Beason, Illinois

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]

Beason, Illinois
Census-designated place
Beason
Location in Illinois
Beason
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°08′37″N 89°11′36″W
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]

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 Havana, Lincoln, and Eastern Railroad, 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 40°08′37″N 89°11′36″W 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 30-year sentences for the crimes.[7] His brother, Jason, who admitted being outside the house that night, 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 his testimony.[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]

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References
  1. ZIP Code Lookup Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. 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. 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.
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