The Man for whom Beeson Avenue is Named
Beeson Avenue in Marianna Borough is named after Alexander Conn Beeson. Mr. Beeson was a Marianna Mine General Superintendent and Chief Engineer. When the Marianna mine disaster occurred in 1908, it is reported that A. C Beeson had just come to the surface of the mine a few minutes before Henry Louttit, inspector, and found the mine in perfect condition. But shortly thereafter the explosion occurred in the No. 2 Agnes mine. Article "Model Coal Mine at Marianna" by A.C Beeson, HERE (page 278). Mine article by A. C Beeson and Floyd W. Parsons HERE.
A. C. Beeson lived on Beeson Avenue in a yellow brick house that many residents still refer to as the house of the old mine superintendent.
Alex Beeson was born in Mt. Braddock, Pa on August 17th, 1876 to William and Mary (Conn) Beeson. He married Harriet Baird Reed on December 7th, 1903. Together they had 5 children, Adaline, William, Colin, Harriet, Edith, Alexander (died on December 8th, 1924 when he was 8 years old of general peritonitis. Born October 4,1916.).
Alex's father was William Beeson and his mother was Mary Conn. William was born October 24th, 1824, in Uniontown, Fayette County, Pa. William's father was Issac Beeson and his mother Louisa Caroline Pennock. Isaac Beeson was born in 1795, Uniontown Pa. Issac's father was Jacob Beeson and his mother Lydia White. Jacob was born in Uniontown, Pa. Jacob's father was Henry Beeson who is shown on a map in the "A Bicentennial History of West Bethlehem Township and Marianna Borough" as having owned over 180 acres in Greene County in the 1700's. Find more about Henry HERE, HERE,HERE, and HERE (Page 69).
As noted in an old document "Alexander Conn Beeson was Chief Engineer for the Receivers, Pittsburg-Buffalo Co., 150 East Maiden Street, Washington, Pa. Association May 1, 1907-September 2nd, 1914".
Superintendents house July 4th, 1910
Obituary for Alexander Conn Beeson dated June 14th, 1947
From article "The Benevolent Beesons" (mailtribune) "Alexander Conn Beeson, ran a mine in West Virginia and hired blacks to work there. He had crosses burned on his lawn," says Deedie Runkel, owner of Anne Hathaway's Bed and Breakfast in Ashland and organizer of the reunion."
Other Sources:
Whose who in enginering vol 1