Biography of Jack M. Beams, pages 965/966/967.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.

Jack M. Beams

	Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have 
gained for them a prominent place in the community and the respect and 
confidence of their fellow citizens is the honored subject of this sketch. 
A leading business man of the town in which he resides and a man of 
decided views and laudable ambitions, his influence has ever been made 
for the advancement of his kind and in the vocation to which his 
energies are devoted he ranks among the representative citizens of the 
county.
	Jack M. Beams was born on February 10, 1869, and is the son of 
John W. and Alice (Rhodes) Beams.  John W. Beams was born on April 21, 
1843, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, being the son of John and Barbara 
D. (Bishop) Beams, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of 
Pennsylvania.  John W. Beams received his education in the common 
schools of Allen county, Indiana, to which locality the family had moved 
in an early day, and was reared to the life of a farmer, giving his 
assistance to his father until eighteen year of age when, in 1862, he 
gave evidence of his patriotic loyalty by enlisting in Company E, 
fifty-fifth Regiment Indiana volunteer Infantry, with which command he 
participated in many of the most hotly contested battles of the great 
struggle, and at the close of his military service he received an 
honorable discharge.  He married Alice Rhodes in 1867, she being the 
daughter of Daniel and Mary Rhodes, both of whom were natives of Ohio. 
To this union were born the following children: Edward, who is engaged 
in the general mercantile business and undertaking at Spencerville, 
this county; Jack M., the immediate subject of this sketch; Nettie, 
deceased. On October 4, 1883, Mr. Beams married Fannie Miller, the 
daughter of Abraham S. and Jane (Chamberlain) Miller, the former a 
native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania, and to this union 
were born the following children: Walter, deceased; Robert, who lives 
with his parents, is a graduate of Butler College of the class of 1910, 
after which he went to Valparaiso, Indiana, and is a teacher in the 
high school at Spencerville. John W. Beams is the owner of thirty-
three acres of land in Spencer township, to which he has given his 
attention with gratifying success.  He is a notary public, having held 
this office for the last twelve years.  He is an old settler of DeKalb 
county and well remembers when where now stands the thriving town of 
Spencerville was nothing but a wilderness.  About thirty-three years 
ago he engaged in the dry goods, hardware and undertaking business, and 
carried them on successfully until 1900 when he turned the business 
over to his sons, who are still actively engaged in these lines.  
Politically, he is a Republican, while, religiously he is a member of 
the Evangelical Lutheran church.  Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge 
No. 556, Free and Accepted Masons; Lodge No. 320, Knights of Pythias, 
and John C. Kern Post No. 330, Grand Army of the Republic.  He owns a 
beautiful home in Spencerville, where he is now living in quiet 
enjoyment of that rest to which his active years so richly entitle him 
and he enjoys to a marked degree the warm regard of his fellows.
	Jack M. Beams received his education in the common schools of 
DeKalb county and in the Normal University at Valparaiso, this state.  
He then returned to Spencerville and became connected with the mercantile 
business which had been established here many years before by his father 
and he is still actively connected with that enterprise which has been 
prospered by his steady efforts and strict integrity in business affairs.  
In 1897 Mr. Beams was appointed postmaster of Spencerville by President 
McKinley and has held the office continuously since that time, a period 
of sixteen years, the discharge of his official duties being entirely 
satisfactory to the department and to the patrons of the office.  Aside 
from his official position, Mr. Beams has never held public office, but 
he has consistently give his support to every enterprise looking to the 
advancement and welfare of the community in which he resides.  Politically, 
he is an earnest Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias and the Free and Accepted Mason, in the latter order having 
attained to the degrees of the Scottish Rite and holding membership in 
the consistory at Fort Wayne.  He is also a member of the Order of 
Eastern Star.
	On February 14, 1899, Mr. Beams married Hattie Shutt, daughter of 
George and Mary (Houck) Shutt, the former a well known farmer in this 
county.  He and his wife came from Stark county, Ohio, and were among 
the early settlers of DeKalb county, where they have continuously since 
maintained their residence.  To Mr. and Mrs. Beams have been born two 
children, Agnes, deceased, and Argyle, who at present is preparing 
himself for the practice of medicine.  Mr.  Beams is a man of 
commendable enterprise who takes pride in his business affairs and in 
the faithful and honest discharge of his official duties.  Personally, 
he enjoys a high degree of popularity in the community, possessing as 
he does the qualities of mind and heart that retain warm friendship.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com