American Medical Biographies/Beech, John Henry
Beech, John Henry (1819–1878)
John Henry Beech, surgeon, was born September 24, 1819, at Gaines, Orleans County, New York, where his father, Dr. Jesse Beech, had practised many years. John Henry had his early education at Gaines' Academy, New York, afterwards attending lectures at Albany Medical College, and receiving his M. D. April, 1841, immediately afterwards beginning practice in Gaines, but in 1850 removing to Coldwater where he stayed till his death, except for time spent in the army during the Civil War. He aided in resurrecting the Orleans County Medical Society, New York; was active in reviving the Michigan State Medical Society in 1856 and its president in 1866. At once, on hearing of the disastrous battles of Shiloh Church, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, Dr. Beech took the first train for the field of battle. He was made acting assistant surgeon under medical director Surgeon Murray, and assigned to the care of Michigan and Ohio batteries of artillery. Though in feeble health he was made surgeon of the twenty-fourth regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry. In 1862 he was appointed one of the operating surgeons of the first brigade, first division, first army corps. In 1863 he acted as surgeon pro tem for the same brigade, the appointment being made permanent at the opening of 1864. At the battle of Gettysburg, Dr. Beech continued work in the express office building, while the tide of battle swept through the town, leaving him and his fellow surgeons prisoners. As the enemy did not molest them, they continued operating for three days with an occasional meal. After this battle Surgeon Chamberlain, chief of the division, requested the operating surgeons to submit cases of injuries at or near the shoulder joint to Dr. Beech because of his skill and good judgment in their management. Dr. Beech was opposed to amputating in such cases because of the excellent results following resection. In February, 1865, the twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteers were sent to Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois. Surgeon Beech remained behind to transfer brigade supplies to his successor. On reaching Camp Butler, he found his regiment quartered in filthy barracks with no hospital accommodations, and the survivors of twenty battles rapidly sinking under the bad conditions of living. An hour later he had the ridge boards torn from the roofs and the banking boards removed from the foundations. In a few days the commandant directed Dr. Beech to inspect the entire camp and supervise making the needed improvements. This completed, Dr. Beech resumed private practice though limiting it to consultations and surgery. He was below the average size, never of robust health. He led a most strenuous life, had refined and elevated tastes, never wavered in what he regarded as duty, but was ever courteous and strong in attachment to his friends.
Dr. Beech married three times, but left no children, first, Eliza C. Crownse in January, 1842, who died in 1859; in January, 1861, Mary Jane Parry, who died June 24, 1872; and on August 26, 1875, Mrs. Sarah E. Skeels of Coldwater.
He died of acute pneumonia at his home in Coldwater, October 17, 1878.