John Beatty (1835-1898)

BEATTY, COX

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/18/2025 at 20:26:36

From Nevada Representative May 18, 1898 (page 2)

Obituary.

Died, at his home in this city on the night of Friday, May 13, 1898, John Beatty, aged 62 years, 11 months and 28 days.

Mr. Beatty's death, late Friday night, terminated an illness which for about three weeks had been regarded as serious and for a week as hopeless. He had through the winter suffered much from rheumatism; and this spring his friends had noted with surprise and regret an increasing difficulty in his movements. About the 20th of April he returned sick from Council Bluffs and he never came down town again. He was still a very little short of 63 years of age and until lately had been a very active and sprightly man; but in this illness he failed to rally materially and lost ground steadily. Like his friends he saw the end approaching and he met death bravely and willingly.

Mr. Beatty was born in Carroll county, Ohio, May 15, 1835; was reared there; was married to Miss Susan Cox at Columbus, Michigan, August 14, 1858; spent the next few years in Indiana and Illinois; served in 1861 in the 8th Indiana Infantry; came to Nevada July 18, 1865, and resided here the remainder of his years. He had an 80 acre piece near Johnson's grove that brought him here, but he lived all the time in town. He clerked several years in L. A. Ringheim's store, was postmaster from 1878 till 1881, and after his retirement from that office was occupied with real estate and insurance business and a general oversight of his interests. He was elected by the General Assembly in 1894 a trustee of the School for the Deaf at Council Bluffs and was reelected for six years in 1896, though his service would have been terminated next July by the board of control bill. He was elected an alderman from the fourth ward upon incorporation of the city as a city of the second class in 1893 and served for five years upon the council, retiring in the spring. He leaves a widow and a daughter, Miss Flora, and a son William J. His one other and oldest child, Frank, died in 1881, aged 21 years.

Mr. Beatty was a man who bore a prominent part in the life of his community. He was active, frank, and of strong conviction, honest and public spirited. In politics he was a leading Republican, and though he did not often ask recognition for himself, he was earnest and effective in assisting his friends and in promoting his ideas of public policy. His worth and services did receive recognition; but the offices he held indicate only partially and imperfectly the position which he fairly earned. In his public acts he was unselfish, free from jealousy, true to his convictions and faithful to his pledges. Such qualities, added to persistence and energy, give a man influence and standing in his community, and Mr. Beatty had both. He was a useful and respected citizen whose loss will be deeply and widely felt. In his home he was all that a husband and father should be; and was especially solicitous for the education and welfare of his deaf son, Willie.

The funeral was conducted from his late residence Monday afternoon by Rev. J. W. Innes, assisted by Revs. Austin and Shrader. It was attended in a body by his brethren of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and by his comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic as well as by sympathizing friends in general. The rites at the grave were conducted by the Odd Fellows.