William A. Beasley
After a long and honorable career as a merchant in Fairmount, Mr. Beasley is now enjoying the peace and quiet pursuits f country life at his home in Section 30 of Fairmount Township, on the old Thomas estate. Mr. Beasley bought the Thomas farm on retiring from business, and thus enjoys ownership and occupancy of one of the landmarks in this section of Grant County. A large and comfortable brick house was constructed many years ago by Mr. Thomas, and the brick and sand entering into its construction were both materials taken from the farm, and manufactured on the place. The success of Mr. Beasley in business affairs has been equaled by his influential and public spirited citizenship, and his reputation has always been that of a reliable upright citizen, ever ready to do his part in bearing community responsibilities, and forwarding enterprise for the local good.
William A. Beasley is a grandson of George W. and Sarah (Stanley) Beasley. It is not known where these grandparents were born, but they were probably married in Tennessee, and most of their lives were spent on a farm east of Petersburg in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Finally they settled just outside the town limits of Petersburg on the west side, and died there, the grandfather when about seventy, and the grandmother when about sixty-seven years of age. They were farmers by occupation, members of the Methodist Church, and thrifty and esteemed people. Of their children, the following record is made: Anderson, deceased; Thomas, who is still living; William, deceased; George; John, father of the Fairmount citizen; Martha, deceased; Catherine; Tina; Louella, deceased. All these children grew up and were married and most of them had their homes in Tennessee. Those now deceased all passed away in that State.
John Beasley, who was second in order of birth, was born near Petersburg, Tennessee, in 1840, and died there in 1864, when twenty-four years of age. His active career was spent in farming. He married in his native locality, Miss Susan E. Keith, who was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, about 1840, and died in Fairmount, March 11, 1911. After the death of her first husband she never married. Her parents were Francis W. and Bethia (George) Keith, both natives of Tennessee, where they were farmers and Methodists and died when quite old. In 1875 Mrs. John Beasley brought her only son William to Indiana, being preceded to this state by her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Brown. In 1879, she came to Fairmount.
William A. Beasley was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, April 11, 1864, and practically all his education was obtained after he came to Grant county. His advantages were quite liberal while he was growing up, and he took a full course in the city schools. His first business experience was as a partner with J. H. Wilson at Fairmount, but after a year he sold his interest to Mr. Wilson and then became a clerk for Ezra N. Oakley. His connection with Mr. Oakley continued for six years, at the end of which time he bought a drug store, and during the first year was in partnership with Edward Cassell. Mr. Cassell was then unfortunately drowned, and Mr. Beasley bought all the interest and conducted the store as sole proprietor for twenty-three and a half years. In the meantime he has prospered steadily, and when he sold his business he possessed the means of enabling him to put some of his long cherished plans, principal among which was the acquisition of a place in the country. Thus in 1913, having bought the Thomas estate west of the city of Fairmount, he moved to that old home, and now has a fine farm of one hundred acres. he gives all his attention to the management of this estate and is applying the business judgment and ability acquired through a long experience as a merchant to the cultivation of land, and its resources.
In Fairmount Township, Mr. Beasley married Miss Emma rush, a daughter of Rev. Nixon Rush, whose career is detailed on other pages of this work. Mrs. Beasley was born, reared, and educated at the Fairmount Academy. She is the mother of six children, namely: Zola B., was educated in the Fairmount High School and Academy, the Earlham College, and the Marion business College, and is now taking a special normal course at Rochester, New York; Myron R., is a graduate of the Fairmount High School, The Marion Business College, and is assistant teller and bookkeeper for the Farmers Trust & Savings Bank at Marion; Oren Keith, died at the age of fourteen months; Frank Adrian, is a member of the Fairmount Academy Class of 1915; John Otis, is a student in the Fairmount Academy; and Louisa Elizabeth is in the public school. Mrs. Beasley and children are members of the Friends Church.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.