The Remarkable Life of James Beecher, Ed Van Put’s fourth book, was recently published and tells the tale of a historic figure in the Beaverkill Valley.

Van Put’s other books revolved around fly fishing in the Catskills, and the history of the Beaverkill River. While researching for those books, Van Put had written briefly about James Beecher, but the interesting life that he led prompted Van Put to learn more and write about his life.

The book is available for purchase on beaverkillbooks.com, and on that website you can find a synopsis of the book as well.

The synopsis reads, “This is the moving biography of a man who selflessly devoted his life to the liberation and betterment of others during a tumultuous time in U.S. history, with his equally determined wife Frances at his side. A member of the famous Beecher family and son of Lyman Beecher, James Beecher sacrificed a life of privilege to serve as missionary, soldier, preacher, and humanitarian.

“The Remarkable Life of James Beecher explores early ordeals in China to an astoundingly courageous career as colonel of an all-black regiment of freed slaves in the Civil War, through unimaginable horrors and post-war turmoil. The book follows Beecher throughout his extraordinary life, including the spiritual salvation he sought after the war as an early pioneer and fisherman in the wilds of the Beaverkill Valley with his wife Frances.

“Through in-depth research from historical sources - including selected personal correspondence contained and transcribed within - this is an inspiring intimate look at a remarkably little-known figure who played a key role in American history and risked everything for his convictions of equality and morality.”

This book contains digitally restored historical photographs and art work from the 1800s, personal handwritten correspondence, and covers early life in the Beaverkill Valley. This 286-page hardcover book, published by Beaverkill Books, costs $35 and can be found at beaverkillbooks.com.