Fred Beell

Fred Beell was born in West Prussia, Province of Prussia on January 7, 1876.[1] When he was three years old, his family migrated to the United States, settling in Marshfield, Wisconsin.[1] He attended Immanual Lutheran School as a child, and at the age of fourteen he began working at the Upham mill in Marshfield.[1] Beell joined the United States Army, serving in the Spanish–American War.[1] He married Anna Scheren on August 6, 1902.[1]

Beell first became a professional wrestler in the late 1890s, during a time when professional wrestlers would fight numerous exhibition matches each month, keeping them on the road constantly.

On February 3, 1900, Beell defeated Ed Adamson, winning $238.50 for the match. On April 9, 1900, Beell defeated William West to become the Northwest Wrestling Champion. It was not until 1906 that he gained national attention, when he defeated Frank Gotch, the reigning American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.[1][2] Gotch defeated him 16 days later in Kansas City.[3] He eventually quit wrestling in 1919.[1] After retiring, he became a police officer in Marshfield.[1]

Beell died on August 5, 1933 in the line of duty.[1] Reports of his death were published in the Marshfield News-Herald and in a 1933 edition of True Detective Mysteries.[1] He was buried at Hillside Cemetery in Marshfield.[1]

Beell Stadium, home of the Marshfield Tigers football team, is named after him.[1]

• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Posthumous award (2005)[2]
• Other titles
  • World Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[4]
  • American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[5]
  • Northwest Championship (1 time)
  • Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame (1972)[1][6]
• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Class of 2018[7]