William Martin Beekman (b. January 02, 1843, d. date unknown)
William Martin Beekman was born January 02, 1843 in Chester Township, Eaton County, MI, and died date unknown. He married Christiana Pugh on March 21, 1866 in Eaton County, MI, daughter of Davis Jackson Pugh and Jane M. Carroll.
Notes for William Martin Beekman: Michigan Biographical Sketches, 1870-1900
BEEKMAN, WILLIAM MARTIN. One of the Republican leaders in Eaton county, Michigan, William Martin Beekman, now the postmaster of Charlotte, has done much for his party in that section of the state and is recognized as one of the progressive and influential citizens. His ancestors, as the name implies, were of the old Dutch colonial stock that settled in New Amsterdam, when what is now the Greater New York was only a cluster of quaint Dutch houses on the extreme point of Manhattan Island, looking out over New York bay. Mr. Beekman traces his ancestry back to one Harman Lutgers, who was on the staff of General George Washington, and campaigned with him during the early part of the revolutionary war. He is also a direct descendant of William Redlow, first president of New York in 1755, and formerly owner of Bedlow's Island. The name of Beekman has spread all over New York state, and in that section where Washington Irving has located most of his quaint sketches and stories, the Beekman family is very much in evidence. William Martin Beekman was born in Chester township, Eaton county, Michigan, January 2, 1843. When he reached the proper age he was sent to the district school, where he attended until he was 10 years old, and then was obliged to spend the summer and autumn months working on the farm, and allowed to attend school again in the winter. In the spring of 1861 he began to learn the carpentering trade, and was progressing at it when Lincoln's all for 100,000 men swept over the country. Young Beekman dropped his plane, before he had even had a fair acquaintance with it, and enlisted August 11, 1861, in Company B, Second Michigan Cavalry. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Anderson, Grand Rapids, and in November was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri. Later it was brigaded with the Second Iowa Cavalry. Mr. Beekman again re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, and later was made orderly sergeant. In June, 1865, he was commissioned second lieutenant, but not mustered. To the company in which Mr. Beekman fought belongs the honor of firing the last shot in the civil war, east of the Mississippi river, in an engagement that occurred twelve days after General Lee had handed his sword to General Grant at Appomatox. Mr. Beekman was mustered out August 17, 1865, and immediately returned to his home in Eaton county. He had saved about $600 during his term of service, which, together with some live stock he owned, was enough to purchase a small farm near his father's, and take up farming as a vocation. In the fall of 1886 he was elected register of deeds, and moved to Charlotte, where he now resides. In March, 1866, he married Christinia, daughter of Davis Pugh, of Eaton county. Mrs. Beekman died a few years ago, leaving two children. Martin Henry died in 1889, age 14 years. The daughter is Mrs. Markham, of Charlotte. Mr. Beekman is a Mason, a member of Charlotte Commandery, No. 37; K. P., No. 53, and also a member of C. S. Williams Post, No. 40, G. A. R.[p.157]
More About William Martin Beekman and Christiana Pugh: Marriage: March 21, 1866, Eaton County, MI.
Children of William Martin Beekman and Christiana Pugh are:
Mary Beekman, b. Abt. 1870, Eaton County, MI, d. date unknown.
Martin Henry Beekman, b. Abt. 1875, Eaton County, MI, d. March 22, 1889, Eaton County, MI.
William Martin Beekman (b. January 02, 1843, d. date unknown)
Notes for William Martin Beekman: