STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1903, page 1, column 5 JOHN BEIGH, 16 Jul 1822 - 21 Jul 1903 John Beigh was born near Miffin, Juniata county, Penn., July 16, 1822, and died in Steuben county, Indiana, July 21, 1903, aged 81 years and 5 days. At the age of ten years he came with his parents from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and settled in the wilderness of Seneca county, where he grew to manhood with less than six months of educational privileges. February 22, 1844, he was united in marriage with Mary Gooding, who died March 23, 1886. To this union were born nine children, three sons and six daughters, and leaves to mourn their loss, one brother, two sisters, three sons, three daughters, eighteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren, and a large number of other relatives. In 1854 he moved with his family to Jackson township, Steuben county, Indiana, where he bought and improved a farm of 80 acres, thus twice enduring the hardships and privations of pioneer life. In 1868 he moved to Salem township which has since been his home. In the year 1846 he and his companion were converted and joined the United Brethren church, each continuing faithful and loyal until summoned by death, which in his case came very suddenly, he having been killed by a railway train near Angola and eleven miles from home, kindred and near neighbors and friends. His was a busy life, and with an iron will and dauntless courage he overcame difficulties that would have discouraged many others. He will be missed by the community, the church and the home from which he was so suddenly taken but the earthly loss is his eternal gain. Funeral services were held at the Block church, July 23rd, conducted by Rev. A. G. Neal, of the Angola M. E. church, assisted by Rev. L. M. Davis, of the Hudson E. B. church. Burial in Block church cemetery. The funeral was very largely attended, as Mr. Beigh was widely known and highly respected as a friend and neighbor. (Picture included with obituary) STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1903, page 1, column 7 A FATAL ACCIDENT Yesterday afternoon, while John Beigh, aged 81 years, of Salem township, was coming to town in his carriage from the north he was struck by the south-bound passenger train, at the crossing near Fairview, and almost instantly killed. His horse was also killed and the buggy badly broken. As he was approaching the track, Fernando Rathbun noticing the danger, gave him warning, but instead of stopping the horse, as he could have done with safety, he took a look at the train, and then struck his horse with the whip, no doubt thinking he could get across ahead of the train. The train was stopped and he was taken to the depot, later to Weicht's undertaking rooms and then to his late home near Salem Center. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, 29 JULY 1903, page 5, column 2 The terrible accident at the railroad crossing near the fair grounds last week in which John Beigh lost his life, ought to be a lasting warning to everybody not to try to beat a train of cars. Always look out and keep on the safe side. As we said a few weeks ago, an engine is a hard thing to run against. Day after day people drive over this same crossing as carelessly as they do a cement crossing down town. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, 29 JULT 1903, page 4, column 1 The will of the late John Beigh, of Salem township, was admitted to probate in the clerk's office a few days ago. By its provisions the testator bestowed his estate equally on all his children taking into account advancements already made by him to them, and giving to the three children of his deceased daughter, Lucinda Fifer, the share their mother would have taken had she survived her father. Mr. Beigh appointed his attorney, D. R. Best, to act as his Executor and directed him to make sale of his choice farm of 110 acres just north of Salem Center, empowering Mr. Best to make such sale without any order of court and on such terms as he might think for the best interests of testator's estate. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: John eigh, 16 Jul 1822 - 21 Jul 1903, on 22 Feb 1844, married Mary (Gooding) Beigh, 10 Nov 1825 - 23 Mar 1886. CHILDREN: Silas Beigh, 14 Nov 1846 - 21 Oct 1934, married Olive M. (Scott) Beigh, 1843 - 14 May 1925. Julia (Beigh) Rippey, 08 Jul 1852 - 1922, on 04 Jan 1874, married James Henry Rippey, 1851 - 1935. Lucinda (Beigh) Fifer, 01 Nov 1854 - 28 Mar 1885, on 30 Mar 1875, married Simon Franklin Fifer, 03 Oct 1850 - 29 Mar 1922. Later divorced. Edwin Beigh, 05 Sep 1856 - 20 Feb 1926, on 17 Jan 1883, married Hannah D. (Parsell) Beigh, 21 Apr 1859 - 14 Nov 1941. Rosella Beigh, 21 Aug 1863 - 10 May 1882. All the children and spouses are buried at Block Cemetery except the divorced Simon Fifer who is buried at Hamilton Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana. "Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990" by Audree Siebel Lewis, Vol. I, pages 122, 123, 623, 624, Vol. II, page 1528. Submitted by: Mona Hilden-Beckwith e-mail: hilbeck123@att.net