Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Welborn Beeson papers , 1848-1893
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Beeson, Welborn, 1836-1893
- Title
- Welborn Beeson papers
- Dates
- 1848-1893 (inclusive)18481893
- Quantity
- 2 linear feet, (4 containers)
- Collection Number
- Ax 799
- Summary
- Welborn Beeson was a farmer in Jackson County, Oregon during the late 1800s. The Beeson family came overland to Oregon in 1853, settling in Jackson County along Wagner Creek. In 1851, when Welborn Beeson was fifteen years old, he began to keep a diary and continued to do so until his death in 1893. After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, Beeson returned to farm in Jackson County, and was active in politics and in the social life of the area. The collection includes diaries, 1891-1893, and account books, 1848-1893.
- Repository
-
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Welborn Beeson was born in LaSalle County, Illinois in 1836 to parents John and Ann Beeson. The family came overland to Oregon in 1853, settling in Jackson County along Wagner Creek. Welborn Beeson later built a school on the property. He married Mary Katharine Brophy and had seven children. As the Civil War began, Beeson joined the Union Army. After the war, Beeson returned and continued to farm the Jackson County land.
Welborn Beeson kept a diary from 1851 until his death in 1893. He was a farmer, active in politics and in the social life of the area. Beeson was buried in Sterns Cemetery located near the Beeson farm.
Source: Kimball, Violet T. Stories of Young Pioneers in Their Own Words. Missoula Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2000.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes diaries, 1891-1893. A diary (September 19, 1859–December 29, 1860) of Charles J. Cummings is also included. The diaries are both descriptive and contemplative. They have additional importance because of their references to Beeson's father, John Beeson, author of Plea for the Indians (NY: 1857).
There are two imprecise transcripts of the earlier diaries. Version 1 contains a transcription of the 1851–1859 diaries, plus the entry for February 5, 1893. Version 2 contains a transcription of the 1851–1856 diaries.
Also found in the collection are account books, 1848–1893, including an account of the game killed by Beeson in the years 1848–1856.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Description |
|---|
| Guide to the Welborn Beeson papers |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Jackson County (Or.)
- Overland journeys to the Pacific
- Pioneers--West (U.S.)--Diaries
Personal Names
- Beeson, Welborn, 1836-1893
Geographical Names
- Oregon National Historic Trail
- Oregon Territory--History
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries
- Journals (accounts)
