A Life of Service

Reviews

John Conway, The Sullivan County Democrat

Another holiday season is nearly here, and with it comes the reminder that books about the history of Sullivan County and the surrounding Catskills region make great gifts. Among the most interesting new titles this year is Ed Van Put's The Remarkable Life of James Beecher, just released by Beaverkill Books.

James Beecher was the youngest member of the renowned Beecher family of ministers and abolitionists. He lived a complex and eventful life that ended tragically, but not before it had brought him to Sullivan County for a time.

Van Put, known to many for his indispensable Sullivan County history books, The Beaverkill and Trout Fishing in the Catskills, notes that his latest book "follows Beecher throughout his extraordinary life, including the spiritual salvation he sought after the [Civil War] as an early pioneer and fisherman in the wilds of the Beaverkill Valley with his wife Frances."

As is the case with each of the author’s previous titles, “The Remarkable Life of James Beecher” delivers far more than expected, as it provides the reader with a unique insight into a fascinating part of Sullivan County as well as a chronicle of the life of the titular character. The book is available online from the website, thebeaverkill.com.

Edward Lundquist, Manor Ink

The Remarkable Life of James Beecher provides incredibly valuable and detailed insight into the life of a legendary man. Beecher, alive in the 1800s, was a pioneer in many ways, both in the field of the Civil War, where he worked with the Union to break the systems keeping people of color from joining the ranks of army, and in the forest, where he made a name for himself as a local character, living in the wilderness and living on the finest trout the Catskills had to offer.

James Beecher is most likely known through his half sister, Harriet Beecher-Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, a book that was extremely influential in the abolitionist movement of the period. Beecher was born into a huge family, where he was expected to become a minister like his father. He traveled to China, where he preached on a ship to fellow sailors. Upon his return, he led the 1st North Carolina Colored Infantry, both in war and in spirit, influencing them deeply with his passionate prayers.

After the war, he came to the Catskills, where he settled down on Beecher Lake, not far from Livingston Manor, and built a cabin and barn for himself and his family, enjoying the delicate fish from the lake and nearby rivers, and nourishing himself spiritually with the pristine beauty of the nature around him, Beecher led an extremely fulfilling life, though I have paraphrased it here briefly and indelicately from the meticulously gathered research of the book.

I love this book! Usually history is not my main reading choice, but after a recommendation, I figured I would give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by this breeze-through of a read, taking only a few hours to speed through, despite its notable thickness. Much of the book is a collection of letters and notes from characters and subjects previously mentioned throughout the narrative, so if you enjoy perusing a wider view with firsthand historic sources as much as I do, this is an excellent addition to your library.

The other half of the book, of course, the main writing, is expertly collected with fine detail and attention, showing that it was a true labor of love for author Ed Van Put (also a local name and face!). I found The Remarkable Life of James Beecher to be well segmented and paced, making for a very easy and comfortable reading experience.

In summary, I feel enlightened and refreshed after this read. Sometimes, I think, a detox is necessary, whether it be from your phone or from the often-walked path of your usual reading material. This is an easy, educational and all-around excellent book that I will not forget soon, and will perhaps even return to for a reread. Ten out of ten stars.

Anthony Morgano, The Sullivan County Democrat

The Remarkable Life of James Beecher, Ed Van Put’s fourth book, was recently published and tells the tale of a historic figure in the Beaverkill Valley.

Van Put’s other books revolved around fly fishing in the Catskills, and the history of the Beaverkill River. While researching for those books, Van Put had written briefly about James Beecher, but the interesting life that he led prompted Van Put to learn more and write about his life.

The book is available for purchase on beaverkillbooks.com, and on that website you can find a synopsis of the book as well.

The synopsis reads, “This is the moving biography of a man who selflessly devoted his life to the liberation and betterment of others during a tumultuous time in U.S. history, with his equally determined wife Frances at his side. A member of the famous Beecher family and son of Lyman Beecher, James Beecher sacrificed a life of privilege to serve as missionary, soldier, preacher, and humanitarian.

“The Remarkable Life of James Beecher explores early ordeals in China to an astoundingly courageous career as colonel of an all-black regiment of freed slaves in the Civil War, through unimaginable horrors and post-war turmoil. The book follows Beecher throughout his extraordinary life, including the spiritual salvation he sought after the war as an early pioneer and fisherman in the wilds of the Beaverkill Valley with his wife Frances.

“Through in-depth research from historical sources - including selected personal correspondence contained and transcribed within - this is an inspiring intimate look at a remarkably little-known figure who played a key role in American history and risked everything for his convictions of equality and morality.”

This book contains digitally restored historical photographs and art work from the 1800s, personal handwritten correspondence, and covers early life in the Beaverkill Valley. This 286-page hardcover book, published by Beaverkill Books, costs $35 and can be found at beaverkillbooks.com.

Select Photos and Illustrations

About the Author

Ed Van Put, an avid fly fisherman for more than fifty years, worked as a fisheries professional with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for over forty five years and has written extensively—including several essential books—on fly fishing and its development in America.  His first book The Beaverkill: The History of a River and Its People—released in 1996 and later expanded & revised in 2016—is the definitive book on the famous trout stream. The follow-up Trout Fishing in the Catskills received similar acclaim as a must-read expansive exploration of the development of the Catskills as America's premiere fishing destination. He was a founding member of the Beamoc Chapter of Trout Unlimited, as well as a founding member of the Catskill Fly Tiers Guild. He learned to tie flies from Harry and Elsie Darbee, the noted Catskill tiers. His articles have appeared in The Conservationist, Trout, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, and elsewhere. Ed lives in the Catskills with his wife Judy.