The Bellevue 'Bee Man'

摘要

Since beginning beekeeping I have heard stories about the Bellevue "bee man", Henry Quirin. It was said that when he would be seen on the streets he was often mistaken for a transient and people would offer him a few coins for a meal. He would kindlythank them and move on. Henry was small in stature. He was usually dressed rather shabbily and only got one haircut a year at the start of the bee season. Most people never realized he was one of the wealthiest men in the area.Henry Quirin was born in Groton Township, Erie County, Ohio in 1872. He was the son of Nicholas and Barbara (Gross) Quirin and one of six children. He was raised on a modest farm at the corner of State Route 4 and Strecker Road where his father owned about 40 acres of tillable land. This spot would later be known as Honey Corners. From humble beginnings, Henry began his bee business. At the time of his death in 1959 he had grown his estate to a value of near one million dollars.