Beaton, William 1829-1907

BEATON, HUBBARD, PARK, TICHNOR, ASAY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/23/2011 at 21:09:05

The Grinnell Herald; Jan. 22, 1907

OBITUARY.

WILLIAM BEATON

Mr. William Beaton was born in St. Andrews, Canada East, Feb. 10, 1829, of Scotch parentage. He began to learn the cabinet maker's trade at nine years of age, but somewhat later entered a piano and organ factory, learning every detail of the construction of those instruments.

At twenty he entered Western Reserve College in Hudson, O. His skill as a vocalist and a violinist placed him in charge of the college, the Congregational and the Episcopal choirs, of a glee club of one hundred and thirty-two voices, of chorus classes, and of all college music during his six years at Hudson.

He was married to Miss Loretta M. Hubbard, of Cleveland, O., June 21, 1855 and, influenced by Henry M. Hamilton, a fellow student in college, came to Grinnell eight days later. Here his chief business at first was cabinet making and carpentry, and the superintendency of the Grinnell schools from 1859 until he joined the Band of the 4th Iowa Infantry during the Civil war. Since leaving the army his chief business has been piano-tuning. It was a pastime more than as a business that he conducted the Congregational choir during ten or twelve of his first years here, and taught vocal and violin music during the evenings. The early settlers, with great pleasure, remember his quartette (for he had a rare tenor voice), and his concerts by means of which he secured the first organ for the church which it ever owned.

His invariable affability and his generous kindness in assisting them gave him great influenece over the young men, especially while he was their only teacher here in music. He loved the town and was always glad to influence students to come to the college, or families to remove to the town. Some of our best citizens belong in this list. His friends were limited only by the number of his acquaintances.

Mr. Beaton and his first wife joined the Congregational church here soon after their arrival. At her death, Jan'y lst, 1887, they had buried two young sons, and had two living daughters, both of whom survive them. They are Mrs. O.W. Park, and Miss Isabella Beaton, teacher in the Cleveland School of Music.

Mr. Beaton's second wife (formerly Mrs. Maggie Tichnor) lived only a few years after their marriage. In 1893 he married Miss M. Ella Asay of Philadelphia, who survives him.

His funeral was conducted by Prof. L.F. Parker, at his late home, on Sunday, the 20th inst., and at Hazelwood by the Masonic Lodge of which he was a member.