Representative Alexander Lyman Beach View All Years

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Alexander Lyman Beach

Sioux County

Born at Kemptville, Ontario, June 19, 1847. He was educated in the common schools of Canada, but, realizing the possibilities for a young man in the west, he made an early determination to move westward, and accordingly left Ontario shortly after his marriage to Miss Jennie Bonham, which was solemnized April 3, 1869. Mr. Beach first settled in Saginaw, Mich. A few years later he changed his location moving to Windom. Minn. Here he accepted a position with a survey party. With Captain T. P. Gere, now of Sioux City, Mr. Beach assisted in laying out a number of town sites between St. James, Minn., and LeMars, Ia., on the line of the old Sioux City and St. Paul road, now known as the Omaha. Mr. Beach first settled in Iowa at East Grange, now Alton, being employed as a station agent. Not content with this he shortly resigned and began his career as a successful hardware dealer. His first venture was in the lumber, grain, hardware and implement business. Associated with him in his first enterprise were his two brothers. Mr. Beach had always been a staunch republican, but in the representative campaign of 1883, the democrats of the district endorsed him, and despite the opposition of the followers of Isaac Struble, his opponent, he was elected by a handsome majority to represent his county in the 18th Iowa General Assembly. With such credit to himself and to his district did he conduct himself during his office that he was offered the nomination during the next campaign, but refused to come up for re-election.

House District 70