WARREN BEEBE is classed with the leading stockdealers of Greene county, Illinois, conducting an extensive and prosperous business near Eldred. He was born on the 5th of January, 1848, within a half mile of his present home, his parents being Aurora and Betsey (Smeed) Beebe, who became early settlers of Greene county, the father arriving here in 1836, while the mother came in 1837. Aurora Beebe was a son of Francis and Susanna Beebe. Our subject's great-grandfather, Clark Beebe, came west about 1818 and settled in Greene county. At his death he was buried on Apple Creek Prairie. His son Sheldon Beebe left Massachusetts in 1818 and after spending some time in Illinois and Missouri finally located in Greene county, in 1821, on the farm now occupied by our subject.

The father of our subject carried on agricultural pursuits in the western part of Greene county and was also a stock-raiser. He took an active and helpful part in the work of early improvement in the county, assisting materially in the development and progress of this portion of the state. He favored every movement which tended to advance the county's best interests and was widely known as a loyal citizen, reliable business man and trustworthy friend. He died at the home of his son Warren at the age of seventy-four years and his widow is now living with her son at the advanced age of eighty-one years. She is a daughter of Chester and Liddie Smeed, of Greene county, who cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of this portion of the state in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe were the parents of ten children, of whom four died in infancy. The others are Emma S., who is now the wife of Byron Bradley; Warren, of this review; Olive, the wife of R. T. Robley; Alice, who died in 1901; Lillie; and Frank.

Having spent his entire life in this county, Warren Beebe is well known to many of its settlers. He is indebted to the public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and which qualified him for the discharge of life's practical and responsible duties. After putting aside his text-books he gave his father the benefit of his services and has remained upon the old homestead farm continuously since. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work and while he is most practical in his methods he is also quick to adopt any new and improved ideas concerning farming that will facilitate the farm work and result beneficially to the business. His fields are well tilled and in his pastures and barns are found high grades of stock. He is particularly well known as a stock-raiser and is now feeding one hundred and forty head of cattle. He has also raised very fine horses, having upon his place some of the finest stock to be found in this part of the state. He is a man of sterling purpose and honorable motive, as is evidenced in his relations with his fellow men. Deeply interested in the cause of temperance, he gives his political allegiance to the Prohibition party, although he was reared in the faith of the Republican party. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in Greene county and because of his personal worth and because he is a representative of an honored pioneer family he well deserves representation in this volume.