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Information about the five children of Rebecca and James.

Elizabeth Angeline Beatty (1850-1918) m. James Young (1854-1914) in about 1877. I believe she may have been known as Angeline. This is based on the 1850 and 1880 census.^1,2 According to the 1900 census, she and James had no children of their own, but it does list an adopted daughter Mary E. Young.³ I have not yet located any records of their marriage, death or obituaries. Their death dates come from their tombstone in Elderton Cemetery.

Jane Isabella Beatty (chr. 18 May 1851 – bef 1860). She never appears in any record except the baptismal.⁴ It is probable (pure speculation) that she is in an unmarked grave in Plum Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery where she and several of her siblings were baptized and other family members are buried.

Nancy M. J. Beatty (1853-1909) documented in her own post.

Caroline “Callie” Beatty (1859 – 1891) m. Elias Clark Beer (1860-1932) I had trouble finding Caroline, but finally located Clark and in his obituary found that she was constantly referred to as “Callie.”⁵ Her tombstone reads Cally Beer. She married Clark in about 1881, and had four children before dying in 1891 – everything happened in between census records. I have found no marriage record, obituary, or mention of Callie’s death; however, her tombstone is in Elderton Cemetery.

What has been freaky was the story of Callie’s two sons. First of her children to die was son John Beer. John was born in Jan 1885 and died 2 May 1921 in a horrifying accident. Sixty years after Caroline’s father was killed by a train – so was John. And the account was no less graphic.⁶

FARMER MET INSTANT DEATH WHEN STRUCK BY TRAIN
His Brother Witnesses the Tragedy While the Two Were Returning Home
John Beer, aged 30 years of Armstrong township, was instantly killed on Monday evening shortly after 5 o’clock when he was run down by the local freight on the B.R.&P. railroad between Thomas and Shelocta stations. His body was horribly mangled, the top of the head being torn off and a leg and arm cut off and the body almost severed at the trunk. His brother, Harry, who witnessed the shocking accident, was unable to rescue him. The two brothers, who jointly owned and conducted a farm near Shelocta, were in Indiana on Monday transacting business and late in the afternoon went to Creekside on the trolley car. At this point they decided to walk home and following the railroad had completed the greater part of the journey. Both were on the railroad track when the freight, running north, approached, and while the train was in plain view the unfortunate man failed to clear the tracks. The deceased was regarded as one of the most industrious and successful young farmers of that sections and was prominently know in that community, and both he and his brother, who were unmarried, occupied the same home on the farm. Besides his brother he is survived by two sisters and his father, Clark Beer, who also resides in Armstrong township. Interment will be made in Oakland cemetery at this place. [Note – His tombstone is in Elderton Cemetery.]

As if that wasn’t enough – 10 years later, oldest son Harry Edwin Beer is killed when he was hit by a car.⁷

OTHER ACCIDENTS Harvey Edwin Beer, 49 years old, of Shelocta, R.D., who was fatally injured when a car operated by a hit-and-run driver crashed into him on the Benjamin Franklin highway, about a quarter of a mile west of Shelocta, about 11:30 o’clock Saturday, died from the result of his injuries in the Indiana hospital at 8:15 o’clock Sunday morning. According to State Motor Patrolman Corp. Harry Fulton, who investigated the accident, Beer, who was enroute to his home, after shopping in Shelocta, was walking west along the highway. In his arms he carried bread and other articles. He had been accompanied by two boys who left him a short distance from the scene of the accident. It has not been learned whether, Beer was blinded by the headlights of the death car and stepped in its path, or whether the operator did not observe him in time to avoid the crash. When the car crashed into him, he was hurled 12 feet off the side of the highway. The operator of the car hit-and-run and Mr. Beer, who had been rendered unconscious, lay along the side of-the highway ,for some time before he was discovered by a passing motorist from Pontiac, Michigan, whose name could not be learned this morning. When Robinson’s ambulance responded to the call Mr. Beer was removed to the Indiana hospital where an examination by staff surgeons revealed he had sustained concussion of the brain, a fractured left leg and shoulder and his left side practically caved in. He died six and a half hours later without regaining consciousness. Members of the motor patrol are searching for the hit-and-run driver today. A son of Clark and Callie (Beatty) Beer, the deceased was born in Plumcreek township, near Shelocta, September 14th, 1882. He lived his entire life in the home of his father, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He leaves his father and two sisters: Mrs. Laura Metz, of 310 Water street, Indiana and Mrs. Wade Chambers, of Colgate, Maryland. Funeral services will be conducted in the home of the deceased’s sister Mrs. Laura Metz, 310, Water street, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Interment will follow in the Elderton cemetery.

Note to self – Do not walk anywhere with Beatty men or their descendents in Indiana County in a year ending in one!

William James Beatty (1861-1920) first married Martha Jane Shaffer (1858 – 1891). Martha Jane is the sister of Peter Shaffer, Nancy M.J. Beatty’s husband. She also died in 1891, which makes me wonder if it was a bad influenza year or if some other type of disease was running rampant. William James and Martha Jane had four children together. Martha is in Elderton Cemetery.

His second marriage was to Amanda Jane Ramsey Uncapher (1858-1956). He had four children with Jane. Jane is also in Elderton Cemetery.

William James is in Elderton Cemetery according to his obituary, but he has no tombstone.

Photographs courtesy of Ralph Satterfield.
1. 1850 U.S. census, Indiana, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Washington Twp, p. 220, dwelling 141, family 141, Angeline Baty; digital images, Ancestry (http//www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 785.
2. 1880 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Plumcreek Twp., enumeration district (ED) 5, p. 126A, dwelling 309, family 331, Angeline Young; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 23 Dec 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 1096.
3. 1900 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Elderton, enumeration district (ED) 11, p. 2B, dwelling 38, family 38, Elizabeth Young; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 23 Dec 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 1373.
4. Treasures of the Past, “Plumcreek Presbyterian Church Baptism Records,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 Jun 2011), Beatty, Jane Isabela, baptized 18 May 1851.
5. “Elias Clark Beer Obituary,” The Indiana Evening Gazette, 10 Oct 1932, p. 1, col. 4; digital images, NewspaperArchive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 1 Jan 2012).
6. “FARMER MET INSTANT DEATH WHEN STRUCK BY TRAIN,” The Indiana Progress, 4 May 1921, p. 1, col. 1; digital images, NewspaperArchive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 1 Jan 2012).
7. “OTHER ACCIDENTS,” The Indiana Evening Gazette, 31 Aug 1931, p. 1, col. 1; digital images, NewspaperArchive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 31 Dec 2011).

Rebecca has been easy to keep track of. I’m telling you folks, this family is an anomaly because the women in the direct line have made it easy to follow.

Rebecca was born in Ireland and I have listed her birth as about 1824. Her age on the census records fluctuate between 1822 and 1826. Her brothers list their immigration year as 1824. She is consistent that her place of birth was Ireland until the 1900 census, where she is listed as age 77, born in 1822. I’m not sure that she provided the information for this census. It is probable the information was provided by her granddaughter Minnie Shaffer Frailey, or Minnie’s husband John, as they resided with her at the time. This is the only census that states her place of birth as Pennsylvania. There was also no information provided about the number of children born and living – yet another reason I believe the informant was not Rebecca.

I have provided links to all the census records she appears on below.
1850¹
1860²
1870³
1880⁴
1900⁵

Rebecca and James had the following children:
Elizabeth Angeline Beatty (1850-1918) m. James Young (1854-1914)
Jane Isabella Beatty (chr. 18 May 1851 – bef 1860)
Nancy M. J. Beatty (1853-1909) m. Peter Shaffer (1852-1934)
Caroline Beatty (1859 – 1891) m. Elias Clark Beer (1860-1932)
William James Beatty (1861-1920) m. Martha Jane Shaffer (1858 – 1891) m. Amanda Jane Ramsey (1858-1956)
I will discuss the children and their spouses in a separate post.

Rebecca’s death has been clearly documented in a rather graphic newspaper account in several newspapers of the time.⁶ However, these articles name her as Mrs. Nancy Beatty, age 92. But they all name her children as Mrs. James Young [Elizabeth Angeline], Mrs. Peter Shaffer [Nancy M.J.], and William J. Beatty. This is definitely Rebecca. Don Beatty, Beatty family researcher, reported that John Addison Beatty (Rebecca’s grandson) personally confirmed to him that this was Rebecca and that the editor printed a correction shortly thereafter. I have not yet found a copy of that correction; however, I have no reason to doubt Don’s report. Don’s note of this interview is available on Rootsweb.⁷ And, once again, this matches a family story provided by my father-in-law prior to my own research.

Warning! Graphic content!

BURNED TO DEATH AT AGE OF 92
Mrs. Nancy Beatty Sat Too Close to the Stove and Her Clothes Caught Fire
HER FLESH BURNED TO THE BONE
Flames Had Completely Enveloped Her When Friends Came in Response to Her Cries for Help.
Mrs. Nancy Beatty, aged 92 years, was burned to death at the home of her son, William, on Plum creek, midway between Shelocta and Elderton last Saturday.
As no one was in the room with the aged victim at the time, the cause of her burning can only be conjectured, but it is thought that her apron caught fire from a cook stove before which she was sitting.
When her cries for help attracted the other inmates of the house, the flames had completely enveloped her. The clothing was burned from her body, her hair was entirely burned off, and her emaciated frame from the knees to the shoulders was fearfully
seared by the cruel flames. In a number of places the flesh was burned off completely, exhibiting the ghastly whiteness of the bones.
Dr. Keeler, of Shelocta, was summoned and did what he could to alleviate the intense suffering of the woman, but she lingered in great agony until 2 o’clock Sunday morning when death came to her relief.
The deceased is survived by two daughters, Mrs. James Young and Mrs. Peter Shaffer, of Elderton, and one son, William, of Plum Creek township. The funeral services were conducted on Monday afternoon, by Rev. O. H. Milllgan, interment being made in the Elderton Cemetery.

There is no stone for Rebecca in Elderton Cemetery.
I also found no will for Rebecca in either Armstrong or Indiana County.
My next post will be some short notes and information about Rebecca and James’s children.

1. 1850 U.S. census, Indiana, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Washington Twp, p. 220, dwelling 141, family 141, Rebecca Baty; digital images, Ancestry (http//www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 785.
2. 1860 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Burrell, p. 72, dwelling 258, family 251, Rebecca Beaty; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.Ancestry.com); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll 1116.
3. 1870 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Plumcreek Twp., p. 360, dwelling 153, family 153, Rebecca Beatty; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 1301.
4. 1880 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Plumcreek Twp., enumeration district (ED) 5, p. 124, dwelling 284, family 303, Rebecca Beatty; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 6 Mar 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 1096.
5. 1900 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Plumcreek Township, enumeration district (ED) 12, p. 9B, dwelling 192, family 199, Rebecca Beatty; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 18 Dec 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 1373.
6. “BURNED TO DEATH AT THE AGE OF 92,” The Indiana County Gazette, 17 Sep 1902, p. 3, col. 3; digital images, NewspaperArchive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 31 Dec 2011).
7.”USGenWeb,” database, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.org : accessed 20 Dec 2011), Rebeccah Beatty, 1902, Plum Creek; Provided by Don Beatty http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/armstrong/obits/b3000001.txt.