From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 60-61
 
PETER BEULE.  The time has never been that the prescription druggist was not of as great 
importance to any community as a practicing physician.  Indeed it would be difficult to name a 
branch of business that is more indispensably important than that devoted to the reliable sale and 
importation of drugs and the preparations of prescriptions.  One of the prominent retail houses in 
this line in Beaver Dam, Wis., is that of which Peter BEULE is proprietor and of which he has had 
control since 1874, being the successor of Ezra STURDEVANT, who purchased the business of 
W. C. GRIFFIS.  The stock of goods carried by Mr. BEULE amounts to about $4,500 and includes 
a general line of first-class goods, and his annual sales amount to from $10,000 to $15,000.  Mr. 
BEULE is a native of that country that has given to America some of her most worthy citizens - 
Germany - his birth occurring in the Province of Westphalia, March 22, 1846, his parents, Joseph 
and Christina (PAPA) BEULE, having also been born there.  They were reared, educated and 
married there, and there spent their entire lives, having been honest and upright citizens.  The 
father was a well-to-do farmer, owned 140 acres of land, and was an influential citizen of the 
section in which he resided.  He was called from life August 6, 1853, and his wife survive him 
many years, dying March 21, 1890.  The immediate subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in 
his native land, was placed in schools as soon as old enough, according to the custom of the 
German people, and there remained the allotted time.  In early manhood he was engaged in 
buying and selling grain for several years for a firm in that business, but in 1866 left the land of 
his birth in order to escape compulsory military service, and came to America, and immediately 
upon landing made his way to Wisconsin.  He located at Beaver Dam and entered the drug store 
of W. C. GRIFFIS, as a clerk, and after spending a number of years faithfully in his service, he 
purchased the business in 1874, as above stated.  He has become thoroughly familiar with all the 
details of this responsible calling, and has been one of the most influential and successful 
business men of Beaver Dam for many years.  He has identified himself with the interests of his 
adopted country, and especially with Dodge County and Beaver Dam, and has contributed much 
to the development of the city's best interests, and is a stockholder of the Beaver Dam Cotton 
Mills, the Beaver Dam Malleable Iron Works, of which he is one of the directors and is president 
of the Electric Light Company.  He is also a stockholder and director of the German National 
Bank, and for many years he has served as oil inspector of this district, being commissioned by 
the government.  In addition to these extensive and valuable interests he also owns valuable 
business and residence property.  Strictly a business man, he has never aspired to office, for his 
time is fully occupied otherwise, but his many friends, realizing his ability and fitness for the office, 
recently appointed him a school commissioner from his ward without his knowledge and it is 
needless to say that the office fell into excellent and capable hands, as he has never been known 
to neglect a duty, however trivial.  It is to such traits of character that he owes his eminent 
succession all that he undertakes, and which makes him a leader in the business and social 
circles of his section.  In 1872, realizing that "it is not good for man to live alone," he led to the 
altar Miss Mary FISHER, a native of Dodge County, who died after one short year of wedded life, 
and the daughter, Bertha Josephine BEULE, three months old, died.  In 1879 Mr. BEULE took for 
his second wife Miss Carrie SHERMAN, a native of Beaver Dam, by whom he has three children: 
Arthur, Alfred and Mertie.  Socially Mr. BEULE has for some time been a member of the I.O.O.F., 
and ever since becoming a citizen of the Untied States he has supported the men and measures 
of the Democratic party.  Mr. BEULE, immediately after the death of his first wife, went to Europe, 
and remained the following summer mainly for his health and for rest, and on his return he formed 
a co-partnership with E. STURDEVANT, and afterward the firm was changed.  Mr. E. 
STURDEVANT withdrew and the style of the firm was BEULE & ELWELL, and remained as such 
for one year, and at that time Mr. BEULE purchased the interest of Mr. ELWELL.
 
Submitted by Carol