All about the other Beecher

Author Van Put’s latest a winning chronicle

By Edward Lundquist | For 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.