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of this company of Indians stationed at Fort Sidney. As the result of this enterprise, recognition was given to Company 1 of the 21st United States Infantry for its proficiency in drill formation, improvement of conduct, loyalty, and obedience.

In the fall of 1895, a year after Fort Sidney was abandoned, Rev, and Mrs. Beecher moved to North Platte, where Mr. Beecher became, for eight years, the rector of the Church of Our Saviour.

Six children were born to Rev. and Mrs. Beecher. The first, Pauline Helen, born at Fort Sidney, died in infancy. Ruth Allen, born in North Platte, March 26, 1896, became a graduate of Brownell Hall, a Church Boarding School for girls in Omaha, attended the State University of Nebraska, and later married Captain Adrian R. Brian of the United States Army. George Sanford, born in North Platte in 1896, died in infancy. Elizabeth Knox, born in North Platte, January 18, 1900, attended Brownell Hall, is a graduate of the National Cathedral School in Washington, D. C., also of St. Faith's Training School, New York City, and took post-graduate work in Columbia University. For a few years she was Field Secretary in the Department of Religious Education under the National Branch of the Woman's Auxiliary. She was married to Rev. Frederic A. McNeil in St. Mark's Pro-Cathedral, Hastings, April 21, 1931, and now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Mary, twin sister of Elizabeth Knox died, in infancy. Sanford Dent, the only son living, was born in North Platte, February 22, 1902. He attended the Kearney Military Academy in Kearney, Nebraska, the Episcopal High School, Alexandria, Virginia, is a graduate of Hobart College, and also a graduate of the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He was married to Miss Sarah Horter of Germantown, Philadelphia, in June, 1930, and is associated with the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, in charge of the Department of Revenue in the State Capitol at Harrisburg.

Mr. Beecher was very active during the Spanish-American War. He was unofficially associated with the reorganization of Company E, of North Platte, before going to the front. After leaving North Platte he became the rector of St. Luke's Church, Kearney, and chaplain of the Kearney Military Academy. In 1904 he accepted the unanimous call of the vestry to become the dean and rector of Trinity Cathedral Parish, Omaha. He was installed as dean by Bishop Worthington in the fall of 1904. During his deanship he became actively engaged in the social welfare work of the community and was intimately associated with the work of the Juvenile Court, from which docket, many young boys and girls were paroled to him for his personal help and direction through the crucial years of their young lives. He was instrumental in the organization of the Juvenile Court, and the inauguration of the system of court trials of first offenders which abolished some of the old-time court proceedings. Tables were arranged for the young boys and girls who became victims of evil surroundings and temptations, where the judge himself sat at the end of the table with the children and those interested in their welfare and where the group was more like that of a family. Mr. Beecher was a member of the Newsboys' Club, and for nearly twenty years fostered a club of young lads through all of his parish experience.

After his installation as dean of Trinity Cathedral, Omaha, he became the chaplain of the Fifth Regiment of the Nebraska National Guard, which position he occupied from 1906 to 1916, including active service with the troops on the Mexican Border just previous to the World War.

He was a charter member of the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology; a member of the American Prison Association and also of the International Prison Association; president of the Nebraska Humane Society, vice-president of the Child Labor Commission; member of the Nebraska Branch of the National Commission for Treatment of Cancer; Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Nebraska.

In 1898 he was official delegate representing the Missionary District of Western Nebraska at the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church held in Washington, D. C. At the General Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio, in October, 1910, he was unanimously elected to succeed the Rt. Rev. Anson R. Graves D. D., as bishop of the Missionary District of Kearney (later Western Nebraska). He was consecrated bishop in Trinity Cathedral, Omaha, on St. Andrew's Day, November 30, 1910. Those taking part in this consecration were: 1. Rt. Rev. Daniel S. Tuttle, D. D., LL., D., D. C. L., presiding bishop; 2. Rt. Rev. Alexander Charles Garret, D. D., S. T. D., bishop of Dallas. 3. Rt. Rev. Anson R. Graves, D. D., S. T. D., bishop of Kearney (Western Nebraska) ; 4. Rt. Rev. Frank I. Milispaugh, D. D., LL. D., bishop of Kansas; 5. Rt. Rev. Arthur Llewelyn Williams, D. D., S. T. D., Bishop of Nebraska; 6. Rt. Rev. Theodore Nevin Morrison D. D., LL. D., Bishop of Iowa; 7. Rt. Rev: Nathaniel Seymore Thomas, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of Wyoming.

As bishop he became the president of the Kearney Military Academy, retaining his official position above referred to.

Bishop Beecher is the author of numerous pastoral letters, public addresses, biographical books, journals, etc., and is editor of the Western Nebraska Churchman. Previous to and during the World War, Bishop Beecher was actively engaged in various groups of public speakers in the campaign for voluntary enlistments. He was the first organizer of the Adams County branch of the American Red Cross, and became a charter member of that organization.

He was initiated into the Masonic fraternity at Fort Sidney, Nebraska, afterwards serving as Master of the Lodge in North Platte. He is at present a member of the George Lininger Lodge No. 268 at Omaha; a Knight Templar, and a 32nd Degree Mason with the honorary degree of K. C. C. H. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias in Hastings, Nebraska, and a member of the Elks Lodge No. 39 in Omaha. Although he is a member of the Hastings Country Club, Bishop Beecher finds his favorite sport in horse-back riding, and in June, 1930, together with three young lads, a covered wagon, team of mules, wrangler, and cook, he rode the Oregon Trail from the crossing of the Blue south of Hastings to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, a distance of 500 miles. A history of this trip over the Oregon Trail will appear in his book of reminiscences which the bishop is preparing for publication.

For the past twenty years he has resided at 919 North St. Joseph Avenue, Hastings, Nebraska. (Photograph on Page 103).

William Charles Beer

William C. Beer was born at Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois, September 24, 1858, where he attended elementary school into the eighth grade, in a pioneer country schoolhouse.

His father, William Beer, Sr., was born at Allegany, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1819, and died at Wymore, Nebraska, December 21, 1899. He was a farmer. Adaline (Belshee) Beer, his wife, was born in Ohio, March 23, 1827, and died at Wymore, Nebraska, January 6, 1906. She was of German and Scotch descent.

On March 23, 1881, he was united in marriage to Alice Moseley at Alexandria, Nebraska. Mrs. Beer, who was of Pennsylvania-German ancestry, was born at Dixon, Illinois, January 14, 1860. Her death occurred at Alexandria, Nebraska, September 14, 1899. They had six children: J. L., born March 5, 1882, who was married to Alma M. Goodman, and died September 19, 1910, F. H., born December 23, 1884, who is married to

GEORGE ALLEN BEECHER

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