Dr. J. M. Beach, Princeton, was born in Burlington, Hartford County, Conn., December 16, 1813. He is the son of Joel and Lydia (Sutliff) Beach, both natives of Connecticut, which State they made their home till the time of their death. Of their family one son and two daughter yet survive, viz: Dr. J. M., of Princeton; Mrs. Squires, of Winona, widow of Martin Squires, and Mrs. F. A. Raymond, of Henry, Ill.
Dr. Beach was reared in his native county, and in 1836 began the study of dentistry with Dr. Crane, of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1839 he began the practice of his profession in Pittsburg, Penn. In 1851 he came West and settled in Mount Palatine, Putnam Co., Ill., where he continued the practice till 1864, when he located in Princeton. The Doctor has been in active practice for forty-five years, and is one of the oldest dentist in the State.
In 1844 he was married in Pittsburg, to Miss Josephine Williams, a native of Philadelphia. She died in 1849 of the cholera; she was the mother on one son—James—who died when about eighteen months of age. In 1851 Dr. Beach was united in marriage to Mrs. Ann (Wiley) Smith. She was born in Pittsburg and died in Princeton in 1879. She was the mother of one daughter by Dr. Beach, viz: Anna J., wife of Dr. William Landreth.
Dr. Beach cast his first vote for Henry Clay, and is now identified with the Republican party. He is an active worker for the temperance cause. In 1880 in order to be relieved of some of his professional duties, Dr, Beach formed a partnership with his son-in-law, Dr. William M. Landreth, and they have practiced together since. Dr. Landreth is a native of Philadelphia, and is the son of one of the founders of the seed industry of Philadelphia, he being previous to death one of the members of the Landreth seed firm of that city. His widow is now a resident of Battle Creek, Mich., and one son, Albert Landreth, is a wholesale seed grocer, of Manitowoc, Wis. In early life Dr. Landreth received the appointment to West Point, but after a few months had to give up the on account of not being able to the training. For some time he was of Battle Creek, Mich., and came from there, and was here married Anna J. Beach. This union has been blessed with the following named children: Anna, Alice and Beach In politics he is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Congregational Church.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885