William A. Beath
William A. Beath, a prominent and successful agriculturist, was born on section 29, Licking Township, Blackford County, the date of his birth being July 25, 1836. His father, John Beath, was a native of Virginia, and a son of Joseph and Anna B. Beat. He was reared to manhood in Ross County, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Anna Kelough, and in October, 1835, came to Blackford County, Indiana, locating in the woods on section 29, Licking Township. His first land purchase was eighty acres to which he subsequently added 160 acres, and on settling on his land he built a log cabin 18 x 20 feet in size. In 1871 he sold his farm of 240 acres to Blackford County for an infirmary or poor farm. His wife died in 1870, and his death occurred January 29, 1885. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are yet living, as follows - William A., the subject of this sketch; Alexander, was a soldier in the late war, serving four years in the Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry, now living in Union County, Iowa; Martha Ann Atkinson living in Reno County, Kansas; Nancy Wilhelm, living in Sedgwick County, Kansas, and Samuel K., who was also a soldier in the Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry. In politics the father was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and for twenty-one years held the office of justice of the p4eace.
William A. Beath, whose name heads this sketch, was reared to the avocation of a farmer on the home farm, receiving his education in the common schools. He was united in marriage October 18, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth R. Stewart, a daughter of Dr. Henry and Susanna (Shroyer) Stewart, who came to Blackford County in 1836, the mother dying here September 7, 1837. The father died December 9, 1882, aged seventy-eight years. Robert Stewart, the grandfather of Mrs. Beath, was a native of Ireland. He married Miss Rebecca Anderson, and reared a family of ten children, whose names are as follows -Mary, Sallie, Henry, Isabelle, John, Jane, Adam and Dolly (twins), Rebecca and Robert. Robert Stewart, Sr., died at the advanced age of ninety-three years.
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Beath are the parents of five children -Marion L. living in Woodson County, Kansas; George R., John W., Henry A., and Owen Van. Mr. Beath lived in Jackson Township for three years after his marriage, and in 1863 settled on section 1, Licking Township. He located on his present farm in 1885, where he has 225 acres of well improved land, a good residence, one and a half stories in height, well furnished and good barns and other farm buildings. This farm is considered one of the best to be found in Licking Township, and everything about the place shows the care and thrift of the owner.
Politically Mr. Beath affiliates with the Democratic party. He and his wife and two sons, George R. and John W., are members of the Disciples Church, and he is one of the respected citizens of Blackford County.
Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford County, Indiana. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. Page 803.
