WILLIAM BAKER BEESON

BEESON, WILLIAM BAKER, farmer, was born October 2, 1829, in Jackson County; son of Alford and Fannie (Baker) Beeson, who lived at Scottsboro, the former of whom fought with Gen. Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812, in his campaign against the Indians in Alabama and in the Battle of New Orleans against Gen. Packingham, and after the war settled in Blount County. His ancestors came from England to North Carolina before the Revolutionary War.

His early schooling was restricted by the death of his parents, but later in life much of his time was devoted to study. He became a farmer and stock raiser.

He entered the C. S. Army in December, 1861, as a First Lieutenant, was promoted to Captain of the Forty-ninth Alabama Regiment, and served until the end of the war. He fought at Shiloh, at Port Hudson, and was wounded in the left arm, captured, and sent to Johnson's Island. After his exchange, he took part in all the fighting around Atlanta, was at the battles of Klnston and Bentonville, and surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina.

After the war, he resumed farming and continued to raise blooded stock. He was at one time a member of the state legislature from Etowah County, and was the candidate of the alliance party for congress in 1892. He was a Master Mason, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Married:
December 2, 1867, Mary Frances, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Cook) Sibert, early settlers of the state.

Children:
1. David Marcus, b. September 25, 1868, was mayor of Gadsden in 1882, d. July 18, 1882;
2. Julia E., m. S. A. Conger;
3. Naomi J., m. Dr. H. P. McWhorter;
4. John Wesley, b. March 31, 1866, received the degree of A. B., 1881, of A. M., 1888, from the University of Alabama, president of Arcadia College, Louisiana, 1886-1891, of Marengo Female Institute, 1891-1896, of East Mississippi Female College, 1896, m. (1) at West Point, Mississippi, August 31, 1887, Annie Foster Pauline, (2) at McKinley, June 8, 1893, Rosa Laura Foster;
5. Jasper Luther, b. August 30, 1867 at Keener, was graduated from the University of Alabama, A. B., 1889, A. M., 1890, and from Johns Hopkins University. Ph. D. in Chemistry, 1893, became instructor in physics at the University of Alabama and Chemist of the Alabama Geological Survey, 1889-1890, research chemist at the Louisiana experiment station and Professor of Chemistry in the Louisiana School of Sugar, 1893-1897, professor elect of chemistry at the Kansas Agricultural College, 1897, professor of chemistry and physics at the Georgia Normal and Industrial College, 1897, also chairman of the faculty, member of American Chemical Society, fellow of Association for the Advancement of Science, Democrat, a Presbyterian, author of "Doctor Dissertation," Johns Hopkins, 1893, "Notes on the Estimation of Fiber in Sugar Ones," "A Study of the Constituents of the Nodes and Internodes of the Sugar Cane," which publications were reviewed by the principal chemical Journals of Europe, "Effects of Fertilizers upon Sugar Cane," "Pedigreeing Sugar Cane," "Occurrence of Amines in Sugar Cane," "A Study of the Clarification of Cane Juice," "The Physical Effects of Fertilizers upon Soils as Modifying the Soil's Power to Maintain a Supply of Moisture," "Effects of a Crop of Peas upon the Nitric Nitrogen of the Soil," a sketch of research work in chemistry is given in the two editions of "American Men of Science," edited by J. McKeen Cottell, inventor of chemical apparatus, some of which is used both in America and Europe, m. September 13, 1894, at Powder Springs, Georgia, Leola, graduate of Shorter College, daughter of James Wilson and Katherine (Riley) Selman, of Powder Springs, whose father was Lieutenant in Co. A, Thirtieth Georgia Regiment, C. S. Army, great-grandfather, James Selman was scalped while a Revolutionary soldier; great-great-grandfather Jeremiah Selman, served in Roebuck's Regiment in the Revolution; great-great-great-grandfathers, Thomas Camp and Benjamin Camp, fought in Capt. Walsh's Company, Second Virginia Regiment in the Revolution; maternal great-great-great- grandfather, Capt. William Scott; served in the Third Georgria Battery, Revolutionary Army; one child, Catherine Selman, residence Milledgeville;
6. Fannie C., teacher;
7. Martha A., attended Marengo Female College;
8. William James, was graduated, B. S., 1896. and M. S., 1897, from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College, was principal of the Ninth District AgriculturalSschool at Blountsville, 1897-1899, occupied the chair of history and economics in the State Normal School at Jacksonville, 1899-1905, was appointed head of the department of English and History at the Meridian Male College. Meridian, Mississippi;
9. Elenor C., attended Marengo Female College;
10. Malcolm Alfred, B. S., 1900, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, attended Johns Hopkins University, occupied the chair of science in Meridian Female College, 1900-1901, was president of the Meridian Male College, 1903, Meridian, Mississippi;
11. Mary Summers, deceased.

Last residence; Big Wills Valley, north of Gadsden.

Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, by Thomas McAdory Owen, LL. D., Volume III,
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1921

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