Ephraim Bee

Background

Bee was born to Asa and Rhoda (Cox) Bee in Salem, New Jersey.

Career

There he built his own cabin and blacksmith shop. He later operated a prosperous inn which he christened the "Beehive Inn". Bee was married twice: first to Catherine Davis (1803–1852) in 1823, and second to Mary Welch (1823–1905).

Between them he had 17 children who survived infancy.

When West Virginia became a state in 1863 Bee represented Doddridge County in the first state legislature. In 1864-1865 he served as the United States. Postmaster for West Union.

He was elected to two later terms in the House of Delegates before his retirement. In his later years Bee was also a successful land speculator, who accumulated around 40,000 acres (160 km²) in West Virginia.

An item in the West Union Record in 1885 stated that "Honorable Ephraim Bee, one of the first settlers in this area & now an old & respected citizen of this county is dangerously ill at his home on Cabin Run." He died on October

23, 1888, age 86, and was buried in Cabin Run Cemetery, near West Union, West Virginia.

Achievements

• Bee is credited as the founder (1845) of East Clampus Vitus, a mostly facetious fraternal organization now dedicated to the preservation of western lore.

Membership

Bee"s grandson, Clair Bee, was a college basketball coach for Long Island University and, ultimately, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.