Daniel Beebe, Veteran Merchant - 1875

Daniel Beebe, Veteran Merchant

Chenango Union, October 14, 1875

The village of Guilford, in this County [Chenango, NY], lays claim to the oldest practical merchant in this section of the county.  Deacon Daniel Beebe, now in his eighty-fourth year, may upon any business day be found at his store in that place, where, with genial face, and flowing locks and beard as white as snow, he is ever ready with the elasticity of youth and an urbanity, savoring of the old school, to wait upon all who favor him with their patronage.  Deacon Beebe was born in Conn., and after removing to Hudson with his parents, where he spent some time at school, he came to Hartwick, Otsego County, in 1807, and entered a store as a clerk.  At that time, the passage was to Albany by stage, for steamboats were just coming into vogue, as Fulton during that year made his first successful trial of steam upon the Hudson, and thence to Hartwick "as one could catch a chance," there being a mail but once a week, and taking two days to make the trip.  Railroads were not dreamed of then.  After serving his time, he became a partner, in time the chief merchant, and also the post-master of the place for a long time, and a stockholder in a neighboring factory.  In those days merchants made at least two annual visits to New York to purchase goods, which were brought up to Albany in sloops, and thence by wagon or sleigh into the country.  At that time "one need not go out of Pine Street in New York to purchase dry goods, for those stores were all confined to that street."  There were but few styles of "print goods" and they commanded a high price. Barter was the chief trade of the country merchant, and it was usual to exchange his goods for all kinds of farm products, which in turn were shipped to market.  Albany was a considerable market, and during good sleighing "was alive with country teams."

 

The reverses which followed the financial troubles of 1837, spreading business disaster throughout the country, overtook Deacon Beebe, and he was finally compelled to succumb to its severe mandates.  With a large family, and at the age of fifty-two he came to Guilford and commenced anew in the mercantile business.  In a few years he built up an extensive trade which compelled the erection of one of the largest stores in our county.  In the spring of 1864, he was burned out, sustaining considerable loss, since which time he has carried on his business with the same precision in a small store in that village.  In the meantime his family has been thinned out by deaths and removals until but one daughter remains to cheer his lonely, declining years.  Afflictions in various forms have long surrounded him, yet in the midst of all he has pursued the same even course, abiding in the protecting care of that Power "that doeth all things well."  It is our sincere hope that "the Deacon" may be spared several years yet in the present enjoyment of his mental and physical powers.