My goal is to write about each and every county in Kentucky.  Recently I realized I have missed Hopkins County in western Kentucky.  Ritchey and I visited Hopkins County in April 2023 during our month-long trip home.  We visited Odd Fellows Cemetery, in the county seat of Madisonville, and Richland Cemetery in the small town of the same name.  Today I share gravestone photos and newspaper articles about the Beaumont family of Nebo, another small  town in Hopkins County.  Nebo is slightly northwest of Madisonville, whereas Richland is southwest, not quite a straight line north to south.

William Henry Beaumont was born in Montreal, Canada, June 8, 1823, to Matthias and Hannah Clay Beaumont, who were born in Uddersfield, England.  The family moved to Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee, where the father was in the tobacco trade until his death in 1858. 

In the 1850 Census of Montgomery County Matthias Beaumont is listed as 56, born in England; no profession is listed.  Wife Hannah was 52.  The children in the family were Joseph B., 30, blacksmith, born in Canada; William H., 28, carpenter, born in Virginia (although all other sources, including other census records, say he was born in Canada); Sarah Ann, 26, born in Virginia; Emma, 24, born in Virginia; Edward, 22, born in Virginia; and Mary Maria, 17, born in Tennessee.

A marriage bond from Wilson County, Tennessee, for William H. Beaumont, William Baird being bondsman, to marry Penelope W. Hibbetts, the daughter of David and Nancy Rucks Hibbetts, and a native of Wilson County, Tennessee.  The couple had one son and three daughters – Elizabeth C. Beaumont, June 9, 1860 – December 31, 1907; William Henry Beaumont, Jr., 1864-1892; Mary Beaumont, August 8, 1867 – June 16, 1907, married William A. Hodge, one son, Edward B. Hodge; and Lucy Hibbetts Beaumont, August 20, 1870 -May 30, 1949, married Walter Jones Dulin, three children Nell Beaumont Dulin, Mary Elizabeth Dulin and Louise Beaumont Dulin.

In the 1860 Census of Dyer County, Tennessee, we find William, 37, born in Canada, with a personal estate of $3,000 and occupation of tobacconist.  Penelope was 25, born in Tennessee.  Irvin Beaumont, 18, clerk, also born in Tennessee, lived with them.  Irvin was most likely William’s relative, perhaps a nephew.  I’ll admit I had to look up the word tobacconist – I thought it was someone who produced tobacco but is the name of someone who sells tobacco products and related items, such as pipes, lighters and accessories!

When the war between the states erupted William enlisted in the 47^th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.  He was soon discharged because of disability.  After the war he went in company with his cousin, also in the tobacco business, and in 1872 moved to Nebo, Kentucky, to start a new branch of the family business. 

I found no census records for the family in 1870, but in 1880 we find the Beaumont family living in Nebo, Hopkins County, Kentucky.  William was 57, born in Canada, both parents born in England; his profession was a tobacconist.  Penelope is 44, she and her mother were born in Tennessee, her father was born in North Carolina.  Lizzie was 19; Harry 15; Mary was 14; and Lucy was 10.  Matilda Woodson, 35, and Theodore Woodson, 14, were cook and servant respectively.

The couple were married over forty years when Penelope Hibbetts Beaumont died March 10, 1900.

Glenn’s Graphic, Madisonville, Hopkins County, Kentucky

March 16, 1900

A Good Woman Gone

Mrs. W. H. Beaumont, of Nebo, Has Joined the Silent Majority, and Was Buried Monday

Mrs. Penelope Beaumont, wife of Major W. H. Beaumont, died at home last Saturday night.  She had been a sufferer for many years and most of the time had been almost helpless.  While her death was not unexpected, yet it was none the less a shock to her many friends.

Mrs. Beamont was perhaps 65 years of age.  She and her husband had lived at Nebo for more than a quarter of a century.  Four children had been born to them, three of whom, Miss Lizzie Beaumont, who is engaged in teaching in London; Mrs. W. J. of Madisonville, and Mrs. W. A. Hodge, of Nebo.  Harry, the only son, died a few years since.  The husband who is well stricken in years, still survives the wife of his early manhood.

Mrs. Beaumont was one of the best women whom it was ever our good fortune to know.  We did not have to wait until she was called home to say this; we have known this for years.  It was our pleasure to have been acquainted with her for many years.  We have visited at her home.  In times past she was good and kind to us and to ours.  She was a Christian woman, a woman who was a friend to the needy, one who had an excuse for the short comings of others, one who was bountiful in good work and charity.  For many years she had been a consistent member of the Southern Methodist Church.  The Beaumont home was the home of the weary preacher, regardless of what might be his name or his denomination.

Having known this good woman so long and as well as we did, we feel that we have a right to speak in her praise.  She was one of the most lovable women we ever saw.  Whether in affluence surrounded by all that heart could wish, or when in adversity or affliction, her’s was that same kindly spirit, such a woman as makes the world better by having lived therein.

The remains were brought to Madisonville Monday morning on the Providence train.  The body was carried to Odd Fellows’ Cemetery where it was laid to rest by kind and loving hands.  As an evidence of the popularity of that woman, many of the people of Nebo came to Madisonville that day to show their love for the dead.  The funeral was largely attended by those from a distance and by the people of this town.

We feel that what we might say would in no way add to the beauty of the life of Mrs. Beaumont.  She will be missed in the church, she will be missed in society, she will be missed everywhere, but missed more at home than elsewhere.  Her aged companion will miss her.  The children will miss her.  But this is only an evidence that we are all going the same way.  Death such as this is only a falling to sleep.  We must all sleep sometime.  It matters not when that time shall come, so that we are ready for the sleeping.

On June 26, 1900, William Beaumont was listed as head of household, born in June 1823, 76 years old, widowed.  He became a citizen in 1835.  William was a retired tobacconist.  With him lived daughter Marie, 32, born in August 1867, and her husband, William Hodge, 35, born in Kentucky in July 1864, tobacconist.

William H. Beaumont lived four years after the above census count in 1900.  He died at the age of 82.

The Bee, Nebo, Hopkins County, Kentucky

August 18, 1904

Nebo Notes

We are sorry to chronicle the death of W. H. Beaumont, who died Sunday evening at 7 o’clock.  He was in his 82^nd year.  His friends were only limited by his acquaintance.  He was a man without an enemy, although he transacted business with all kinds of people, yet he never made an enemy.  His word was never doubted.  To say that Major Beaumont was so was to remove all doubt.  He was a member of the Methodist Church at this place.

Will of William Henry Beaumont

Hopkins County Will Book 12, Page 539

In the name of God, Amen!  I, W. H Beaumont, of the County of Hopkins and State of Kentucky, being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and publish this as my last Will and Testament, namely,

First.  I desire my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid, and hereby direct the Executrix of this will, to pay the same.

Second.  I give my piano to my beloved daughter Lucy Dulin, she having the custody of same at this time.

Third.  To give to my dear grandson Edwin B. Hodge my gold watch, the same to be delivered to him at my death.

I give to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Beaumont one bed and bedding and furniture for one room to be selected by her out of my household furniture.  After she receives such bed, bedding and furniture, then I direct that all the remainder of my household furniture and my kitchen furniture of every kind shall go to my beloved daughter Mary R. Hodge and the same is devised to her.

When the specific bequests are satisfied and my debts and funeral expenses are paid as herein directed, then it is my will and desire and I hereby will and bequeath the remainder of my estate, real, personal and mixed of every kind to my three children.  But my daughter Elizabeth Beaumont is to take two-thirds of same and the other one third to be divided equally between my daughters Lucy Dulin and Mary R. Hodge, which will be one sixth of the whole to each.

I hereby authorize and empower my Executrix to sell any or all of my estate, real or personal, to make deeds or deals to the purchaser so as to pass a perfect title.

I hereby appoint my daughter Elizabeth Beaumont, Executrix of this my last will and authorize and empower her to execute and carry out all the provisions of the will.  I also direct the Hopkins County Court to permit said Elizabeth Beaumont to qualify as Executrix to execute this will without giving any security, in testimony whereof I have set my hand this 18 day of May 1901.

W. H. Beaumont

Signed and acknowledged in the presence of Ernest Nesbit, Clifton J. Pratt,

Commonwealth of Kentucky, County of Hopkins

I, John B. Brassar, Clerk of Hopkins County Court, do certify that the foregoing will of W. H. Beaumont, deceased, was this day produced in open court, read and was proven by the oaths of Ernest Nesbit and Clifton J. Pratt, the subscribing witnesses, probated and ordered to be recorded, whereupon the same the forgoing and this my certificate have been duly recorded in my said office this October 3, 1904.

John B. Brasher, Clerk, by Charles P. Franklin, D.C.