Beason, Illinois

Beason, Illinois
Census-designated place (CDP)
Country United States
State Illinois
County Logan
Township Oran
Elevation 640 ft (195.1 m)
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
Area 0.625 sq mi (1.62 km2)
 - land 0.625 sq mi (2 km2)
 - water 0 sq mi (0 km2), 0%
Population 189 (2010)
Density 302.4/sq mi (116.8/km2)
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 62512[1]
Area code 217 Exchange: 447
GNIS feature ID 404039[2]
Location of Beason within Illinois
Location of Illinois in the United States

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. As of the 2010 census, Beason has 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 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]

2009 murders

In September 2009, five members of the Gee family were murdered in their home in Beason, in an incident which was shocking to most residents.[5] Investigators stated that all five family members died of blunt force trauma.[6]

On May 31, 2013, Christopher Harris—former husband of the Gees' oldest daughter—was convicted of murdering the five Gee family members and 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] Harris' brother Jason, who admitted to being outside the house that night, testified to what he heard and saw outside the Gee 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]

Geography

Beason is located at 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

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

References

  1. 1 2 ZIP Code Lookup Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beason, Illinois
  3. ↑ "American FactFinder". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-04-23. 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. 1 2 3 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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