Mr. Paton -
Here is lmost of what I know about Beach
Beach, Claudius H., Marshall 1844 - 18888,12, 18, 52, 53 East Bloomfield, NY 1840 - 1844
Calhoun County Michigan. Gunsmith. (Hawes' 1860 state gazetteer gives his initials as C.S.) Producer of percussion sporting rifles, located on Main street in Marshall. Died August 26, 188812. The 1860 census shows Claudius H. Beach 45, Gunsmith, with his wife Mary, 44 and eldest child Ellen, 19, all born in New York, now living in the City of Marshall. Their two younger daughters Hannah (spelling uncertain) 15 and Sarah, 13, were both born in Michigan. The value of his real estate was $3000, personal estate $1000. A young Apprentice, William Plum, 21 of Pennsylvania lived in the same household.
Gluckman and Satterlee say that Beach made hunting and target rifles, usually using Remington barrels and George Goulcher locks. He died August 26, 1888.
Claudius Beach was born June 19, 1815 in East Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York. He later apprenticed to a gunsmith. Married Mary McKay October, 1830, and with her had three children. In 1840 they lived at 214 East Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York. In the 1880 census, Beach, now a widower, lived with a housekeeper Mary E. Dickey, 38, and her three sons Robert S., 19, Frank J., 16 and Charlie E., 12. They had a servant Carrie Waltz, 19, born in Michigan of German parents.
Beach was a gunsmith in the Marshall area as early as 1844. He is listed in the Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory of 1873.
Vol 14, 1889, pp 75-76 of the Michigan Pioneer & Historical Collections states that: “Claudius H. Beach died at his residence in Marshall, Sunday, August 26, 1888 at the age of 73 years. Mr. Beach was a native of Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York and first saw the light of day June 19, 1815.
“When of proper age he was apprenticed to a gunsmith and a proper calling it proved to be for him.
“Thinking to better his circumstances in life, he emigrated West in the year 1844, and settled down in Marshal, where he prosecuted his chosen profession with vigor. During the reign of hand-made firearms Mr. Beach’s produce was among those which bore national repute. He often made shipments as far west as the Pacific slope and was regarded as the gun manufacturer of Michigan.
“In his wife, whose maiden name was Mary McKay, and whom he took as life partner October 10, 1838, Mr. Beach was possessed of a model & loving helpmeet. Three children were the fruit of the union. It is a few months over 43 years since the Beach family took up their residence in the same house which is now made lonely by absence of the old and familiar form of its master, who seemed almost a part of the place.”
“The death of his wife occurred in 1878. Mr. Beach was not a member of any church organization, yet he possessed all the qualities of a loyal and conscientious Christian. He was blunt in manner and eccentric in ideas, but nevertheless a true friend & a man of sterling integrity.”
A three-barreled rifle similar to yours is in the Benton County Historical Museum & Society, Philomath, Oregon. The photos which I have of this rifle, are through the kindness of the BCHM.
If you have photos of your rifle I would very much like to use them in the next (hopefully) edition of Michigan Gunsmiths from the 18th to the early 20th Centuries
