Finding Hugh P. Beach and family in Nebraska, 1900, puts the final pieces to The Beach Family, and allows me to at least identify the probable participants in the pictures:
Sometime in the mid-1890s they apparently moved to Cass County, NE. The 1900 census, taken 5Jun1900, shows the family in Plattsmouth Ward 1, Cass County, Nebraska. GGrandfather Hugh P. Beach died sometime later in 1900.
Also, there were two columns on the 1900 census not seen on others: "Mother of how many children" and "Number of these children living". GGrandmother Beach responded 10 and 9 respectively. I show 7 daughters, and we know about Alex and Will, not listed. Total 9. I am not aware of a child lost prior to 1900.
Also, GGrandfather Hugh P. Beach lists his father's birthplace as Wales, his mother's as England. Could this possibly be the link to "royalty" we heard about as kids?
This census lists Emeriencianna Beach as the Head-Of-Household.
This states that Emma was 60 in 1930, therefore born in 1870. It states that she was born in Illinois, but it appears as though someone tried to make a correction. The 1900 census states she was born in Canada-English.
They were living in Orenco,Oregon, in 1930. GGrandmother Beach was living with them at the time...no children listed. GGrandmother Beach opted to list herself as "Beach, Mary E." this time, adding to the confusion as to exactly what her name was!
According to the 1920 census, George Douglass Garratt was a "clerk" for the railroad.
Mildred, born 1897
- The Western Nebraska Observer (local newspaper) listed Samuel Carlyle as leaving for Oregon. Published February 28, 1907.
- I have a Sarah Carlyle's obituary published January 3, 1907 (not death date, just published date)
- I have an Elizabeth Carlyle graduate from Kimball County High School in 1909.
- S. L. Carlyle awarded County Printer contract 1902, 1904, 1905 and 1906.
- In the August 18, 1899 issue of the Observer was printed perhaps the shortest editorial message ever. Under the label "SALUTATORY" was printed one word. "How'dy". That was S. L. Carlyle's greeting to Observer readers the week he came to town and took over the office.
- In the want ads---"As I expect to move from Kimball to Forest Grove, Oregon to join Mr. Carlyle, March 1st, I offer our household goods for sale at reasonable prices, and may be had at any time between now and then, except the range, dresser, chiffonier, couch and kitchen range. Mrs. S. L. Carlyle. (Feb 14, 1907 issue)
The above notes thanks to: Marcia A Buescher, at the Kimball County, NE, Web Site
Dr. Willis S. & Henrietta A. Beach Anderson
Shelby, Richland County, Ohio
From the 1900 Census
1890 is a mistake. The written census actually says 1880.
The sequence of the listings is Surname, Given Name...Misc Data...Birthplace...Birthplace Father...Birthplace Mother
Henrietta's son, Ralph Anderson, was killed in an automobile accident in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1934.
Blake M. & Sarah A. Beach Duffie
Canada, New York, and Ohio
Blake Munro Duffy and Sarah Beach Duffy, Kenmore, New York, 1930 census. If the difference in spelling of Duffie confuses you, the name was changed in the late 1800s. As to why, go to:
However, Blake was born "Duffie". The census taker probably wrote what he thought was the proper spelling, and Blake or Sarah didn't see it.
Sarah Beach was the second wife of Blake Munroe Duffie (AKA Blake Munroe Duffey) of Ontario, Canada, and Buffalo, N.Y. Blake's first wife, Lucinda Campbell, of Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, died in 1909. Blake & Sarah married in 1910.
I found Sarah Beach on the 1900 US Census in Shelby, Richland County, Ohio. Sarah Beach is listed as "Sister-In-Law", living with Dr. Willis S. Anderson. Therefore, we concluded that Dr. Anderson's wife, Henrietta Anderson, was one of the seven Beach sisters in the pictures. Dr. Anderson also was the source of Monroe Anderson Duffie's middle name. Late summer of 1914, Sarah Beach Duffie travelled from Ontario, CA, to Shelby, Ohio, for his birth in September. She wanted him to have dual citizenship when he grew up. Her brother-in-law, Dr. Willis Anderson, delivered him.
Agnes J. Beach
From the 1910 Census
Thanks to the miracle of Outlook Calendar, I was able to go back to October, 1910. The date of this article, October 4, 1910, states simply that Agnes Beach died Monday. October 4, 1910 was a Tuesday, so we can deduce that Agnes died Monday, October 3, 1910.
This discovery adds a degree of mystery to our search. If, in fact, the three pictures are all of the Beach Sisters, then my assumption that they were taken in the 1920s-1930s is erroneous. Agnes Beach died in October, 1910. Since we also learned that H.P. Beach died in Nebraska in 1900, we have a window of about 9 years when Mary, Rachel, and Gertrude could all have moved back to Ohio, planned a family get-together in Shelby, Ohio, at the Willis & Henrietta Anderson home, and taken the pictures.
- Sarah Beach Duffie was still in Canada and single until 1910.
- Henrietta is obviously accounted for since I think the pictures were taken in her home.
- We know that Gertrude was still single in 1910...living in Shelby...since she assisted in Rachel's wedding.
- Rachel was living with Mary and the Andersons at the time.
- Emma Beach Carlyle was married at the time, and in 1900 they were still living in Nebraska. She well could have helped her mother and sisters move back to Ohio...or...at worst...visited them sometime in the following 9 years.
- The only sister unaccounted for is Elizabeth, and we don't know if she was married at the time or not.
Dr. Willis Anderson died in 1919, so the family would still be relatively prosperous from 1900-1910, and could well afford the type of house in which the pictures were taken.
If this scenario is not true, then the pictures could not possibly be of all seven sisters. We then would have to conclude that they were the sisters and sisters-in-law....or close friends.
NOTE: From the git-go, I've had difficulty accepting that the pictures could have been taken on into the late 1920s-1930s. The only one I can identify, Sarah Beach (Grandmother Duffie), would have been in her late 40s, early 50s by then. She's no spring chicken in these pictures...nor is she 45-50 years old.
Agnes' year long illness would also explain why she was not present at Rachel's wedding on August 11, 1910.
Note, also, that GGrandmother Beach opted to call herself "Mary" again...in this newspaper article...in spite of the fact that in almost every census she listed herself as Elizabeth.
From the 1900 Census
Clare & Rachel A. Beach Bloomfield
Shelby, Ohio
Rachel Beach, ca 1890
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From the 1920 Census
Sharon, Richland County, Ohio
From the 1910 Census
Clare & Rachel Married, 1910
Rachel, 1900, Nebraska
Arthur E. & Gertrude M. Beach Mills
Collins, Idaho
I cannot verify that the following data, both 1920 & 1930, to be Gertrude and Arthur Mills. Several things do not make sense. It seems Gertrude continues the maddening habit of the Beach women using whichever name suits them at that moment. I've not seen Gertrude's middle name anywhere official, so I'm assuming "Martha G." is merely "Gertrude M." reversed.
The 1930 census shows Arthur and Martha at different addresses in Adams County, Idaho. Arthur indicates he "owns" the farm where he is living, Martha states she is "Renting". Both are listed as Head-of-Household. The items that convinced me these are the right "Arthur" and "Martha" are the birth listings: Arthur born in Nebraska, as was his father and mother; Martha born in Nebraska, Father in Canada, Mother in Michigan.
I noted that a daughter, Dana R., was born in Washington. That took me to the 1920 census and Kalama, Cowlitz, Washington.
From the 1930 Census
From the 1920 Census
From the 1900 Census
It appears as though Gertrude returned to Shelby, Ohio, w/GGrandmother Beach...then either returned to Nebraska to marry Arthur Mills...or he came to Ohio. (NOTE: there was a large "Mills" contingent in Arnold, NE, in 1900. There may still be some there who can provide info.)
From the 1930 Census
Ralph I. Mills, brother of Arthur E. Mills, in Forest Grove, Oregon, 1930 census. Having found Arthur in Arnold, Nebraska, it seems the families were close enough that Arthur married Gertrude...and Ralph ends up in Forest Grove, Oregon, the home of Elizabeth (Beach) Robinson and Emma (Beach) Carlyle.
Frequently I have had to match up people based on estimated birth dates/locations, parents birth locations, etc, rather than names. That is the logic I used in determining that the Alex McCall located on the 1880 census as "father-in-law", with James W. & Sarah Witter is the right one. He is listed in the 1850 census...and the 1880 census...as a shoemaker.
From the 1910 Census
Homer M. & Mary Elizabeth Beach Robinson
Forest Grove, Oregon
The following birth register for Mary Elizabeth Beach (one of the sisters in the pictures) confirms she was Mary E., not Elizabeth M., as she so frequently stated. It also provides the following information:
- Mother's Maiden Name: Elizabeth McCall. She variously went by Mary Elizabeth, but on this birth record she said she was Elizabeth.
- Hugh Percy Beach is listed as the "Informant", and he gave their current residence as Maidstone. The registration was done in Essex County, Ontario, Canada.
Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1907: Mary Elizabeth Beach
This wedding announcement states "Elizabeth", but I'm still going with the official birth register above.
William Henry & Elizabeth Wolfe Beach
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William Henry Beach married Elizabeth Wolfe in December, 1910. Elizabeth was the daughter of Charles & Clara Potter Wolfe of Fremont, Ohio. Will & Elizabeth met while both worked at the Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL (below right) in the mid-1890s. Will was a doctor; Elizabeth was a nurse.
This picture was probably taken about 1915. Their children were:
- William Hugh, b December 26, 1911, Virginia, Minnesota.
- Margurite, b February 7, 1913, Siam
- Richard Potter, b May 20, 1916, Siam
Based on those birthdates, this picture was probably taken just prior to Richard's birth, perhaps early 1915.
- The ship list from the Empress of Japan shows William & Elizabeth, w/three children, arriving at Port of Vancouver, B.C., July 17, 1918.
(Note: the ship list shows William's birth as December 26, 1912. That has to be a mistake since it shows Margurite's birth as February, 1913. Either Margurite was born later than 1913, or William's was earlier than 1912. The ship list for the S.S. President Madison, 1924, shows December 26, 1911, which I believe to be his true birth date.)
- According to the 1920 Census, William & Elizabeth were living in Coupeville, Island County, Washington.
- We have a November 5, 1924 newspaper clipping from the Mansfield (Ohio) News stating that they'd visited with Henrietta Beach Anderson & Rachel Beach Bloomfield in Shelby, Ohio, on their way to their home in Virginia, MN.
- The 1930 ship's list (Minnekahda) shows William and Elizabeth entering port in New York on July 21st, no doubt returning from a term in Siam.
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During their tour in Siam between 1924 and 1930....
- William Hugh Beach was living with Stanley & Clara M. Wolfe in Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio
- Richard Potter Beach was living with George & Ava Carlyle Garrett, daughter of Emma Beach Carlyle, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
- Margarite J. Beach was living with Francis & Lucy Wolfe in Bay Village, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
(source 1930 U.S. Census).
The Travels Of William & Elizabeth Beach & Family In A Nutshell
- 1911: William Hugh, b December 26, 1911, Virginia, Minnesota.
- 1913: William Henry Beach's WWI Draft Registration Card. He listed his home as 1421 Orchard, Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio. (The year is smudged and could be 1915, but I believe they were in Siam in 1915.)
- 1918: William & Elizabeth, w/William (age 6yrs, 8mos), Margurite (sp) (age 5yrs 6mos), and Richard (age 2yrs, 3mos), returned to the U.S. from Siam on July 17, 1918 aboard the Empress of Japan. See Ship List.
- 1924: William & Elizabeth, w/William (age 12) and Richard (age 7), returned to the U.S. from Siam on June 4, 1924 aboard the ship S.S. President Madison. See Ship List. On the ship's list their home was listed as 1421 Birchard Ave., Fremont, Ohio.
- 1930: William & Elizabeth returned to the U.S. from Siam on July 21, 1930 aboard the Ship Minnekahda. See Ship List. On the ship's list they listed their home as Lakewood (Cleveland), Ohio.
- 1939: William returned to the U.S. on May 25, 1939 aboard the SS Bremen. See Ship List.
- 1945: William returned to the U.S. on August 2, 1945 aboard the Gripsholm. See Ship List. On that ship's list William listed his home as 15116 Clifton Blvd, Lakewood, Ohio.
Data from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Obituary Index shows:
Name: Dr. William Henry Beach (William Henry Beach Obituary)
City of Death: Newburgh, Indiana
Date of Death: May 16, 1964
Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio
Name: Elizabeth Wolfe Beach (Elizabeth Wolfe Beach Obituary)
City of Death: Clyde, Ohio
Date of Death: November 11, 1959
Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio
An additional obituary from the Rutherford B. Hayes collection shows Beach, William H. / Spouse Sophr, Alma R., died in Centralia, IL, on June 11, 1998. I have found nothing to prove that this was our William H. Beach. However, it was in the News-Messenger, Fremont, newspaper, so I'm relatively certain it is.
(NOTE: I questioned the spelling of Alma's maiden name, so I checked ancestry.com for her family. I found the family linked as Spohr in the 1920 Census, and the 1930 Census. The 1930 census also shows "Eva L. Wood, Mother-In-Law" living with them. I considered the possibility that Alma's mother was widowed...and remarried, something I see frequently in researching the 1800s.)
(Note: on October 4, 2007, I received a phone call from Marcia Beach Ditter, daughter of William Hugh Beach, granddaughter of William Henry & Elizabeth Wolfe Beach. My assumptions were correct. William's middle name obviously came from his paternal grandfather, Hugh Percy Beach.)
Additional Spohr Family Data:
Another obituary from the same collection shows Richard Potter Beach who died October 30, 1936. I have accepted that this was the son of William H. and Elizabeth Wolfe Beach in spite of the fact that little information is given. His middle name, Potter, was Elizabeth's mother's maiden name. He was listed as age 20 at the time of his death (1936). Our Richard Beach was born in 1916. Finally, the obituary was in the Fremont Messenger and the Fremont Daily News.
Too many coincidences to believe otherwise.
Cousins On The Mission Field
Even as Will & Elizabeth Beach were serving in Siam, Will's cousin, Miss Elizabeth Carlyle, was a Missionary Nurse in Peking, China (see above). Elizabeth was the daughter of Will's sister Emma Beach Carlyle. The families were close, as indicated by the fact that Richard Potter Beach stayed with Ava Carlyle Garratt from about 1924 to 1930. Ava Carlyle was Elizabeth Carlyle's sister.
I can't help but wonder if Will and Elizabeth ever met while in their respective mission fields.
Elizabeth Mary McCall Beach
Subsequent to the following, we have determined that this is the proper "McCall" family.
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Based simply on commonality of names, known birthdates, stated birth locations of parents, etc., I believe that the family traced below is the family of GGrandmother Elizabeth Mary McCall Beach. The birthyear is right for Elizabeth McCall; she stated her father was born in New York, her mother in Canada (See 1850 census).
Elizabeth Mary McCall Beach named one daughter "Sarah", perhaps after a favored sister. She named one of her sons "Alex", perhaps after her father. Grandmother Duffie named her oldest daughter Margaret, perhaps after her grandmother. I'll change this if and when I find sufficient contradictory information. Also, since Dad mentioned he had an "Uncle in Flint", we assume one of the family stayed in Michigan. Unfortunately, that could be an "Uncle McCall", or a husband of one of the girls.
Additionally, several names show up in a variety of different census reports, and it is difficult to determine which were children of Alex and Margaret and which may have been of other McCall family groups.
While every search is fun, and I enjoy finding a thread and following it, I see no need to pursue this any further. Other than the fact that this search has enhanced our "Irish/Welsh/Scottish" history, and while I'm convinced these are our "McCall" ancestors, further searching here adds nothing to the "Beach Sisters" story.
- Alexander McCall, born 1810, New York
- Margaret McCall, born 1817, Canada
- Alamanda McCall, born 1836, Canada
- Matthew A. McCall, born 1839, Canada
- Francis McCall, born 1839, Canada
- William McCall, born 1841, Canada
- Isaac/Isreal P. McCall, born 1841, Canada
- Jeanette/Jennette McCall, born 1845, Michigan
- Duncan McCall, born 1846, Michigan
- Sarah J. McCall, born 1854, Michigan
- Elizabeth Mary McCall, born 1849, Michigan
- Alvina McCall, born 1850, Michigan
- Samuel P. McCall, born 1860, Michigan
- Leonard McCall, born 1860, Michigan
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1850
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
Alex McCall, born 1810, New York
Margaret McCall, born 1817, Canada
Matthew A. McCall, born 1839, Canada
Isaac/Isreal P. McCall, born 1841, Canada
Jeannette/Jennette McCall, born 1845, Michigan
Duncan McCall, born 1846, Michigan
Elizabeth Mary McCall, born 1849, Michigan
Alvina McCall, born 1850, Michigan
John McCall (Alex's Brother), born 1816, New York
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1860
Paris, Kent County, Michigan
Alex McCall, born 1810, New York
Jeannette/Jennette McCall, born 1845, Michigan
Duncan McCall, born 1846, Michigan
Elizabeth M. (Mary E.) McCall, born 1849, Michigan
Alvina McCall, born 1850, Michigan
Sarah J. McCall, born 1854, Michigan
Samuel P. McCall, born 1860, Michigan
1860
Croton, Newaygo County, Michigan
Margaret McCall, born 1817, Canada
Alamanda McCall, born 1836, Canada
Francis McCall, born 1839, Canada
William McCall, born 1841, Canada
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1870
Croton, Newaygo County, Michigan
Alex McCall, born 1810, New York
Margaret McCall, born 1817, Canada
Leonard McCall, born 1860, Michigan
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1880
Hopkins, Allegan County, Michigan
James W. Witter, born 1843, New York
Sarah J. McCall Witter, born 1854, Michigan
Alex McCall, born 1810, New York
We know from our research that by 1880, Mary E. was married to Hugh P.Beach. Grandmother Beach Duffie was born in Canada in 1879. |
NOTE: the 1860 McCall group in Croton, Newaygo County, is a true puzzle. Alamanda, Francis, and William are all listed as "McCall". They were all born in Canada: Alamanda (1836), Francis (1839), and William (1841), and they don't show up in any other census.
It is 38.5 miles from Paris, MI, to Croton, MI. Alex moved to Croton sometime between the 1860 and 1870 census. I assume Margaret was in Croton early to set up a new home.
Francis R. McCall, 1870 Census, w/Sarah J. (Age 28), Daughter Mary (Age 8), John F. (Age 6)
1880 US Census
Assuming all other deductions are right, this would be GGGrandfather Alexander McCall living with his daughter, Sarah J., and her husband James W. Witter in Hopkins, Michigan.
1870 US Census
NOTE: Leonard is listed at 10 y/o, but there is no listing for Samuel. Equally puzzling is the fact that neither show up on any subsequent census.
1860 US Census
1850 US Census
Elizabeth Mary McCall Beach
Walla Walla, Washington
Hi Tim,
This is a portrait of GGrandmother Beach with unknown woman. Perhaps she is a relative (likely) but the reason I'm sending this to you is that this appears to have 
been taken in Walla Walla, (Washington, see bottom right under portrait). Perhaps GG Beach was visiting relatives in Washington when this was taken and you might find some leads from any data from that area. I'm guessing the portrait was taken some time late 19th century. or very early 20th century.
By the way, on your final list of Beach sisters I noticed that Gertrude is missing. Where does she fit in? I can't remember if you already determined this but it seems that she was living in Idaho around 1950 or so. That is the year my mother (Eleaner) and father, along with Grandma (Rachel Beach Bloomfield) moved out to California. My mother remembers stopping in Idaho and visiting Gertrude. I asked her if she remembers what town/city and if Gertrude had any children. At this time she can't recall where exactly she lived. Also she said she did have children but couldn't recall their name(s). If she remembers any new info, I'll let you know.
By the way, it was exciting to see the census data on H.P. Beach and the photo of Nebraska at around the turn of the century. I'm very much looking forward to seeing that photo you have of the sod hut. I still can't believe you actually have a photo of that!
That's all for now.
Bruce
P.S. Rachel's son, my uncle Hank (Henry), was given the middle name of Hugh. Guess we know where that came from now!
NOTE: the photographer appears to be "Maxwell".
July 8, 2007: I located the 1851 census for Canada listing Hugh Percy Beach and his family in Ontario. I found it by accident because those who indexed it guessed at Hugh's mother's name. She was indexed as "Cmerencana", rather than Emerencianna. According to that census, Hugh had five siblings:
- John: born in New York City, 1835
- M???? (Sister): born in New York City, 1837
- A???? (Brother): born in New York City, 1839
- Frances (Sister): born in Niagara Township, Ontario, Canada, 1841
- William: born in Niagara Township, Ontario, Canada, 1845
Obviously missing was GGGrandfather William Beach. Since his son William was born in about 1845, and the census was taken in 1851, I assume he died sometime in between.
A search for the family after 1851 turned up no other listings in Canada. Other than John, I have not located any of the family in the U.S. John's first child, Arthur M., was born in California in 1874. His last, Charles A., was born in California in 1878. John next turned up in Farmington, Whitman County, Washington, in 1880.
Whitman county is directly north of Walla Walla County. It is possible that the woman in this picture with Elizabeth Beach is an in-law, perhaps John's wife, Elmira. I agree with Bruce that this picture is late 19th., early 20th. century. Hugh Percy Beach died in 1900, so this could possibly be a trip Hugh and Elizabeth made to visit John's family in Washington. Both Hugh and John were farmers, so they would have a lengthy off-season to travel.
I'll go out on a limb and say that the lady with GGrandmother Beach is Elmira Beach.
Piecing together some of the information gathered from Marcia A Buescher, Kimball County Nebraska Rootsweb, Sam Carlyle left for Forest Grove, Oregon, in early 1907, then Emma followed about March or April of that year. Elizabeth apparently stayed behind and graduated from high school there in 1909. We have no records of a son born to Sam and Emma, but the following is probably Sam's brother: "W. L. Carlyle married Ruth Ingham (spelling?) at University Place, Nebraska", published in the Western Nebraska Observer issue of January 6, 1898. Both list their birthplace as Illinois, and their father's birthplace as England. If so, that would explain why Elizabeth was able to stay behind and graduate before she left town.
Who, Where, When
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Washington
1920:
- Arthur & Gertrude Mills, Kalama, Cowlitz County, Washington, w/Nora Jane (b Nebraska ca 1917).
- Elizabeth Carlyle, Seattle, King County, working @ Red Cross
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Oregon
1920:
- Ava Carlyle, married George Douglas Garratt (Texas) in 1917, Washington County, Oregon
- Ralph I. & Bessie G. Mills, (brother of Arthur Mills), Cornelius, Washington County, Oregon
1930:
- Sam & Emma Carlyle, Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon
- Mary Elizabeth Beach (GGrandmother Beach) w/Sam & Emma.
- Ralph I. & Bessie G. Mills, (brother of Arthur Mills), Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon
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The Twins
Since the premise of this search was to find the Beach sisters, I haven't done much with the Beach Brothers. I'll remedy that now.
Alex (left) Will (right) Elizabeth M. McCall Beach looking through the screen door. |
Dr. Will Beach & Family.
Dr. Will Beach |
NOTE: this census provides us with a Beach sister previously unknown: Agnes.
