Jesse W. Beerbower’s life, woven into the fabric of Williams County since his birth on August 24, 1844, in Jefferson Township, offers a compelling narrative of dedication, hard work, and community engagement. Descending from a lineage enriched by the pioneering spirit of his grandparents and the agricultural legacy of his father, Jacob F. Beerbower, Jesse’s journey is emblematic of the transformative power of perseverance across generations. His transition from working on rented land to owning a successful farm in Pulaski Township illustrates a life of industrious endeavor and well-earned success. Alongside his contributions to local education and his steadfast political involvement, Beerbower’s story is a testament to the enduring values of honesty, diligence, and community service.
Jesse W. Beerbower. — Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human life and human activities is deserving of recognition, whatever may be his field of endeavor; and it is the function of works of this nature to prepare for future generations an authentic record concerning those represented in its pages, and the value of such publications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come, showing forth the individual and specific accomplishments of which generic history is ever engendered. The record of the honored old settler, Jesse W. Beerbower, of Pulaski Township, Williams County, is worthy of perpetuation on the pages of local history as will be readily ascertained by perusal of the following paragraphs.
Jesse W. Beerbower was born in Jefferson Township, Williams County, Ohio, on August 24, 1844, and is the son of Jacob F. and Susan (Snyder) Beerbower, the former of whom was born in Wayne County, Ohio, on January 22, 1822. The subject’s paternal grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Spurgeon) Beerbower, were born, reared and married in Wise County, West Virginia. Jacob Beerbower was a veteran of the War of 1812. Subsequently he moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he entered 160 acres of Government land, which was located in the forest, and to the clearing of this land and putting it into cultivation his energies were applied. He created a good home and other landed estate, and there spent the remainder of his life. He was a democrat in his political faith. He was the father of James, Jacob F., Jesse, John, William, Sarah, Lydia and Elizabeth. His wife died in November, 1833, and he later was married to Mrs. Baumgardner, by whom he had two sons, Abraham and Benton. Jacob F. Beerbower was reared on the home farm in Wayne County, Ohio, until eighteen years of age, when he and his brother, James, came to Jefferson Township, Williams County, the date of their arrival here being April 19, 1840. They each secured a quarter section of land adjoining, thus having a total of 320 acres in one tract. In 1851 their brother Jesse also came out and located near them, and John also located on a quarter section in Jefferson Township. Each of these brothers received his land as a gift from his father, who also gave their sister Sarah eighty acres of land in the same township. On September 23, 1843, Jacob F. Beerbower was married to Susan Snyder, and the following children were born to them, namely: Jesse W., the subject of this sketch; Mary J., the widow of H. H. Hester; Sarah, who remains unmarried; Francis, the wife of S. S. Wineman; Jonathan; Jacob C, of Pulaski Township.
Jesse W. Beerbower was reared on the paternal farmstead in Jefferson Township, the schools of which he attended, completing his educational training in the public schools of Bunker Hill, Ohio. He remained at home until his marriage, when he engaged in farming operations on his own account, operating rented land for five years. He then bought a farm in Superior Township, on which he lived for five years, or until April 10, 1878, when he located on his present attractive farm of fifty-four acres, in Pulaski Township, where he has resided continuously since. He has been an industrious and painstaking farmer during all of his active years and his efforts have been rewarded with well-merited success, so that he is able to spend his later years in comparative ease.
Politically, Mr. Beerbower has always given his support to the republican party and has taken an intelligent interest in local public affairs, especially as pertaining to education, and rendered effective service as a member of the local school board.
Mr. Beerbower was married to Charlotte Jones, a daughter of Cass Jones, and they became the parents of the following children: Thomas, Arthur, Lydia, Cora. Mrs. Charlotte Beerbower died on September 19, 1912. She was a devoted member of the German Reformed Church. The subject has led a life of persistent and well-applied energy and commendable industry, and, because of his unswerving honesty in all his dealings with his fellowmen, and his generous and kindly nature, he has won and retains a host of warm personal friends throughout the locality long honored by his citizenship.
Source: Bowersox, Charles A. ed. A standard history of Williams County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development , 2 vols. Publisher Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1920.