John J. Beatty Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1556 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN J. BEATTY, farmer and stock raiser. living on a fine ranch 
two and a half miles from Hermosa, is a native of Winnebago county, 
Illinois, where his birth occurred on September 25, 1857. His father was 
a farmer and to this useful calling the subject was reared. He enjoyed 
the best educational advantages the common schools of his neighborhood 
afforded, devoting the summer seasons to farm labor until twenty-one 
years of age. On attaining his majority, Mr. Beatty left home and in 
January, 1879, went to western Kansas, where he spent the greater part 
of the following summer with a cattle outfit. In the fall he helped 
drive a herd to western Dakota and for some time thereafter was employed 
by different parties, riding the range along the Cheyenne river and 
other parts of the country. While thus engaged he several times returned 
to Kansas and Nebraska to buy cattle and from those states he drove them 
through to the Black Hills, continuing this free cowboy life until 1887, 
when he took up a ranch about two and a half miles north of Fairburn, 
and turned his attention to farming. Mr. Beatty spent the greater part 
of four years on this p]ace, and in the main met with good success, but 
an intensely dry season coming on at the expiration of that time, he was 
obliged to discontinue agricultural pursuits in that locality and seek a 
more favorable location elsewhere. The next season he rented the old 
Slater ranch, on Battle creek, which was well irrigated, but after 
spending three years on the same with fairly profitable results, he 
purchased a ranch of his own, making a judicious selection on Battle 
creek, about two and a half miles from Hermosa, where, since 1896, he 
has been quite extensively engaged in agriculture and stock raising. 
When Mr. Beatty took possession of his ranch it contained but little in 
the way of improvements. He at once addressed himself to the matter and 
within a comparatively brief period a large part of the place was 
irrigated and in a high state of cultivation, a comfortable dwelling was 
prepared for the reception of his family, suitable outbuildings made 
their appearance at intervals, and in due time he had one of the most 
beautiful and desirable homes on the creek. He has continued his 
improvements ever since, and in addition to cultivating the soil and 
raising abundant crops of grains, vegetables and fruits, his herds have 
steadily increased until he now ranks with the leading live-stock men in 
his part of the state. 

	Mr. Beatty was married, on November 24, 1890, to Miss Lena L. 
Robinson, who was born and reared in South Dakota, the union being 
blessed with two children, Cora and Archie. Since coming west Mr. Beatty 
has contributed his share to the material development of the county of 
which he is an honored citizen. and achieved distinctive success in his 
business affairs.