Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Othniel Beeson
Othniel Beeson was born in North Carolina in 1813, a son of Benjamin Beeson, who came to Indiana Territory in 1814. He was reared on the farm, and has always followed that vocation. He has been successful in his business life. He has always taken an active part in political affairs. He was originally a Jackson Democrat, acting with the party till 1854, when it made slavery the chief corner-stone of its organization, and he was ruled out of the party as a heretic for refusing to co-operate with them in endeavoring to open the door to slavery in all our Territories. He at once joined the Republican party, and has since been one of its firmest supporters. He has held several responsible positions as a representative of Wayne County. In 1850 he was elected a Member of the Constitutional Convention of the State; in 1858 he was elected to the State Senate, and re-elected in 1862; in 1863 he was appointed by Governor Morton to investigate the condition of refugees sent North by the order of General Sherman, and also to enroll the militia of Wayne County; in 1870 he was again elected to the Senate, and was appointed chairman of several important committees. He has had an extensive acquaintance with the leading influential men of Indiana.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2