Fred Beell
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By no means was he a big man. He stood only five feet and four inches tall and weighed only one-hundred-and-sixty-five pounds, but he was the 'Biggest Little-Man.' A light heavyweight at best. Yet his name is remembered up there with the likes of Frank Gotch, Evan Lewis, and Joe Stecher, his not remembered on quite the same level, rightfully so, but he is not far off.
On January 17, 1876 he was born in West Prussia and his family immigrated to America while he was still fairly young. It's noted in a newspaper that even as a child he was stout, containing remarkable strength and ability to fall all the other children where he lived in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Also noted is that he was a 'farmer boy.'
It's said he trained with a strongman at the age of nineteen and had his first professional wrestling match at the age of twenty years old in 1896. Within a year of his debut he'd be matched up against one of the biggest names of 1890's Evan 'Strangler' Lewis. Beell was thrown three times during that contest. Not really surprising as Lewis was twenty pounds heavier and around four to five inches taller.
A little over a year later he joined the Wisconsin National Guard for the three and a bit month war with Spain over Cuba. He'd be back in Wisconsin before the end of 1898 although would not wrestle again until 1899. By the middle of the year he was being trained by Evan Lewis, although it's quite likely the two had been in contact since the original match, as it's said both Lewis and the referee, notable wrestler Jack Carkeek, had been impressed.
For much of this period of his career Beell was listed as either a middle or a light heavyweight. Though-out 1900 Beel was traveling around the country mainly sticking to those weight classes, however, he would step up and meet Dan McLeod in a handicap match-up. McLeod was bet to throw Beell three times, but only managed twice.
At the end of 1901 he faced arguably the most famous wrestler in the country at that time, Martin 'Farmer' Burns. The 'Farmer' was reckoned to be the best pound for pound wrestler in the game, himself being a smaller gentleman. In their handicap match Beell was able to prevent Burns from getting more than a single fall and proved he really could hang with the best of them.
By this point Beell would have been making fairly good money as long as he kept moving around the Northwest, building his reputation as he went. A big part of that was in January 1902 when he defeated Harvey Parker a very well respected Light Heavyweight, considered at the top of the class by many. Those betting on the contest were undoubtedly shocked and unhappy with the result.
For the next several years his career pretty continued the same and he edged out into wider areas. It is noteworthy that he was defeated in 1903 by John J. Rooney who was very much a heavyweight wrestler weighing in excess of 200 pounds. Other than that for the most part he was picking up victories of light heavyweights.
After a violent match with Americus, Beell acquired his former opponent, Harvey Parker, as his brand new manager in early 1905. The big moment for Fred Beell's career came in 1906 though, when he became the American Heavyweight Champion for sixteen days.
On December 1, 1906 Fred Beell stepped up against Frank Gotch and in what could be called the upset of the decade defeated the Iowan. When Gotch tumbled from the stage area and banged his head, Beell was able to easily take advantage and gain the necessary falls.
Some people believe this was a freak accident in a legitimate contest. I like to think that it was a genius bit of promoting. Not only did this allow them to book a hot rematch on December 17, 1906 giving up a big pay day to both competitors right at a time when big pay days were scarce for wrestlers due to Christmas (Yes, even back then the buying of gifts and/or having a big meal was a big thing), it did so without damaging Frank Gotch who was starting to push for a shot at the World Heavyweight Champion, Georg Hackenschmidt.
When they did meet again Gotch went over in a manner that showed he was without a doubt the superior accident and the first match had been a complete upset. After all Gotch was a much larger man than Beell, he was around two-hundred-and-ten pounds and around five foot eleven.
His shock victory over Gotch had been big news all over the country and propelled Beell to being a top competitor in the mat game. Still he was embarking on battles with the men of his own stature, but he now had the freedom to get more matches against heavyweights and even victories over them rather than just holding them off in handicap matches. One such victory came when he defeated the giant John J. Rooney in 1907.
For much of the next four years his career would see him get steady victories always remaining toward the top of the pile, but never actually on top. He'd secure many victories, but when a new challenger was coming up or someone would be building up for a match against Frank Gotch, at some point on the path to the big match, they most likely defeated Fred Beell.
In 1912 his retirement was announced, but, like many guys he never stayed away from the business and would come back for the occasional matches or to referee bouts of importance. His last known match took place on October 21, 1919. By 1921 he joined the police force where he stayed for 12 years.
On August 5, 1933 while on duty Fred Beell was shot and passed away from his wounds. His death was mourned by the whole of Wisconsin and wrestling fans who still remembered him. Papers noted that at one time he had been almost as popular as Frank Gotch and regarded him as one of the 'Littlest Big-Man' to have ever wrestled with great skill.
To this day the Marshfield Police Force still honors Fred Beell every year on the anniversary of his death. One November 12, 1941 the Marshfield football stadium was named after him in his honor and he'd also be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972 and in 1997 he had his own stone placed in the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial.
By no means was he a big man. He stood only five feet and four inches tall and weighed only one-hundred-and-sixty-five pounds, but he was the 'Biggest Little-Man.' A light heavyweight at best. Yet his name is remembered up there with the likes of Frank Gotch, Evan Lewis, and Joe Stecher, his not remembered on quite the same level, rightfully so, but he is not far off.
On January 17, 1876 he was born in West Prussia and his family immigrated to America while he was still fairly young. It's noted in a newspaper that even as a child he was stout, containing remarkable strength and ability to fall all the other children where he lived in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Also noted is that he was a 'farmer boy.'
It's said he trained with a strongman at the age of nineteen and had his first professional wrestling match at the age of twenty years old in 1896. Within a year of his debut he'd be matched up against one of the biggest names of 1890's Evan 'Strangler' Lewis. Beell was thrown three times during that contest. Not really surprising as Lewis was twenty pounds heavier and around four to five inches taller.
A little over a year later he joined the Wisconsin National Guard for the three and a bit month war with Spain over Cuba. He'd be back in Wisconsin before the end of 1898 although would not wrestle again until 1899. By the middle of the year he was being trained by Evan Lewis, although it's quite likely the two had been in contact since the original match, as it's said both Lewis and the referee, notable wrestler Jack Carkeek, had been impressed.
For much of this period of his career Beell was listed as either a middle or a light heavyweight. Though-out 1900 Beel was traveling around the country mainly sticking to those weight classes, however, he would step up and meet Dan McLeod in a handicap match-up. McLeod was bet to throw Beell three times, but only managed twice.
At the end of 1901 he faced arguably the most famous wrestler in the country at that time, Martin 'Farmer' Burns. The 'Farmer' was reckoned to be the best pound for pound wrestler in the game, himself being a smaller gentleman. In their handicap match Beell was able to prevent Burns from getting more than a single fall and proved he really could hang with the best of them.
By this point Beell would have been making fairly good money as long as he kept moving around the Northwest, building his reputation as he went. A big part of that was in January 1902 when he defeated Harvey Parker a very well respected Light Heavyweight, considered at the top of the class by many. Those betting on the contest were undoubtedly shocked and unhappy with the result.
For the next several years his career pretty continued the same and he edged out into wider areas. It is noteworthy that he was defeated in 1903 by John J. Rooney who was very much a heavyweight wrestler weighing in excess of 200 pounds. Other than that for the most part he was picking up victories of light heavyweights.
After a violent match with Americus, Beell acquired his former opponent, Harvey Parker, as his brand new manager in early 1905. The big moment for Fred Beell's career came in 1906 though, when he became the American Heavyweight Champion for sixteen days.
On December 1, 1906 Fred Beell stepped up against Frank Gotch and in what could be called the upset of the decade defeated the Iowan. When Gotch tumbled from the stage area and banged his head, Beell was able to easily take advantage and gain the necessary falls.
Some people believe this was a freak accident in a legitimate contest. I like to think that it was a genius bit of promoting. Not only did this allow them to book a hot rematch on December 17, 1906 giving up a big pay day to both competitors right at a time when big pay days were scarce for wrestlers due to Christmas (Yes, even back then the buying of gifts and/or having a big meal was a big thing), it did so without damaging Frank Gotch who was starting to push for a shot at the World Heavyweight Champion, Georg Hackenschmidt.
When they did meet again Gotch went over in a manner that showed he was without a doubt the superior accident and the first match had been a complete upset. After all Gotch was a much larger man than Beell, he was around two-hundred-and-ten pounds and around five foot eleven.
His shock victory over Gotch had been big news all over the country and propelled Beell to being a top competitor in the mat game. Still he was embarking on battles with the men of his own stature, but he now had the freedom to get more matches against heavyweights and even victories over them rather than just holding them off in handicap matches. One such victory came when he defeated the giant John J. Rooney in 1907.
For much of the next four years his career would see him get steady victories always remaining toward the top of the pile, but never actually on top. He'd secure many victories, but when a new challenger was coming up or someone would be building up for a match against Frank Gotch, at some point on the path to the big match, they most likely defeated Fred Beell.
In 1912 his retirement was announced, but, like many guys he never stayed away from the business and would come back for the occasional matches or to referee bouts of importance. His last known match took place on October 21, 1919. By 1921 he joined the police force where he stayed for 12 years.
On August 5, 1933 while on duty Fred Beell was shot and passed away from his wounds. His death was mourned by the whole of Wisconsin and wrestling fans who still remembered him. Papers noted that at one time he had been almost as popular as Frank Gotch and regarded him as one of the 'Littlest Big-Man' to have ever wrestled with great skill.
To this day the Marshfield Police Force still honors Fred Beell every year on the anniversary of his death. One November 12, 1941 the Marshfield football stadium was named after him in his honor and he'd also be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972 and in 1997 he had his own stone placed in the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Fred Beell.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #21.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Last Updated: August 21, 2019.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Fred Beell.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #21.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Last Updated: August 21, 2019.