My Genealogy Hound

JACOB B. BEATTIE. A foremost position among the agriculturists of Randolph County must be accorded to the subject of this sketch, who owns and occupies a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 33, township 4, range 5. He is the son of James H. Beattie, who was born near Newburgh, N. Y., in 1788, and is the grandson of Francis and Jane (Hall) Beattie, also natives of the Empire State. The great-grandfather of our subject, Thomas Beattie, was born and married in the North of Ireland, and after coming to the United States settled in Newburgh in 1740.

The maiden name of our subject’s mother was Hannah Burkhardt. She was born in Allegheny County, Pa., in 1795, and was the daughter of Jacob Burkhardt, who was born in Germany, and after coming to America served as a soldier in the French and Indian War. The parents of our subject were married in 1816, and four years later, the father, deciding to locate further west, sailed down the Ohio River in an emigrant boat, being accompanied on the journey by the families of William Marshall and William Temple. Arriving at Shawneetown, January 1, 1821, they came overland to Randolph County and located upon a farm in township 4, where they were among the earliest settlers. Here the father of our subject opened up a farm, and at the time of his decease had accumulated a large estate of six hundred and forty acres. His wife, of whom our subject is the only surviving son, died in 1819, and afterward he married Miss Margaret Black. Of the five children born to them only one is living, Robert T.; Francis H. died in 1886, leaving a family of five children: Nettie, John B., William S., Robert and Jefferson. Mrs. Margaret Beattie died in 1840, and the father of our subject departed this life in 1846. The latter was industrious, prudent and thrifty, and had many warm friends throughout the county.

J. B. Beattie is a native of Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred June 24, 1818, in Allegheny County. He was two years of age when his father came to Illinois. Here he received his education in the pioneer schools and here he was reared to farm pursuits. He has been a resident of township 4, range 5, for the past seventy-three years, and has been an important factor in advancing the agricultural interests of the county. At the time his father located here the country was in a wild condition, and was very sparsely inhabited. Deer, wild turkeys and other kinds of game were plentiful. Our subject’s means were very limited, but he was reared to habits of industry, and was energetic and ambitious, so that by years of hard toil he has accomplished the pioneer task of developing a highly productive farm from the wilderness.

In February, 1854, Mr. Beattie and Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (McIntyre) McMillan, were united in marriage. Mrs. Beattie was born December 5, 1829, in Scotland, where her parents were also born. They are both now deceased, and at their death left a family of three children: John, Mrs. Beattie and Alexander. To our subject and his wife have been born six children: Mary J., now Mrs. T. B. Stephenson, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this Record; James Hall, who married Ada Warner and resides in Kansas City, Kan.; John Alexander, who married Miss Patience O. Rusk, and also resides in the above place; Jacob L., who makes his home in Sparta, this county; William M. and Hannah E., both at home.

Our subject is a devoted member of the United Presbyterian Church, while his good wife holds membership with the Christian Church near her home. In his political relations he is a Prohibitionist and has aided the progress of that party in this section very materially. He has been a School Director for the past ten years, and as the incumbent of that position has given entire satisfaction. His fine estate, which includes two hundred and forty acres, is all cultivated with the exception of seventy-five acres. The land is supplied with substantial improvements that make it one of the most desirable farms in the county.