W.P. Beachly
History of Montana, 1898
US Genweb Montana Archives

W.P. Beachly, County Auditor of Cascade County Montana and a 
resident of Great Falls, is a native of Somerset County 
Pennsylvania, born March 18, 1849.

Mr. Beachly is descended from the Germans on his father's 
side, while his mother's people were English.  The Beachlys 
settled in Pennsylvania about the year 1694.  They acquired 
lands in Somerset County and in that county several generations 
of the family were born and died, their lives being passed as 
industrious and honest farmers.  Our subject's grandfather, 
Jacob K. Beachly was born in 1795 and his father Peter Beachly 
was born March 3, 1824.  The latter was married in 1848 to Miss 
Phebe Cover, daughter of J.P. Cover her birth having occurred in 
the same county in 1828.  Her mother was a Putman, a descendant 
of the famous General Putman.  After their marriage, Peter 
Beachly and his wife settled down at the old Beachly homestead 
where they still reside he being now seventy and she sixty-six 
years.

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W.P. Beachly was reared on his father's farm, receiving his 
early education in the public schools.  When he was eighteen 
he began teaching in the winter and attending normal school in 
the summer and was thus occupied until the spring of 1870.  He 
then removed to Iowa.  There he improved a farm and spent two 
winters in teaching school.  Returning east, he next turned 
his attention to the lumber business, being a partner with 
others, and in 1873, owing to the failure of other parties, 
he met with business reverses.  Then he began farming again, 
later was employed as clerk in a store for two years, and 
about 1880 removed to Johnstown, where for some time he was 
connected with the steel works of that place, first as a 
common laborer and later as foreman in charge of a crew of 
men.  In the spring of 1882 we find him in Pueblo Colorado 
where he was also employed as foreman in steel works.

In July 1884, Mr. Beachly came to Great Falls and joined his 
brother Silas in opening a stationery store.  Paris Gibson was 
at that time postmaster-the first postmaster of the town-and 
he employed Mr. Beachly as his deputy.  He and his brother 
continued in partnership for three years at the end of which 
the latter retired.  Our subject conducted the business 
alone for two years longer and then took in as a partner, 
Mr. C.F. Fullerton, to whom in 1890 he sold out his interest.  
In 1890 Mr. Beachly accepted the position of Under Sheriff of 
the county.  He served for two years and for a short time was 
Deputy Assessor.

Mr. Beachly has been twice married.  His first wife, whom he 
wedded in 1874, and whose maiden name was Kate Gumbert was a 
native of his own county.  Her untimely death occurred two 
years after their marriage leaving a son, Orren.  In 1880 he 
married Miss Kate C. Salter, also a native of Somerset 
County, Pennsylvania.