He knew the area offered good grazing lands; and he was convinced that the Hereford breed of beef cattle showed great promise for the future.

Mr. Miller was a great admirer of Henry Ward Beecher, the most famous orator of that time, and named the new village after him.

He began making improvements immediately on his property, which he called Highland Stock Farm.

(Timothy Elliott) Miller recalled: “On his beautiful farm, he established the finest and largest herd of Hereford cattle in America.

To him is due the credit of the wide dissemination of this great breed of beef cattle in the United States.

He was able to acquire an additional 340 acres west of his original property and adjoining the proposed railroad on both sides.

Beecher Depot With efficient rail service running through the new village, further development began to build up near the railroad.

It was located on Reed Street, between Hodges and Penfield and was built in 1881 by the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes (CD&V) RR.

The depot was sold and moved to Monee, Illinois to Thompson's Winery where it was used as a gift shop until the 1980s.

A branch of Trim Creek flows through Beecher, but this carries very little water most of the year.

Instead, the village's Public Works Department manages Beecher's park lands.

Located adjacent to Beecher Junior High School, Welton Stedt Park boasts four ballfields, a pond, and portable toilets.

Firemen's Park, situated in the heart of Beecher, has picnic pavilions, a snack shack, a stage, bathroom facilities, ballfields, walking paths, and a seasonal ice rink.

Beecher's annual Fourth of July Festival has been held in Firemen's Park for decades.

[10] "Ribbon of Hope” Cancer Awareness Garden The Ribbon of Hope Commission was established by the Beecher Village Board in 2013 with the goal of creating a small garden that would promote cancer awareness.