My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH BEETEM, who throughout the greater part of his active life was engaged in business in Carlisle, Cumberland county, was a native of Centerville (now Huntsdale), this county, born Dec. 16, 1830. His parents, Abraham and Elizabeth (Smith) Beetem, are more fully mentioned elsewhere.

Mr. Beetem received all his education in his native place, attending school until he was fifteen. His father died when he was only two years old, leaving a family of eight children, the oldest but fourteen, who were quite naturally thrown early on their own resources. After leaving school Joseph commenced to learn the carpenter’s trade with his brothers, Samuel, Jacob, George and Abraham, though the first named worked principally as a millwright. Prior to his marriage he followed his trade in the country around his native place, and later came to Carlisle, engaging in contracting and building in company with his brothers, going into business on his own account two years before he married. He continued in that line for a few years following his marriage, and he and his brother Abraham then went into the grain business, their grain house being on the site of the present home of Judge Biddle. They met with continued success in that enterprise, carrying it on until the death of Joseph Beetem, in 1894. Mr. Beetem was a man of marked business ability, as his career would indicate, and he was ever a public-spirited and valuable citizen, giving his influence toward every movement for the general welfare. But his disposition was quiet, and he was kind and charitable in his dealings with all, whether in business or in private life.

Mr. Beetem was married in Carlisle, in 1869, to Miss Hetty Hemminger, who was born in South Middleton township, Cumberland county, daughter of John and Eliza Hemminger, and received her education in the district schools of that locality. She was a young woman when her parents removed to Carlisle. Mr. and Mrs. Beetem settled in the home at No. 112 South West street, where she still resides, and two children came to their union: Samuel Harvey is a business man of Omaha. Neb.; Frank H., who is engaged as a bank clerk in Carlisle, married Miss Sarah Kimmel, of Mechanicsburg, Pa. Mr. Beetem in religious connection was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle, in the work of which congregation he was quite active, holding office for many years. His poilitical sympathy was Aalways with the Democratic party.