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.[4] Beason has a post office with ZIP code 62512.[3]

Beason, Illinois
Census-designated place
Beason is located in Illinois
Beason
Beason
Location in Illinois
Beason is located in the United States
Beason
Beason
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°08′34″N 89°11′34″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyLogan
TownshipOran
Area
[2]
 • Total0.43 sq mi (1.13 km2)
 • Land0.43 sq mi (1.13 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[1]
640 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total147
 • Density338.71/sq mi (130.65/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
62512[3]
Area code217
GNIS feature ID2628542[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.[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020147—
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the 2020 census, Beason has a population of 147.

Race

146 people are white, 1 person is Hispanic or Latino, and 1 person is black.

2009 murders

In September 2009, five members of the Gee family were murdered in their home in Beason.[7] Investigators said that all five died of blunt force trauma.[8]

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.[9] Harris was given five life sentences for the crimes.[9] 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.[10] Jason received a 20-year sentence for obstruction of justice.[9] 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.[11]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beason, Illinois
  2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. ZIP Code Lookup Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  5. Stringer, Lawrence (1911). "History of Beason, IL". History of Logan County, Illinois. Pioneer Publishing Company. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  7. "5 slayings stun farm town". Chicago Tribune. September 23, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  8. O'Connor, John (September 24, 2009). "Sheriff: Family killed by 'blunt force trauma'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  9. Edith Brady-Lunny (July 20, 2013). "Harris sentenced to five life terms for Gee family murders". Decataur Herald & Review. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  10. Andy Kravetz (May 16, 2013). "Brother tells jury Harris admitted to killing Gee family". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  11. Woodside, Nathan (September 26, 2012). "Attorney claims teen killed Beason family in 2009". Peoria Journal Star. Gatehouse News Service. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
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