Contra Costa County Biographies

The life record of Henry Fuller Beede entitles him pre-eminently to the distinctive title of one of the builders of Antioch, and as such he has contributed a notable share to the material progress of Contra Costa County. Nearly all of his life has been spent in California. He is still wielding a substantial influence for the upbuilding of his locality, and possesses the respect and esteem of his fellow-men. He was vice-president and general manager of the Antioch Lumber Company, and is one of the oldest residents of Antioch, having located here in 1869. Mr. Beede was born in Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, November 16, 1850, son of Thomas and Lucia Sarah (Merrill) Beede. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and his mother was born in Maine. His father came by boat via the Isthmus route to California, and remained in this State during the years of 1851 to 1853. He followed the livery business. He returned to his native State and took his family to Illinois when Henry was but five years of age. At the age of eighteen the subject of this sketch came to Antioch, where he has since resided. He first worked for his brother George, who was identified with the mercantile interests of Antioch. He then, at the age of 21, worked for Galloway & Boobar, who were in the lumber business, and the originators of the present firm, of which Mr. Beede is now manager. He worked for them until 1877, when Mr. Galloway retired, and the business was run under the firm name of Rouse, Ferman, & Beede. This firm continued until Mr. Rouse sold his interest to Captain Simpson, of San Francisco, and the firm is now known as the Antioch Lumber Company, Mr. Beede, being the only original stockholder left. This concern is capitalized at one hundred thousand dollars. They do a general retail and jobbing business and conduct a planing-mill and lumber-yard in connection. Mr. Beede has witnessed and helped in the growth of Antioch. He was united in marriage to Margaret Ellen McNulty, a daughter of J. J. McNulty, April 13, 1872. To this union there have been eleven children - Harry McNulty, born April 13, 1873, married to Leonora Scott, a native of California; Charles Frank Tyler, born October 15, 1874, married to Edith Little, a native of England, and their three children are Nancy Bell, Charles Austin, and Frank McNulty; Mary Lucia, born April 17, 1877, married to E. P. Rapp, whose death occurred July 10, 1916; Ralph Merrill, born January 14, 1879, married to Anna Katherine Menchen, a native of Colorado, and their children are Ruth May, Henry Fuller, and Katherine; Olive Beede, born November 1, 1883, married to R. V. Davis, a native of Missouri, and their children are Margaret Olive and William King; Le Roy Wemple, born January 21, 1883, married to Winifred Bassett, a native of California, and their two children are Carroll and Winifred; Arthur Chamberlain, born September 13, 1885, died September 2, 1891; Nellie Geraldine, born August 6, 1888, married to W. J. Kelley, and they have one child, Patricia; Ramona Bell, born February 2, 1891, married to J. Ewell Cortner, a native of California; Margaret Alice, born August 14, 1893, died June 24, 1895; Frank Rattan, born April 30, 1897, is attending the University of California. Mr. Henry Beede has always taken an active part in community affairs. He served on the town board for many years and was a member of the Republican County Central Committee. He served as president of the Eastern Contra Costa County Promotion Club. He, in connection with the Hon. J. P. Abbott, is largely responsible for the entrance of the Santa Fe Railroad into Antioch. They were the owners of the water-front and deeded over their rights and warehouses to the railroad company at a very liberal figure. Mr. Beede is a director and stockholder in the Bank of Antioch, and is a stockholder on the Robert Dollar Steamship Company of San Francisco. Mr. Beede is a Mason and past master of Antioch Lodge, No. 175, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Eastern Star.

The name of the late Edward Rapp will long be cherished by the residents of Antioch and eastern Contra Costa County. He was a man of industry, activity, and enterprise. He held a high position among the respected citizens of his community, and for many years was intimately associated with the business progress of Antioch. Mr. Rapp was a native of Jordanville, New York. Here he acquired his early schooling, and at the age of sixteen he came to California and located in Antioch, where he always remained. He was employed in the Belshaw store for a period of twenty-five years, where he held positions of importance and trust. In 1913 he left the Belshaw firm and engaged in business, being associated with W. H. Weeks under the firm name of Rapp & Weeks. Mr. Rapp was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lucia Beede on February 15, 1899. There are left, besides the widow, three sisters and one brother. The sisters are Mrs. Margaret Belshaw, of Antioch, Mrs. Sadie DeWitt, of San Anselmo, Mrs. Teresa Griffith, of New Haven, Connecticut, and the brother, is Carl Anthony Rapp, of Richfield Springs, New York. Fraternally, Mr. Rapp was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Antioch. The name Edward P. Rapp will be forever held in loving remembrance by the business men and community in which he lived. He was a broad-minded, public-spirited man and citizen. Mr. Rapp's death occurred July 10, 1916.