from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)----pages 534-536
The biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are instructive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life, apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their dormant faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate success, if not renown. The instances of success in the face of adverse fate would seem almost to justify the conclusion that self-reliance, with a half chance, can accomplish any object. The life of Frederick V. Beeler, well-known and successful merchant of Friendswood, Hendricks County, is an example in point, for by his individual efforts and close adherence to his every duty, he has overcome the obstacles encountered on the highway of life and is now very comfortably fixed regarding this world's affairs and has at the same time won a reputation for right living among his fellow men.
Frederick V. Beeler, one of the most highly respected merchants and business men of Friendswood, was born in Morgan County, Indiana, November 25, 1851. He is one of nineteen children born to Jonas Vestal and Elizabeth (Copenhaver) Beeler, and one of the sixteen who grew to maturity. Jonas Beeler was also a native of Morgan County and some years after his marriage he moved to Marion County, where he bought a farm and lived most of the remainder of his life, dying in 1904. The mother of Frederick V. was born in Ohio, her parents coming from Pennsylvania. She died in 1902.
Frederick V. Beeler was educated in the common schools of Morgan and Marion Counties, and early in life was put on his own resources. The success which he now enjoys has been the result of constant effort and unremitting diligence. At the age of nineteen he left home and until he was twenty-five years of age worked at odd jobs, most of the time doing farm work of some kind. When he was twenty-five years of age he started in the huckster business, and for the next thirty-seven years he operated a huckster wagon in connection with a store at Friendswood. His personality and general reputation for honesty and integrity has always given him the confidence of his fellow citizens and he has occupied many public and private positions of honor and trust. He was agent for the Vandalia Railroad at Friendswood for fourteen years, and has been agent for the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Company for the past five years. He was postmaster for eight years, serving during Cleveland's administrations. In fact in everything in which he has engaged he has been signally successful, and his every action has denoted the man who inspires confidence because of his uprightness and frankness in dealing with his fellow men. He has a general store at Friendswood, in which he carries a large and selective stock of up-to-date goods such as are found in stores of this kind, and has a very extensive and lucrative trade in the town and surrounding country. He also has holdings in real estate in the town and county, and is now recognized, after many years of toil, as one of the successful men of the community.
Frederick Beeler was married December 7, 1873, to Ella Jewell, the daughter of Basil and Mary (Wier) Jewell. Her father was a farmer of Sullivan County and a lieutenant in the Civil War. To Mr. and Mrs. Beeler have been born three children: Arthur, born September 11, 1875, who has been married twice, his first wife being Sadie Mull, and his second wife Lulu Rush. There was one daughter, Louisa, born to the first marriage. Arthur is a contractor in Irvington; Charles J., born November 1, 1876, is now with his father in his store at Friendswood. He married Elizabeth Van Cleve; Orpha, born April 6, 1879, who married O.K. Osborn, a druggist of Martinsville; they have one son, Frederick V. Osborn, who is named after his mother's father.
Mr. Beeler is a stanch Democrat, and has always been interested in politics, taking an active part in both local and state campaigns. He has been well rewarded for his services to the party by being appointed postmaster of Friendswood under both of Cleveland's administrations, and the service which he rendered to his fellow citizens showed that he was well worthy of the position. He is a valued member of the Free and Accepted Masons of West Newton, and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Morgan Lodge No. 211, at Mooresville. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have been regular attendants for more than thirty years. Mr. Beeler has always been very much interested in church affairs and is now a class leader in his church. He is a worthy representative of that type of self-made man who have been important factors in every community of our commonwealth. During his long and industrious career, he has not only gained the confidence of his fellow citizens, but as a man of force of character he has gained the respect and admiration of all of those with whom he has come in contact.