BIOGRAPHY: Alexander Beattie; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

ALEXANDER BEATTIE is one of the old and honored residents of the town of
Newburgh, and for the past thirty-one years has lived on this farm. He has
held a number of local offices, discharging the duties of the same with
faithfulness and ability. Among others he has held the position of Almshouse
Commissioner and has served as a Justice of the Peace. He is of English
descent, and comes from one of the old families of New England. His
grandfather, Alexander Beattie, was a Sergeant in the Revolutionary War, and
took part in the battle of White Plains. He was one of the first settlers of
Orange County, settling in the town of New Windsor, but his death occurred in
Ulster County.

The parents of our subject were Alexander W. and Elizabeth (Moore) Beattie,
the former a farmer by occupation. They had a family numbering two sons and
eight daughters, but only three of the number survive. Clara is now in her
eighty-fifth year, and Mary, of the town of New Windsor, is seventy-one years
of age.

January 30, 1817, occurred the birth of Alexander Beattie in the latter town,
where he passed his youth engaged in farm work. After his father's death, he,
in company with one of his brothers, took charge of the old homestead, and
carried it on successfully. He supplemented his. district-school education by
two terms in Montgomery Academy, which he entered when he was twenty-four
years of age. He then engaged in teaching school, and was located for seven
years in Little Britain, where he made a good reputation in the profession.
Then, going to the city of New York, he engaged in buying and selling hides
for a year, and for a like period taught school in New Jersey. Returning to
Orange County, he resumed teaching, and remained in Montgomery until the
summer of 1855. In 1855-56 he officiated as Principal of the Rural Academy in
the town of Montgomery, and the following year he was honored by being
appointed School Commissioner of Orange County, being among the first to
occupy that position. He filled the latter office eight years, and in the mean
time moved to the farm where he is still living, and where he has given
considerable attention to the dairy business. He owns ninety-seven acres, well
improved with good buildings, fences, orchards, etc.

September 30, 1855, Mr. Beattie and Ellen C. Caldwell were united in marriage
in the village of Montgomery, and they became the parents of four daughters,
namely: Mary, Ella C., Ann E. and Louise. Ella C. and Louise have been
successful school teachers of this town. Mrs. Beattie, who had shared her
husband's joys and sorrows for so many years, was separated from him by death
January 28, 1894, when in her seventy-first year. She was lovingly placed to
rest in the beautiful cemetery at Montgomery. For years she had been a member
of the Presbyterian Church and active in all good works, and Mr. Beattie is
also identified with that church. In his political relations he is a Democrat.
Upon the death of Mr. Beattie his branch of the Beattie family becomes
extinct.