The Beatty Family of Buchanan County, Iowa

A. G. BEATTY.

A. G. Beatty, an honored veteran of the Civil war conducting a real estate, collection and insurance agency at Independence, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1842, a son of James and Grace (Stewart) Beatty, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The mother was born in 1819. The father, whose birth occurred in County Tyrone in 1818, was sixteen years of age when he came to the United States, making his way to Philadelphia, where he began learning the machinist's trade, which he followed for fifteen years. During eight years of that period he had a machine shop of his own. In 1849 he removed westward to Iowa, making the journey by water, rail and stage coach until he reached Jones county. Pleased with the prospects of the country and believing that he might earn a good living here, he sent for his wife and three children, who joined him in June, 1850. ]\Mr. Beatty had entered land from the government in Jones county and was one of its pioneer settlers. There were no railroads west of the mississippi and the entire country was wild and undeveloped. All around were Indians but they were peaceful, belonging to the tribes of Sac and Foxes and others who were leaving for reservations farther west.

James Beatty continued to engage in farming in Jones county until 1876, when he purchased land in Buchanan county, where he owned about four hundred acres at the time of his death, which occurred in 1893 when he was seventy-five years of age. He was an active and exemplary member of the Baptist church and he and his brothers built a church of that denomination in Cascade, Iowa. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for aid and became corporal in Company I, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry. He participated in the battle of Helena, Arkansas, and various other important engagements until he was discharged on account of physical disability in 1864 due to camp sickness and general breakdown in health from which he never recovered. His life was an active, busy and useful one, and his influence was always on the side of right and progress. His family numbered five sons, the eldest being James Beatty, deceased, who was a resident of Philadelphia and who served as commissary sergeant in a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil war.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Stewart Beatty, residing in Rowley, is a retired farmer and merchant whose business enterprise and activity brought him in the course of years a well earned and well merited success. He was born in Jones county. Iowa, May 27, 1854, a son of James and Grace (Stewart) Beatty, who were natives of Ireland. The father came to America in 1834, when sixteen years of age, settling first in Philadelphia, where he learned the machinist's trade, which he there followed until 1849. In that year he sought the opportunities of the growing west, making his way to Cascade, Iowa, where he purchased forty acres of land from the government at a dollar and a quarter per acre, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of that region. With characteristic energy he began the development of the farm and continued the improvement and cultivation of the place until 1876, when he came to Buchanan county and invested in seventy-two acres of land in Sumner township. Later he purchased one hundred and eighty acres and still later an additional tract of eighty acres, making in all three hundred and thirty-two acres. He bent his energies to the development of the fields and throughout his remaining days gave his attention to his farm, which became one of the valuable properties of the district. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company I, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, with which he served for one year, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. He died on the 19th of March, 1893, having for but a few months survived his wife, who passed away in November, 1892.

Stewart Beatty was reared and educated in Dubuque county, Iowa, remaining with his parents until seventeen years of age, when he started out in life to earn his living as a farm hand. After being thus employed for two years he went to Cascade, where he learned the shoemaker's trade and then came to Independence, where he followed shoemaking for a year. At the end of that time, however, he resumed agricultural jnireuits, renting land in Homer township which he developed for eight years. He carefully saved his earnings during that period, so that at the end of the time he was able to purchase sixty acres in Homer township. This he at once began to improve and after selling that property five years later he became the owner of another farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Homer township, near Rowley. This he also developed and improved, continuing its cultivation until September, 1904, when he rented his farm and took up his above in Rowley, where he purchased a general store which he conducted for three years. He then retired from active business and has since enjoyed a well earned rest. In the meantime he has made extensive investments in town property and the supervision of his realty interests keeps him pleasantly busy, while his holdings return to him a very gratifying annual income.

On the nth of April, 1883, I\Mr. Beatty was united in marriage to Miss May H. Davis, a daughter of Thomas and Abigal (Hayes) Davis, th former a native of England and the latter of New York. Her father was a farmer in England and after coming to America in 1841 learned the stonemason's trade in Quebec. Subsequently he removed to Albany, New York, and in 1857 made his way westward to Illinois, where he worked at his trade aiul also followed farming. Later he returned to New York state and in 1865 came to Iowa, purchasing land in Homer township. Buchanan county. His time was then given to the cultivation of his farm until his death, which occurred on the ist of November, 1896. His wife survived him for about six years, passing away in June, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Beatty are the parents of a son, LeRoy Henry, now a real-estate dealer of Rowley, who was married in December, 1906, to Miss Eva Hand, a daughter of M. E. and Sarah Hand. Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy H. Beatty have become the parents of a son, Kenneth Clark, who Avas born in November, 1909, and is a great favorite with his grandparents.

Mr. Beatty gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been called to local office, serving for four years as assessor of Homer township. He belongs to Holman Lodge, No. 593, A. F. & A. M., of Rowley, and is also connected with the Eastern Star. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is serving as chairman of its board of trustees and is also chairman and treasurer of the cemetery association of Rowley. His interest in matters relating to the welfare and upbuilding of the community is deep and sincere and has been manifest in many tangible ways. He has been a lifelong resident of Iowa, and while he now ranks among the more prosperous citizens of Rowley and Buchanan county, his success is attributable entirely to his own efforts. He has worked diligently and persistently as the years have gone by and has made judicious investments in property, so that he is today one of the substantial residents of Buchanan county. Moreover, he has for many years lived in this part of the state and is largely familiar with its history, being an interested witness of events which have left their impress upon the development, growth and material improvement of the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

William Beatty is well known as a prominent and successful farmer of Buchanan county. He makes his home in Independence, but spends the greater part of his time in supervising his agricultural interests. He was born in Jones county, Iowa, in 1849, and is a son of James Beatty, a native of Ireland. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, he attended the public schools and afterward remained at home with his parents, giving his father the benefit of his services in the fields. Later he l)egan farming on his own account in the summer months and has three hundred and thirty-six acres of valuable and productive land in Buchanan county. He has made excellent improvements upon his property and is now successfully engag(Hl in the raising of Duroc Jersey hogs and Ilolstein cattle. He also raises mules and won a prize on a span of mules at the Buchanan county fair. He now makes his home in Independence, but he spends the major part of his time upon his small farm near the town. Formerly he was associated with A. G. Beatty in the realestate business for six years. For thirty-two years he has lived upon the farm and belongs to that class of determined and energetic men who carry forward to successful completion whatever they undertake.

In October, 1884, Mr. Beatty was united in marriage to.Aliss Anna Smith, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Samuel Smith, who came to Iowa with his family ay)out 1879. He owned land in this county and resided thereon up to the time of his retirement from active life. He then removed to Moline, Illinois, where he later passed away. His wife is also deceased, her death having occurred at Blairstown, Iowa. In their family were ten children and to Mr. and Mrs. Beatty have been born three children: Emma, who was born in Buchanan county and is the wife of Edward Bushell. living upon one of the William Beatty farms south of the town; Mabel, who is a graduate of the Independence high school and of the State Normal School at Cedar Falls; and Harold, nineteen years of age, who is farming with his father upon the farm south of the town. He married Ha Richey, of Independence.

Mr. Beatty has always been a stalwart advocate of republican principles since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but has never been an office seeker. He holds membership in the Methodist church and also with the Modern Woodmen of America, and high and honorable principles actuate him in all of life's relations, his course commending him to the confidence and enduring regard of those who know him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.