Biographical Sketch of Horace A. Beale (1827-1897); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Historical Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania", Vol. 1, edited by Gilbert Cope and Henry Graham Ashmead, published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1904, pp. 488-489. "Horace A. Beale, deceased, was a man of sanguine and determined temperament, and being possessed of a vast amount of energy, quick perception of opportunities and judicious management, was enabled to conquer every obstacle and achieve substantial success in the business world. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1827, and is a descendant of Thomas and Catherine Beale of Caln, Wiltshire, England. William Beale, son of Thomas and Catherine Beale, was born August 14, 1709, and about the year 1730 came to this country and settled in West Whiteland township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he became the owner of a large tract of land. He was twice married; his first wife was Mary Jenkin, daughter of David Jenkin, and the issue of this union was eight children. William died December 27, 1800, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. John Beale, son of William and Mary (Jenkin) Beale, was born December 12, 1740, was reared and educated in his native township, and later in life enlisted in the Continental army as a private. He served under the command of General Lafayette, and during one of the engagements near the head of Elk Valley, on January 25, 1777, he was killed, and his remains were interred in that locality. John Beale and his wife, Tamar (Burgoyne) Beale were the parents of two children: Mary and Joseph Beale. Joseph Beale, father of Horace A. Beale, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1768, and was reared near Downingtown, by his grandfather, with whom he resided after the death of his father. Upon the completion of his studies he engaged in the furniture manufacturing business, and for many years was a member of the firm of Beale & Jemison, of Philadelphia, in which city he made his home for the greater part of his life. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion he adhered to the tenets f the Presbyterian faith, holding membership in the First Presbyterian church of Philadelphia. He was united in marriage to Margaret McDowell, daughter of Captain James McDowell, of Upper Oxford township. Their children were: James M., Joseph, Horace, who died in early life; Horace A., Elizabeth, and Harriet Beale. The father of these children died at his farm in Downingtown, in the year 1841, aged seventy-six years, and the mother died in the year 1834, aged fifty-three years. Horace A. Beale, son of Joseph and Margaret (McDowell) Beale, was born in Philadelphia, January 25, 1827. He acquired a liberal education in the old Philadelphia Academy and the University of Pennsylvania, graduating from the latter institution after a three years course. His first employment was with the Phoenix Iron Company; in 1846 he accepted a position with the Laurel Iron Works; then was employed at the viaduct in Coatesville; later bought at the Deer Creek Works in Maryland; then leased the Thorndale Iron Works, and the Hibornia Iron Works, and in 1873, he established the iron works at Parkesburg, under the name of Horace A. Beale. Subsequently the firm became Horace A. Beale & Co. by the admission of William H. Gibbons of Coatesville to partnership. In 1882 the Parkesburg Iron Company was organized, and incorporated with a capital of $125,000, the officers being: Horace A. Beale, president; William H. Gibbons, vice-president; Amos Michener, secretary; Samuel R. Parke, treasurer; and A. J. Williams, general manager. These persons remained in their respective places until the fall of 1897, when Horace A. Beale died, and Mr. Gibbons became president; Horace A. Beale, Jr., vice-president; William C. Michener, secretary; George Thomas, treasurer; A. J. Williams, general manager; and E. H. Brodhead, assistant general manager. On January 1, 1900, the president and treasurer retired from the business and the new officers elected were: Horace A. Beale, Jr., president; A. J. Williams, vice-president; William C. Michener, secretary; E. H. Brodhead, treasurer and general manager; H. B. Wiese, superintendent; and John R. Humpton, assistant manager. The product of these mills consists of boiler tube-iron skelp, the annual output being twenty thousand tons. The plant has been greatly improved, buildings erected on a larger scale, and the capacity for business has been increased thirty-three and one-third per cent, since 1900. The buildings consist of three mill buildings, one forge building, three charcoal houses, two scrap houses, a machine shop, two trimming houses, and other necessary houses. The mill consists of four two-high plate lines driven by a horizontal slide-valve engine, two three-high muck-bar roll-train driven by a vertical slide-valve engine, twelve heating furnaces, twenty-two forge fires, three puddling furnaces with double-acting upright hammer, and two horizontal hammers. There are employed at these works five hundred men, and the location of the works in this town increased the growth of the community in a remarkable manner. During the Civil war Mr. Beale took an active part in defending the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania from the invasions of General Lee, raising and commanding an independent infantry company in the years 1862 and 1863. In his political affiliations he was an adherent of the principles of the Republican party, was a prominent member of Williamson Lodge, No. 309, Free and Accepted Masons, of Downingtown, and a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. In 1855, Mr. Beale married Caroline Dougal, daughter of James Dougal, of Northumberland County, and her death occurred in 1859. Ten years later he was united in marriage to Ellen M. Mendenhall, daughter of the Rev. Edwin H. Mendenhall, and one son was born to them, Horace A., Jr. Mr. Beale, who was esteemed in the community for his many acts of charity and kindliness toward the poor and afflicted, died November 3, 1897, survived by his widow and son. Mrs. Beale resides in a handsome and commodious house in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe, and has also spent considerable time in Cuba, Mexico, and Alaska. She has devoted a large amount of time and attention to various forms of charitable and philanthropic work in Chester county, and at the present time (1903) is serving as vice-regent of the Daughters of the Revolution. Horace A. Beale, Jr., son of Horace A. and Ellen M. (Mendenhall) Beale, was born February 10, 1870. His education was acquired in the schools of Parkesburg, the Uryhouse school at Fox Chase, Philadelphia, the Hill school at Pottstown, and Haverford College, where he completed his course. For a short period of time he was engaged in the capacity of assistant chemist with the Penant Steel company at Steelton, near Harrisburg. He then became actively connected with the plant at Parkesburg, was employed in the various departments where he became familiar with all the details of the industry, and is now filling the office of president. In politics, he is a strong Republican, is an active man of affairs, and was appointed a delegate to the national convention held at Philadelphia in 1900. He is a great lover an admirer of horses, and is probably the owner of more automobiles than any man in the county, taking keen pleasure in traveling through the country in this mode of conveyance. He has toured not only his own state, but also the majority of the New England states. His fine spacious residence is locate don the hill near his old home. Mr. Beale married Mary Hartshorn Dunning, a daughter of Erastmus Clark (of the United States navy) and Harriet Shallcross (Morris) Dunning, the latter named being a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Hastings (Brian) Morris. The issue of this marriage was one son, Horace Alexander III, who was born June 9, 1901.