Biographical Sketch of Horace A. Beale (1827-1897); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>.

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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.