Rev. Asa George Bee, Sr.

Asa Bee was a Revolutionary War soldier and Seventh Day Adventist preacher.

---

"History of Ritchie County" written by Minnie Kendall Lowther, and published in 1910; Chapter XLVI; Berea

The Bees. The name of "Bee" refuses to be divorced from the history of this town, as few other names have had a longer or more prominent connection with its affairs.

This family were originally of Jewish extraction of the tribe of Ephraim, but their ancestors came from England to America in Colonial times and settled in New Jersey. In accord with the ancient custom of their race, they kept a record and were able to trace their lineage back to Father Abraham, but this well-preserved record was burned in New Jersey near a century ago, and thus this interesting history was wiped out of existence. However, they accepted Christianity several generations ago, but have always observed the Jewish Sabbath.

Four brothers, Ephraim, Asa, George and Thomas Bee crossed to New Jersey with a company of English emigrants some time before the Revolution, and, doubtless, some of them were actively engaged in this struggle for liberty, as a tradition has been handled down concerning their flight, at different times, when pursued by the "British Red Coats." And from George the West Virginia Bees trace their ancestry; his son, Asa, having come to what is now Taylor county, late in the eighteenth century. He (Asa, senior) was the father of Jonathon, Asa, Ezekiel, Ephraim, Josiah, Amaziah, Samuel, John, Hannah, Sophia, Mary, Keziah, and Abigail Bee. Asa Bee, junior, the second son, was the first one of the name to come to Ritchie county. He was born near what is now the town of Fetterman, in Taylor county, in 1798, and there he was married to Miss Hannah, daughter of Zebulon Maxin, in his early manhood; and after residing at New Milton, in Doddridge county, for some length of time, he removed to the Berea vicinity in 1836. He was the first minister of the Seventh Day Baptist church, on Hughes' river, and his ministry had a telling effect on the early history of this branch of the church, which was organized not long after his arrival.

He was a strong advocate of co-education, having no sympathy, whatever, with the idea that was so prevalent at that period "that woman was amply equipped for the battle of life if only she could spell and read." He taught that woman's influence was the potent factor in shaping the mind of the child, and that, thus she was in need of the better education; and this teaching had an important bearing on his own family, as three of his daughters were among the early teachers of this vicinity; his daughter Abigail having taught the first school here in an old dwelling near the year 1852, and a second term in Preston Zinn's new barn. She also taught a term in her father's hay-house, which was later enlarged and fitted up for a church and school-house. Few women were more beloved than Abigail Bee, who afterwards became the wife of Daniel Nay, of Pullman. Mr. And Mrs. Bee both remained here until they were laid in the Pine Grove cemetery.

Their other children, besides Mrs. Nay, were Zabulon, Asa, Laomi, Mrs. Priscilla, late wife of E.C. Goff, of Goff's; and Mrs. Rhoda (Lemuel) Davis, who have all passed on; Mrs. Ingaby Doak, wife of Robert Doak, of Tyler county; and Mrs. Almira (Wm.) Dougherty, of Mississippi. Mrs. Dougherty and Mrs. Goff were both teachers.

Ezekiel Bee (another brother of Asa, junior) was born at Fetterman, in 1800, and came from Doddridge county to Berea, in 1857, and remained until he, too, was borne to the Pine Grove cemetery, in 1893. He was first married to Miss Elizabeth Rogers; and Benjamin Wilson Bee, of Salem; and Nelson, of Cowan, were the fruits of this union. His second wife was Miss Mariah Johnson, daughter of Michael Johnson, an early settler of the Ellenboro vicinity, and they were the parents of eight children; viz., Angelina, who is now the wife of the Rev. M.E. Martin, of Cincinnati, was an early pedagogue of this vicinity. Elizabeth, who died in 1910, was the late Mrs. J. M. Meredith, of Berea; Sedilla, Alzetta, and Emmaretta rest in the Pine Grove cemetery , Arthur is of Berea; Josiah, of Doddrdge county; and Eudolphus, of Kanawha Station. The town stands on the land formally owned by Ezekiel Bee.

Josiah Bee, senior, brother of Asa and Ezekiel, was married to Priscilla, daughter of George Davis, and came to this county from Doddridge, in 1859, and remained here until he found a final resting-place in the Pine Grove cemetery. His family are as follows: Dr. Isaiah Bee, of Mercer county, who was an early teacher and physician of this county; the late Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Obadiah, Azariah, Cathrine, who died in youth; Mrs. Joanna (George) McMullen, of Lewis county; and Mrs. Mary Meredith Gardner, of Parkersburg.

Ephraim Bee, senior, another brother, was married to Miss Kathrine Davis and lived and died in Doddridge county, and from him the Pennsboro, Cairo, and Elizabeth Bees are descended.

John Bee, still another brother, with his wife, Mrs. Ingaby Davis Bee, came here from Doddridge county, near thirty-five years ago, and spent the remnant of his days where his widow and daughter, Lovera, still reside. His other children are: Dr. Estee Bee, Mrs. Cordelia (Henry) Goff, and Albert Bee, Berea; Ira and Mrs. Ruhama Davis Walker, Roane county; and Joel Bee, Walker Station.

---

Asa Bee was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He came to Salem,

Virginia, with the Seventh Day Baptists from New Jersey.

---

Four brothers, Ephraim, Asa, George and Thomas Bee crossed to New Jersey with a company of English emigrants some time before the Revolution, and, doubtless, some of them were actively engaged in this struggle for liberty, as a tradition has been handled down concerning their flight, at different times, when pursued by the "British Red Coats." And from George the West Virginia Bees trace their ancestry; his son, Asa, having come to what is now Taylor county, late in the eighteenth century. He (Asa, senior) was the father of Jonathon, Asam Ezekiel, Ephraim, Josiah, Amaziah, Samuel, John, Hannah, Sophia, Mary, Keziah, and Abigail Bee.

DESCENDANTS OF ASA BEE

==== == === =====

Don Norman

1.ASA BEE

Asa Bee was born about 1777. He married Rhoda Cox.

Known children of Asa and Rhoda (Cox) Bee.

2. (1). Ephiram b.Dec 26 1802 d.Oct 23 1888

m. Catherine Davis Jun 19 1823

3. (2). Hannah b.c. 1808

m. Joshua Davis

2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

Ephriam Bee, a son of Asa and Rhoda (Cox) Bee, was born December 26, 1802 in Salem County NJ and died October 23, 1888 in Doddridge County WV. He married Catherine Davis in Harrison County VA June 19, 1823. Catherine, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Sutton) Davis, was born June 10, 1804 in VA.

They are buried in Cabin Run Cemetery in Doddridge County WV. Ephriam was a land speculator and owned thousands of acres of land in Roane and surrounding counties.

Children of Ephriam and Catherine (Davis) Bee.

4. (1). Josiah H.D. b.Apr 7 1824 d. 1876

m. Mary Jane Davis

5. (2). Keziah b. 1826

6. (3). Amos b.Feb 28 1828 d.Aug 13 1904

m. Melissa Welch

7. (4). Joseph b.c. 1830

8. (5). Nathan b.c. 1832

3.HANNAH BEE 1.ASA BEE

Hannah Bee, a daughter of Asa and Rhoda (Cox) Bee, was born about 1808 in Harrison County VA. She married Joshua Davis about 1882. Joshua, a son of Peter and Sarah (Davis) Davis, was born June 5, 1805 in Harrison County VA and died there March 21, 1869.

Children of Joshua and Hannah (Bee) Davis.

9. (1). Samziah b.Oct 27 1823

10. (2). Emaline b.Jun 22 1825

11. (3). Peter L. b.May 18 1827

12. (4). Lorenzo b.Jul 17 1829

13. (5). Eleanor b.Jul 18 1831

14. (6). Hiram N. b.Nov 14 1833

15. (7). Franklin b.Mar 26 1835

16. (8). Dorinda b.Jun 24 1836

17. (9). Roanna b.Mar 7 1840

18. (10). Clinton Houston b.Apr 26 1842

19. (11). Mary b.Aug 10 1844

20. (12). Milton b.May 20 1847

4.JOSIAH BEE 2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

Josiah H.D. Bee, a son of Ephriam and Catherine Davis Bee, was born April 7, 1824 and died in Wirt County WV in 1876. He married Mary Jane Davis.

Children of Josiah and Mary Jane (Davis) Bee.

21. (1). Frederick Homer b. 1857 d. 1951

m.Lola Bell Brown

6.AMOS BEE 2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

Amos Bee, a son of Ephriam and Catherine (Davis) Bee, was born February 28, 1828 in Doddridge County VA and died August 13, 1904. He married Melissa Welch about 1856. She was born about 1838 in Doddridge County.

Known child of Amos and Melissa (Welch) Bee.

22. (1). Geneva b.Apr 6 1857 d.Jul 2 1923

m. Johnson Benjamin Smith Nov 26 1895

21.FREDERICK HOMER BEE 4.JOSIAH BEE 2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

Frederick Homer Bee, a son of Josiah and Mary Jane Bee, was born in 1857 and died in Roane County WV in 1951. He married Lola Bell Brown.

Children of Frederick Homer and Lola Bell (Brown) Bee.

23. (1). Fanny d.young

24. (2). John Augustus

m.Evangeline Simmons

25. (3). Annabelle

m.W.E. Waybright

26. (4). Frederick Homer Jr.

m.Grace Morrow

24.JOHN AUGUSTUS BEE 21.FREDERICK HOMER BEE 4.JOSIAH BEE

2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

John Augustus Bee, a son of Frederick Homer and Lola Bell (Brown) Bee, married Evangeline Simmons.

Children of John Augustus and Evangeline (Simmons) Bee.

27. (1). Philip

m.Jane Fulton

28. (2). Maxine Rose

m.Joe Newton Kee

26.FREDERICK HOMER BEE JR. 21.FREDERICK HOMER BEE 4.JOSIAH

BEE 2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

Frederick Homer Bee Jr. a son of Frederick Homer and Lola

Bell (Brown) Bee, married Grace Morrow.

Children of Frederick Homer and Grace (Morrow) Bee.

29. (1). Betty

30. (2). Fanny Jane

27.PHILIP BEE 24.JOHN AUGUSTUS BEE 21.FREDERICK HOMER BEE

4.JOSIAH BEE 2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

Philip Bee, a son of John Augustus and Evangeline (Simmons)

Bee, married Jane Fulton.

Children of Philip and Jane (Fulton) Bee.

31. (1). Phyllis Jane

32. (2). John Frederick

33. (3). Daniel Simmons

34. (4). Beatrice Ann

35. (5). Eva Kathryn

28.MAXINE ROSE BEE 24.JOHN AUGUSTUS BEE 21.FREDERICK HOMER

BEE 4.JOSIAH BEE 2.EPHRIAM BEE 1.ASA BEE

Maxine Rose Bee, a daughter of John Augustus and Evangeline (Simmons) Bee, married Joe Newton Kee.

Children of Joe Newton and Maxine Rose (Bee) Kee.

36. (1). Eleneva

m.Donald Eugene Southall

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Cotrill, Stella, "Descendants of William David Davis"

"Roane County WV Family History 1989" p.74

---

Asa BEE
Born 28 Aug 1756 Salem, Salem Co, NJ

Occupation Seventh Day Baptist Preacher

Residence (SETTLED) Taylor Co, (W)VA

Married Rhoda COX 5 Aug 1793 Gloucester Co, NJ (10 children)

Military Revolutionary War soldier

Died 1826 Preston Co, (W)VA

http://www.doddridgecountyroots.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I205...

---

Sources:

• http://www.ephraimsclampingvipers.com/beebio.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_Bee

  ---

  
  

http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/usgenweb/wv/ritchie/history/hr...

GEDCOM Source

@R-1567799659@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=39460040&pid...