James Beatty 1784-1855

BEATTY, DICKSON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/5/2019 at 18:37:24

Excerpted from the biographical entry for Dickson Beatty in “Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa” (1894), pages 287-288:

James Beatty was born in County Tyrone, Ireland [in 1784], where the family were prominent and substantial residents. He was engaged in cultivating the soil of his native place and was numbered among the prosperous in his section. Deciding to try his fortunes in the New World, he set sail in June, 1844, [probably 1848] and after a voyage of eight weeks and three days, landed on American soil. He and his family emigrated from Mullycar Townland, Middle Dungannon Barony, County Tyrone.

His destination being this state [Iowa], he came hither immediately and entered three hundred and eighty acres of land from the Government. [His first Land Patent issued by the United States Government under the name of President Zachary Taylor was dated April 5, 1849, for 40 acres in Section 14 of Richland Township, and on March 1, 1850, for 40 acres in Section 2 of Richland Township.]

He was among the first to locate here [near Cascade in Jones County] and erecting a small frame house on his property lived in that with his family for many years, in the meantime applying himself industriously to the task of cultivating his land. Indians roamed at will about the country, but Mr. Beatty made friends with them and thus avoided trouble.

In Ireland he married Agnes Dickson, and they became the parents of six sons and three daughters, bearing the respective names of Margaret, Sarah A., Esther, James, Alexander, David, John, Benjamin, and Dickson. James and Agnes immigrated to the United States with their children Alexander, John, Benjamin, and Dickson, their children Margaret, Sarah, Esther, James, and David having preceded them.

Mrs. Beatty lived to be sixty-eight years old [August, 1788-January 30, 1869], and was a devoted member of the Baptist Church and active in all good works in her neighborhood.

Mr. Beatty’s death occurred very suddenly when seventy-one years of age [March 10, 1855], resulting from lung fever. He was a member of the Baptist Church and aided in the organization of the congregation in this township and contributed liberally of his means toward its support. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican.