Beason, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beason, Illinois
Census-designated place
Beason is located in Illinois
Beason
Beason
Location in Illinois
Coordinates: 40°08′37″N 89°11′36″W / 40.14361°N 89.19333°W / 40.14361; -89.19333Coordinates: 40°08′37″N 89°11′36″W / 40.14361°N 89.19333°W / 40.14361; -89.19333
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyLogan
TownshipOran
Area
 • Total0.625 sq mi (1.62 km2)
 • Land0.625 sq mi (1.62 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
640 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total189
 • Density300/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
62512[1]
Area code(s)217 Exchange: 447
GNIS feature ID404039[2]

Beason is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) in Oran Township, Logan County, Illinois, United States. The town lies one mile (1.6 km) south of Illinois Route 10. At the 2010 census, Beason had a population of 189.[3] Beason has a post office with ZIP code 62512.[1]

History[]

Beason was established on July 29, 1872, by Silas Beason, for whom the town is named. It was founded as a stop on the , which is now a branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. The first store in Beason was a grocery opened by Berryman H. Pendleton, who later became Beason's first postmaster. Beason's school was built in 1893 and its Methodist church was built in 1904.[4]

Geography[]

Beason is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas
40°08′37″N 89°11′36″W / 40.14361°N 89.19333°W / 40.14361; -89.19333 at an elevation of 640 feet (200 m).[2]

Demographics[]

At of the 2010 census, Beason has a population of 189.

2009 murders[]

In September 2009, five members of the Gee family were murdered in their home in Beason.[5] Investigators said that all five died of blunt force trauma.[6]

On May 31, 2013, Christopher Harris, the former husband of the Gees' oldest daughter, was convicted of murdering them and the attempted murder of the family's three-year-old daughter, among other crimes committed during the murders.[7] Harris was given five life sentences for the crimes.[7] His brother, Jason, who eventually admitted being outside the house that night, then testified to what he heard and saw outside the home during the murders, including Christopher entering the house with a tire iron that was consistent with the weapon used on all six victims.[8] Jason received a 20-year sentence for obstruction of justice.[7] Before Jason's testimony, Christopher had admitted to being at the house but had tried to make a case that he was a hero who walked in on the family's teenage son, Dillen, murdering his family and killed the teen in self-defense.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ a b ZIP Code Lookup Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beason, Illinois
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  4. ^ Stringer, Lawrence (1911). "History of Beason, IL". History of Logan County, Illinois. Pioneer Publishing Company. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  5. ^ "5 slayings stun farm town". Chicago Tribune. 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  6. ^ O'Connor, John (2009-09-24). "Sheriff: Family killed by 'blunt force trauma'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  7. ^ a b c Edith Brady-Lunny (2013-07-20). "Harris sentenced to five life terms for Gee family murders". Decataur Herald & Review. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
  8. ^ Andy Kravetz (2013-05-16). "Brother tells jury Harris admitted to killing Gee family". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
  9. ^ Woodside, Nathan (2012-09-26). "Attorney claims teen killed Beason family in 2009". Peoria Journal Star. Gatehouse News Service. Retrieved 2013-04-23.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""