from History of Kentucky, Edition 3

Edmund R. Beauchamp was born in Edmonton, Metcalfe County, Kentucky, August 17, 1832, and is the elder of two children born to John W. and Frances U. (Rogers) Beauchamp, the former a native of Nelson County and the latter of what is now Metcalfe County, Kentucky.  They were of French and English descent, and were born in 1804 and 1810 respectively.  John W. Beauchamp received an excellent classical and scientific education in youth.  In early life he studied medicine and attended lectures; first at the medical department of the Lexington University; later, in 1832, he graduated with high honors from the Medical College at Nashville, Tennessee.  In 1838 he came to Barren County, now Metcalfe, where he continued to practice his profession with excellent success until his death, April 27, 1879; he was among the first physicians of the county, and his practice was an unusually extensive one; he was also engaged in agricultural pursuits in connection with his profession, and in company with his brother, R. P. Beauchamp, erected the first two waterpower grist mills at or near Edmonton.  He was twice married; the mother of Edmund R. was his first wife.  He and wife were life-long and devoted members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he was a ruling elder and also Sunday school superintendent for many years; he was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.  Mrs. Frances U. Beauchamp departed this life September 25, 1839.  Her father, Edmund Rogers, was a native of Virginia, and was one of the early pioneers of Barren County; he was a Revolutionary veteran, and served through the entire struggle of seven years.  He owned at one time some 15,000 acres of land, on a part of which the town of Edmunton is now located, and after whom the town was named.  Edmund R. Beauchamp received a good English and scientific education in youth at the common and select schools of his native county, and afterward attended an academy at Nashville, Tennessee, for two years.  He was employed on his father’s farm and in his grist-mill until he attained his majority, after which he bought his father’s one-half interest in one of his grist-mills, ten miles below Edmonton on Knob Lick Creek, known as the old Cradock Mill site.  After three years, in 1856, he sold his interest in the mill to his uncle, R. P. Beauchamp, and removed to Edmonton, where, in partnership with his father, he erected a large steam flouring and saw-mill, which he operated with good success until the summer of 1862, when it was burned by an incendiary, with 1,000 bushels of wheat, 500 bushels of corn, and 20,000 feet of lumber.  Within thirty days after the fire, with the assistance of his neighbors and friends, he had the mill again in operation.  Soon afterward, however, he sold out and embarked in general merchandising at Edmonton, and has conducted that business since with wonderful success.  He is not only the oldest merchant, but also carries the largest and best selected stock in the place, and is doing by far the largest business of any merchant in the town, his sales amounting annually to at least $15,000.  He is also the principal grain and produce dealer of the town.  In the spring of 1865, Bennett’s guerilla band gave him a call, capturing and destroying some $700 worth of goods.  He was one of the contractors who built the present court house of Metcalfe County in 1869-70.  In 1866 he was elected county clerk of Metcalfe County, and held the position for four years.  He married, November 13, 1856, Mary E. Beck, a native of Lebanon, Marion County, Kentucky, born August 5, 1833.  She is a daughter of Anthony R. and Nancy P. (Smith) Beck, natives of Union and Logan Counties, respectively.  Mrs. Beck’s father, John Smith, was a veteran of the War of 1812, and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe; his father, Presley Smith, was a Revolutionary veteran.  Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp were blessed with two sons and two daughters:  John A., born October 25, 1857; Mary N., born August 28, 1859; Henrietta E., Born August 3, 1865, and an infant, not named, deceased.  John and Henrietta are graduates – the son from Russellville College, and the daughter from the Nold Female Seminary of Louisville, the latter graduating with the highest honors of her class.  Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp are and have been from early life devoted church members, he of the Cumberland, and she of the Old School Presbyterian Church.  He is also an earnest advocate of the temperance cause.  In politics he is a Democrat, and is one of the most energetic and successful business men, as well as one of the prominent and influential citizens of the county and district.