M. P. Beebe Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 263

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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M. P. BEEBE. There are no rules for building characters; there is no 
rule for achieving success. The man who can rise from the ranks to a 
position of eminence is he who can see and utilize the opportunities 
that surround his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever 
the same, the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly; and, 
when one man passes another on the highway to reach the goal of 
prosperity before others who perhaps started out before him, it is 
because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the 
whole human race. To-day among the most prominent financiers of South 
Dakota stands Mr. Beebe, president of the Bank of Ipswich. 

He was born in Sandusky, New York, June 23, 1854, a son of Hiram and 
Lucretia (Jackson) Beebe, who were born and reared upon farms in ad 
joining counties of the Empire state, their respective fathers, Charles 
Beebe and Abraham Jackson, being pioneers of that locality. Prior to 
her marriage the mother of our subject was a successful teacher. In 
early life the father engaged in farming and hotel keeping, and later 
following mercantile pursuits. He died in 1885 

M. P. Beebe was reared in Sandusky, New York, and had good common-
school advantages. At the age of sixteen he entered his father's store 
as a clerk, and two years later was given the management of the same. 
On attaining his majority he was admitted to partnership and continued 
his connection with the business until 1883. 

In 1875, Mr. Beebe married Miss Leota F. Fuller, who was born in Cherry 
Valley, Illinois, and in 1861 removed with her parents to Rockwell, 
Iowa. They were among the first settlers in that section, the nearest 
railroad when they located there being one hundred miles distant. 
Immediately after the Civil war the family returned east and took up 
their residence in Pike, Wyoming county, New York. Mrs. Beebe's father, 
George A. Fuller, entered the service of his country and died at Mound 
Hill, Illinois, June 27, 1864, while returning to his home. Our subject 
and his wife have five children: Inez E., who graduated from the State 
University, June 14, 1899; Gertrude L., who is attending the same 
institution; and M. Plin, H. Ernest and Marjorie L., all at home. 

On first coming to this state in January, 1883, Mr. Beebe accepted the 
position as manager of the general mercantile store of C. A. Bliss, at 
Aberdeen, and came to Ipswich in 1884 and on the 24th of March, of that 
year, opened the Bank of Ipswich, which was run as a private bank until 
June 1, 1887, when it was re-organized as a state bank. The present 
officers are M. P. Beebe, president; A. J. Beebe, vice-president; and 
J. W. Hargrave, assistant cashier. The bank building, which was the 
first building erected on the old town site of Edmunds and was there 
used as a store building, was burned in the big fire at Ipswich, 
September 19, 1895. 

Mr. Beebe was the first man to agitate and help organize the State 
Bankers' Association of South Dakota, the first organization of the 
kind in the state and in the United States, their first meeting being 
held in Aberdeen, June 5, 1885. He was the honored president of the 
organization for four years, and has been treasurer of the same five 
years. He is a prominent representative of the Republican party in his 
community, and in 1884 was elected county treasurer, which office he 
filled in a most creditable and satisfactory manner for one term. 
Socially, he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the 
Modern Woodmen of America; and religiously is a member of the First 
Baptist Church of Ipswich. He is a courteous, genial gentleman, who is 
quite popular in social as well as business circles