JAMES ASBURY BEELER
was born 28 November 1844 in Speedwell, Union County Tennessee, and died 11 April 1931 near St. Helens, Columbia County, Oregon.
During the American Civil War, he served along with his brother, David Rogers Beeler, in Company C, 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23 Corps of the Union Army. Record No. 753397 of the Record and Pension Division of the War Department, dated 30 September 1890, says he enrolled in the Army on 1 February 1863 and mustered out with his company on 30 June 1865. From 31 October 1863 to 30 April 1864 he held the rank of private and corporal. He was captured by Confederate forces near Maynardville, Tennessee, 11 April 1864. There is no evidence that his company was in action at that time. Medical records show he was treated for diarrhea from 20 to 22 September 1863 and returned to his regiment. Prisoner of war records show he was confined at Richmond, Virginia, on 26 April 1864. He was sent to Andersonville, Georgia, on 31 May 1864. Records show he escaped before arriving at the prison.

A few years after the war, James sold his share of the family farm in Sharps Chapel, Tn. to his brother David and moved his family to Nebraska.
James was married first to Elizabeth A. Honeycutt (Elizabeth's family was from Claiborne County Tn) she died April 1875 in Liberty Nebraska. James and Elizabeth had the following children:
Sally Evaline Beeler b: August 19, 1866
Louisa Matilda Beeler b: April 15, 1868
Rachel Annie Beeler b: September 20, 1870
Nancy Rebecca Beeler b: September 16, 1871
Daneil Pleasant Beeler b: April 25, 1874

James married Esther Cordelia Lynch August 11, 1876 (her family had also moved west from East Tennessee) and they had the following children:
John Bryce Beeler b: June 04, 1877
General Newton Beeler b: January 22, 1879
James Eli Beeler b: April 24, 1881
Bertha Theresa Beeler b: March 17, 1883
Anna Catherine Beeler b: August 23, 1885
Archie Marion Beeler b: September 24, 1894
Franklin Grady Beeler b: August 06, 1898