LORENZO DOW BEEBE, one of the
oldest citizens of New London, residing at 86 Shaw Street, where he has
lived for nearly half a century, was born in the town of Waterford, three
miles from New London, on the 6th of March, 1809. His father, Benjamin
Beebe, who was born in the same town in 1775, died in 1813, leaving his
wife, Abigail Douglas Beebe and six sons and two daughters. Of his children,
Lorenzo D., the fourth-born, is the only survivor. One of the sons, Dyer
Beebe, who died in middle age, before the war, left a daughter, who is
now living. The mother died November 23, 1840, and was buried in Cedar
Grove Cemetery.
Lorenzo Dow Beebe was named after the celebrated
Lorenzo Dow, whom his mother greatly admired. When a lad, he attended the
district school in Waterford, which at that time offered comparatively
few advantages to the pupils. When twelve years old he was working out
on farms in the neighborhood. At fourteen he came here to learn the trade
of tanner with James Edgerton. After serving three years, in accordance
with the good, old-fashioned custom, receiving but slender wages, he worked
at tanning as a journeyman for a number of years.
In 1833 Mr. Beebe was married to Nancy Daniels,
of Waterford, a daughter of Nathan and Nancy (Chappell) Daniels. Mrs. Beebe's
mother was daughter of Peter Chappell. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe have had nine
children, of whom six are living. A son and a daughter died in infancy.
Horace Beebe, who was always in delicate health, died, aged twenty-six.
The remaining children are: Ellen Edgerton Beebe, a spinster, who lives
at home, and is in frail health; Nathan B., formerly a mariner, now a painter
in this city, who has one son, Horace W. Beebe, a rising musician; Cordelia
A., unmarried, who was a very successful and popular school teacher, and
has devoted herself to the care of her aged father and invalid sister since
1887; Elizabeth S., who married John N. Brown, a carriage-maker of this
city, who died October 16, 1897; Mary L., who is the wife of Alanson Beckwith,
of this city; and Henry N., a salesman in the refrigerator business, who
has three children — Leburton, Bessie, and May. Mr. Beebe has six grandchildren.
He is a stanch Republican, and has taken an active interest in city affairs.
For several years he was Street Commissioner, and he was seen on the streets
with his oxen for many years. He was the first man to light the street
lamps in New London. Both he and his wife have been active members of the
Methodist Protestant church. Although bowed with age, he is still young
in feeling, and is active about his home, caring for his farm animals and
still in possession of all his faculties. He thinks and works well, appreciates
fun as well as some of his grandchildren, and it is the hope of his friends
that he may be spared, if not longer, to round out a full century of honored
days.
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 190 - 193
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