Biographical Sketch of Joseph Beale (1839-); Chester County, PA

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From "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. 442-
443. 

"Joseph Beale, a prominent and influential resident of Coatesville, 
Pennsylvania, and for a quarter of a century serving in the capacity of right of 
way agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad, is a lineal descendant of Thomas and 
Catherine Beale, natives of Calne, Wiltshire, England.  The pioneer ancestor of 
the American branch of the family was William Beale, a son of Thomas and 
Catherine (Cope) Beale, who was born in the vicinity of Calne, England, August 
14, 1709.  Between the years 1728 and 1730 he emigrated to America and settled 
in the state of Pennsylvania, and for many years was successful in the 
cultivation and operation of an extensive tract of land located in what is now 
known as West Whiteland township.  In addition to this property he was the owner 
of large tracts of land in the Tuscarora Valley, which he subsequently 
bequeathed to his sons.  He married Mary Jenkins, born April 9, 1715, died 
August 25, 1771, a daughter of David Jenkins.  Their children were: 

1. Thomas, born August 6, 1737, died June 30, 1803, was one of the judges of 
Mifflin county and a prominent citizen of Tuscarora Valley; 2. William, born 
December 24, 1738, died subsequently to the year 1800; 3. John, born December 
12, 1740, mentioned hereinafter; 4. Susanna, born December 16, 1742, married 
Noble Butler, Jr., about the year 1763, and her death occurred in Kentucky on 
February 2, 1832; 5. David, born June 20, 1745, was for many years associate 
judge in Mifflin county, and died at his home in Beale township, Juniata County, 
February 6, 1828; 6. Mary, born October 8, 1747, became the wife of Samuel Hunt, 
of East Caln, February 24, 1779, and died February 10, 1831.  On March 23, 1774, 
William Beale, the father of these children, married for his second wife Rachel 
(Perkins) Lewis, widow of Phineas Lewis, of East Caln.  Mr. Beale died November 
27, 1800. 

John Beale, great-grandfather of Joseph Beale, was born December 12, 1740, in 
West Whiteland township, Chester county.  He enlisted in the Continental army, 
and while serving under General Lafayette, died on January 25, 1777, near the 
head of Elk Valley, where his remains were interred.  He was survived by his 
widow, Tamar (Burgoyne) Beale, a daughter of Joseph Burgoyne, of East Bradford.  
They were the parents of seven children, among them being Mary, who became the 
wife of Anthony Gray, of East Bradford, October 14, 1790; and Joseph Beale. 

Joseph Beale, grandfather of Joseph Beale, was born in Juniata county, 
Pennsylvania, June 25, 1774, and upon the death of his father was reared by his 
grandfather, who resided in the vicinity of Downingtown.  He was apprenticed to 
Benaniel Ogden, who conducted a cabinet-making trade near West Chester, and 
after thoroughly mastering this art he removed to Philadelphia, and became a 
member of the extensive furniture manufacturing firm of Beale & Jemison.  During 
the closing years of the Revolutionary war he was stationed in the lower part of 
Pennsylvania, but his services were never called into action.  He held 
membership in the First Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, and was a stanch 
advocate of the principles of Democracy.  Mr. Beale, who died on his farm in 
Downingtown, on December 18, 1841, and his wife, Margaret (McDowell) Beale, 
daughter of Captain James McDowell, of Upper Oxford township, whose death 
occurred in 1834, aged fifty-three years, were the parents of the following 
named children: James McDowell, Joseph, Horace Binny, who died early in life; 
Horace Alexander, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Elizabeth, 
John Burgoyne and Harriet Beale. 

James McDowell Beale, father of Joseph Beale, was born October 22, 1811.  He 
married, December 18, 1838, Elizabeth Fairlamb, who bore him the following named 
children: Joseph, Dr. George Fairlamb, Robert West, Annetta Fairlamb, deceased, 
John Burgoyne, Emily Theresa and Horace Alexander, deceased.  Mr. Beale, the 
father of these children died January 1, 1881. 

Joseph Beale, son of James McDowell and Elizabeth (Fairlamb) Beale, was born 
November 10, 1839.  His early life was spent in the neighborhood of his 
birthplace, and he obtained a through education in the Coatesville Academy.  He 
then took up the study of law, and after passing a creditable examination was 
admitted to practice with Judge Joseph Hemphill, of Chester county.  He, 
however, did not follow the general practice of his profession, but for a number 
of years devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits and the real 
estate business.  Subsequently he became actively identified with the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, and is still the incumbent of the responsible position 
which was assigned to him twenty-five years ago, that of right of way agent.  He 
is one of the best known and popular citizens of Chester county, an influential 
factor in all enterprises which have for their object the growth and development 
of the community in which he resides, a member of the Presbyterian church, and 
an able supporter of the candidates and measures advocated by the Democratic 
party.  November 30, 1887, Mr. Beale was married to Emma Hatfield, daughter of 
Abram and Sarah M. (Patterson) Hatfield.  They reside in a handsome and 
commodious home in one of the best residential localities of Coatesville, 
Pennsylvania.  No children have been born of this union."