P. W. Beamer, general blacksmith, wagon and plow maker, was born March 12, 1846, in Jackson, Ohio; was raised in Adams and Pike counties, Ill.; served apprenticeship at the above trade in 1858-1859 to fall of 1860. Enlisted in the spring of 1861 in Company K, Sixteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in all the battles of his command, which was under Generals Pope, Rosecranz and Grant. Re-enlisted as a veteran in December, 1863, and participated in the campaigns under Sherman until the war closed; was discharged as First Sergeant at Springfield, Ill, July 1865. Was married to Miss E. A. Keller, of Quincy, Ill., and has three children, viz., George W. A., Aaron, E. F., and Julia. Went to Colorado in the spring of 1869, and engaged in mining for several years; then worked at his trade. Returned to Illinois, and was engaged in plow making until the fall of 1878. Came to Kansas, engaged in agricultural and stock pursuits; and came to Dodge in 1879, and worked at his trade until September, 1882, when he engaged in business as above. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity as high as Knights Templar, also as a P. G. in the I. O. O. F. and Past Chancellor of the order of Knights of Pythias, and a member of the order of Good Templars and E. A. Union of Dodge City.
