John BEATTY, residing at Goshen, Ringgold County, is a native of Ireland, born May 5, 1835, a son John, Sr., and Sarah (JENKINS) BEATTY, who were also natives of the same country. They immigrated to America when our subject was fifteen years old, sailing from Liverpool in 1850, and landing at New York. They at once proceeded to Ohio and there our subject lived until 1862 when he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Infantry. He was in the battle of Gettysburg, and several other engagements of minor importance during the two years he was in the service. He was honorably discharged at Washington when he returned to his old home in Ohio.

He remained there but a short time, when he went to the State of Illinois, [and] was married August 11, 1864 [in Morgan County, Ohio], to Sarah A. NELSON, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob and Susan N. (REED) NELSON. They are the parents of five children - Adam N., born June 13, 1865; Steven E., born September 11, 1867; Anna B. born November 2, 1870; William J., born July 17, 1876, and Clyde J., born August 18, 1878.

Since coming to Ringgold County, Iowa, Mr. BEATTY has prospered in all his undertakings, and is now the owner of 480 acres of valuable land located on section 27 of Lincoln Township. He is now engaged in dealing in fine horses, two of his horses being imported and quite celebrated.

Since coming he has served as school director, and held the office of postmaster. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and respected members of society.

* John's surname was spelled "BEATY" but should be "BEATTY."

NOTE: Sarah A. (NELSON) BEATY was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, on February 7, 1843, and died at the age of 78 years and 2 months on April 7, 1921, Clearfield, Taylor County, Iowa. John BEATY preceded her in death by two months on February 7, 1921 at the age of 83 years. John and Sarah were interred at Clearfield Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

John and Sarah A. (NELSON) BEATTY's children:

1) Adam Nelson BEATTY
    born 13 Jun 1865 (1864 according to cemetery transcriptions), Mendota, La Salle Co., IL
    died 14 Jul 1936, interment at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
    married Sarath Gertrude RADBOURN (1869-1953)29 Jun 1891, Bloomington IL
2) Stephen Edgar "Ed" BEATTY
    born 11 Sep 1867, Oak Grove IL; died 16 Jan 1943, Bloomington, McLean Co. IL
    married Ella M. BUNNELL(1868-1963) 10 Feb 1892, Bloomington IL
3) Anna Belle BEATTY, born 02 Nov 1879, IL, died after May 1950; married Thomas D. SMITH
4) James William "Will" BEATTY
    born 17 Jul 1876 near Diagonal IA; died 13 May 1950, Des Moines, Polk Co. IA
5) Clyde John BEATTY, born 18 Aug 1878, Ringgold Co. IA; died 20 Mar 1949, Lucas, Lucas Co. IA
    interment at Murray Cemetery, Clarke Co. IA

Jacob NELSON, father of Sarah A. (NELSON) BEATTY, was born in Pennsylvania on October 7, 1815, and died September 23, 1893, Clearfield, Iowa, with interment at Clearfield Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. Susan Elizabeth (REED) BEATTY, Jacob's second wife and Sarah's mother, was born January 9, 1816, Ohio, the daughter of John and Sarah (HARRISON) REED, and died December 18, 1848, Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio. Susan and Jacob were married in Muskingum County, Ohio, on November 5, 1840. Sarah was the second-born of Jacob and Susan's five children.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 348-49, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z