, passed away and she was laid to rest in the Dumont Cemetery. He eventually sold his Butler County land and moved to Franklin County, Iowa where he eventually owned, farmed and raised stock on 400 acres of valuable land in Geneva Township.
In 1887, some of the men of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion for the old 86h in Peoria during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of their being mustered into service in Peoria back in 1862. The reunion was attended by some 130 veterans of the 86th and their families and was such a hit, that it was decided that they would continue to hold them every year on the anniversary as long as the veterans could attend. The reunions continued to grow for several years as more and more veterans of the 86th were located and they continued to hold them through the year 1923, when it was tearfully decided by the 20 aged veterans of the 86th who were able to attend that last reunion, that they were getting too old and too few to continue them after that 1923 reunion.
Frank Beach stayed in touch with some of his comrades back in Illinois, but was only able to attend five reunions through the years, the distance to be traveled and the difficulty and cost of making that trip in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly playing a part. Frank Beach attended the 3rd reunion in 1889 when he was able to spend time with 14 other veterans of old Co. K, some of whom he had not seen since the war. He then was able to attend the reunions of 1903, 1907, 1915 and 1919, the 1919 reunion proving to be the last that he would be able to attend.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Beach family is found in the Geneva & Reeves Townships census of Franklin County, Iowa. Frank's father and mother are listed as having been born in New York and Ohio, respectively and he is listed as having been married 35 years. According to the census, Frank and Sarah had four children, two of whom were living at this time;
Head Frank Beach M 58 Illinois
Wife Sarah Beach F 55 England
Daughter Lillie M Beach F 23 Iowa
Son Frank W Beach M 20 Iowa
Frank farmed until 1908, when he retired, started renting his property and moved into Dumont, Iowa. Frank was a member of the School Board of Franklin County for many years, was a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County for two years and in Butler County for three.
In the 1914 History of Butler County, the following biography of Frank Beach is found;
"Frank Beach, living retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests of Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, December 26, 1842. He was reared upon a farm in that locality and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky, later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. He was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois, where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years. In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa, making the journey with teams and coming directly to Butler county, where he located on an eighty acre tract of wild land, which he had previously purchased. Soon afterward, however, he went to Franklin county, where he rented land, operating this for one year and at the same time breaking the soil upon his property in Madison township and building upon it a comfortable home. Afterward he took up his residence upon this place and while carrying forward the work of its development engaged in breaking land for his neighbors, receiving as a compensation for this service the first two crops grown upon the farm. Mr. Beach afterward sold his land in Madison township and bought two hundred and forty acres in Franklin county which he broke, cleared and improved, from time to time adding to his holdings until he accumulated four hundred acres of valuable land, which he still owns. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon this property until 1908, when he rented the tract and moved into Dumont, where he has since lived retired. He has valuable property interests here, owning a number of residence lots upon which he has erected two dwellings.
On the 29th of December, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, England, and a daughter of Robert Elsey, who emigrated to America and located at Rome, New York, where he passed away. His wife survived him and later moved to Elgin, Illinois, where Mrs. Beach was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Beach became the parents of four children: Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months; Lillian, the wife of William Brandenberg, a merchant of Kesley; Frank W., who lives at home, and Emily C, the deceased wife of Fred Foote, by whom she had two children.
Mr. Beach has given his political allegiance to the republican party since he cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has been very active in public affairs and has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to various positions of public trust and responsibility, his official record being characterized by the accomplishment of a great deal of important work. He was for four years assessor of Madison township and while a resident of Franklin county was identified with the work of the school board for a quarter of a century. He served for two years as justice of the peace in Franklin county and for three years in Dumont. He has been a delegate to numerous county conventions both in Butler and Franklin counties. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Dumont, and Mr. Beach is a charter member of the Dumont lodge of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Grand Army post at Ackley. He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who have had business or personal relations with him. He is an own cousin of General McPherson of military fame and moreover, he, himself, is entitled to a place in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war, to whom the country owes a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid."
Through the years, Frank also attended many of the reunions that were organized by the surviving members of the 86th Illinois back in Peoria, Illinois. The last 86th reunion that Frank was able to attend was the reunion in August of 1919.
Frank's mother, Lydia, passed away on March 19, 1906 in Dumont, but her earthly remains were sent back to Princeville, where they were laid to rest beside those of her husband.
Sarah (Elsey) Beach died in Dumont at the age of 78 on November 4, 1924. Her earthly remains were laid beside those of her children in the Dumont Cemetery in Dumont, Butler County, Iowa.
Currently, it is believed that only three men out of the 992 men who had served in the 86th Illinois during the war lived to ring in the New Year of 1937. These were Andrew G. Church, of Co. H, and Frank Beach and Emanuel Keller. both from Co. K. When Emanuel Keller died on April 20th of 1937, this left Private Frank Beach as the last living member of Co. K.
Both, Andrew G. Church and Frank Beach lived to ring in the new year of 1938, but, Frank may not have been doing very well as he passed away on January 18, 1938 at the age of 95. With his passing, Co. K was no more. The following copy of Frank Beach's obituary was sent to me by Don Woodley, of Greene, Iowa. This obituary appeared in the Greene Iowa Recorder, Page 1 of the January 19th, 1938 edition of the newspaper;
"FRANK BEACH, CIVIL WAR VETERAN, DIED TUESDAY
Frank Beach, having retired in Dumont after many years of close connection with agricultural interests in Franklin and Butler counties, was born in Princeville, Peoria County, Ill. December 26, 1842 and departed this life on January 18, 1938 at the age of ninety-five years and twenty-four days.
Mr. Beach was reared upon a farm in the locality of Princeville and acquired his education in the district schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky later taking part in the campaign after General Bragg. Three months later he was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Illinois where after recovering his health he engaged in farming for two years.
In 1866 he sold his land in Peoria county and moved to Iowa making the journey with teams, and coming directly to Clutterville where he located, on wild land which he had previously purchased. Ten years afterwards he went to Franklin county, Geneva township where he built a comfortable home and reared his family.
He engaged in general farming and stockraising upon this property until 1906 when he rented a tract and moved to Dumont where has lived since then.
On December 29, 1864, Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elsey, a native of Essex, Surrey county, England. Four children were born to this union, Lydia, who died at the age of fourteen months, Emily C. deceased wife of Fred Foote, Lillian, wife of William Brandenburg and Frank W. The latter two have lived with Mr. Beach since the death of the wife and mother, and have tenderly cared for him.
Monday morning about 2:45 he arose and fell in his bedroom, where he broke his hip. He was taken to Hampton hospital where he passed away Tuesday morning at 8:00 A.M.
He leaves to mourn his daughter Lillian and son, Frank W. Two grandchildren, Mrs. Ethel Foote Moore, of Hazelton and Walter H. Foote, of Ventura, California, also nine great grandchildren and a host of neighbors and friends.
He was a member of the Methodist church, Knights of Pythias, was the last member if the Grand Army of the Republic in this community and the oldest person in the vicinity.
He has been well known in this part of Iowa for many years, and his integrity and ability have gained him the respect and confidence of all who he had business and personal relations with him.
Funeral services will be held at two o'clock at the home Thursday afternoon in charge of C. W. Batten, pastor of the Methodist church. Members of the American Legion will be casketbearers."
Private Frank Beach's earthly remains were laid to rest beside those of Sarah's and their two children in the Dumont Cemetery.
The 86th was now represented by one living veteran, Andrew G. Church. When Andrew G. Church passed on April 4, 1938, the 86th was no more.
by Baxter B. Fite III
(Baxter Fite would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might have more information about Frank and his family and Baxter would especially enjoy getting a better photograph of Frank, especially one of his in unform, if any were ever made, for his Find A Grave site and for the Princeville Historical Society.)
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