Revision as of 22:18, 27 July 2011

Jacob Beals

The name Beals is English, but many immigrant families Anglicized their names. We expect that this particular Beals surname may have been Biehl originally, of German origin. The family intermarried with other German families who migrated to western PA at about the same time from the Lehigh-Berks County area of Pennsylvania. (See Brey, Klein). In various records for this family the name is found spelled Beal, Beals, Beels, and Biehl.

Jacob Beals is the progenitor of our line, and although he was born in Pennsylvania, his place of birth has yet to be proven. What is known of Jacob Beals is that he was born in Pennsylvania in 1806. A biography of his son Hiram (Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, 1898 by Beers, p. 1408) says that Jacob was "a native of Berks County, of German descent." The same source says that his wife, Elizabeth Bry, was born in Lehigh County.

(click here to read the full biography of Jacob Beals)

Ancestry chart segment

 Generation 4              Generation 5      Generation 6
 
                                         +-- Unknown Beals
                                         |   (????-????)  
                       +-- Jacob Beals --+
                       |   (1806-1890)   |
 James Francis Beals --+                 +-- Unknown
 (1846-1930)           |                     (????-????)
                       +-- Elizabeth Brey
                           (1808-1899)

Sources: ^[6][9][12]

Children

Children with Elizabeth Brey:

Places of Residence

From the 1877 Caldwell Atlas, a portion of Richland Twp. showing the farms of Jacob Beals and his son William Beals.
The farms of son Benjam and of son-in-law Nathan Biery (husband of Flora Ann Beals) are just to the north in Salem Twp.
To view the complete 1877 Caldwell Atlas map of Richland Twp., click here.

From the 1865 Pomeroy map of Clarion County, segment of Salem Twp. just north of the border with Richland Twp. shows the farms of Jacob Beals, Nathan Biery (husband of Flora Ann Beals), and Benjamin Beals. This map indicates that the Jacob Beals farm lay in Salem Twp., rather than Richland. In fact portions of it lay in both townships.

Photo Gallery

gravestone of Jacob Beals & Elizabeth Brey, Salem Lutheran Cemetery,Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA

gravestone of Jacob Beals & Elizabeth Brey, Salem Lutheran Cemetery,Salem Twp., Clarion Co. PA

Jacob Beals homestead, Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA near Mariasville

Photos by Elizabeth Wilson Williams, 1991& 2006

Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of original
2	1840 United States Federal Census, Richland Twp., Venango Co., PA, Page 60, line 11 lists Jacob Beals as the head of a household containing 2 males between 0 and 5 years of age [probably Jacob Beals, Jr., and William Beals], 2 males between 5 and 10 [probably Samuel Beals and Benjamin Beals], one male between 30 and 40 [probably Jacob Beals], one female between 10 and 15 [probably Flora A. Beals], and one female between 20 and 30 [probably Elizabeth Beals]. This census page is not dated.
3	1850 United States Federal Census, Beaver, Clarion Co., PA, Page 333, lines 5-14 lists Jacob Beals, 44, married to Elizabeth Beals, 40. They live with their eight children: daughter Flora A. Beals, 21; son Samuel Beals, 19; son Benjamin Beals, 17; son Jacob Beals, 15; son William Beals, 12; son Hiram Beals, 10; son Levi Beals, 7; and son James Beals, [age illegible]. The elder Jacob Beals, Samuel Beals, Benjamin Beals, and Jacob Beals, Jr. are all farmers. Everyone was born in PA. Elizabeth Beals cannot read and write. Samuel, Benjamin, Jacob Jr., William, and Hiram all attended school in the year. This census is dated 24 Sep 1850.
4	1870 United States Federal Census, Richland Twp., Clarion Co., PA, Page 4, line 40, and Page 5, lines 1-3 lists Jacob Beals, 65, married to Elizabeth Beals, 62. They live with two children: son Levi Beals, 24, and son James Beals, 22. Jacob Beals and Elizabeth Beals cannot write. Everyone was born in PA. Jacob Beals has no occupation listed, Elizabeth Beals is keeping house, Levi's occupation is Works at Carpentry, and James is a laborer. This census is dated 30 Aug 1870.
5	1880 United States Federal Census, Richland Twp., Clarion Co., PA, Enumeration District 79, Page 33, lines 9-11 list Jacob Beels, 75, married to Elizibeth Beels, 72, living with a servant named Lilli[?} Rochel[?], 14. Jacob Beels is a farmer and Elizibeth keeps house. Elizabeth Beels cannot write. Everyone and their parents were born in PA. This census is dated 10 Jun 1880. The following entry on this page is that of Jacob Beals' son, Levi F. Bells, 34, and his family (including 4 children), suggesting that they lived on adjacent property.
6	Gravestone at Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Salem Twp., Clarion Co., PA. Reads: "Jacob Beals, Born Apr. 15, 1806, Died Oct. 20, 1890, Elizabeth, his wife, Born Mar. 1808, Died Jan 15[?] 1889"
7	Cemetery Association Record: Jacob Beals from Salem Lutheran Cemetery Association lists Jacob Beals, 1806-1899, as married to Elizabeth Brey, 1808-1899. It lists their descendants down as far as four generations in some places. Some of those descendants are my anscestors, including son James Beals, daughter-in-law Olive Bower, grandson Elgie Beals and grandaughter-in-law Winnie Kline.	See transcript
8	Will for Jacob Beals, Jr..names foster daughter Olive Samantha Bower; wife Clara A. Beals; mother and father Jacob and Elizabeth Beals; brothers Benjamin, William, Hiram, Levi F., and James F.; sister Flora Ann Biery; Executors Levi F. Beals and George F. Kribbs. Signed[his mark] 4 Jan. 1877; probated 19 Mar. 1877
9	Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion Counties), 1898 by Beers, p. 1408, Hiram Beals biography. Hiram Beals, an honored veteran of the Civil war and a leading citizen of Richland township, Clarion county, was born July 31, 1840, in Venango county, Penn., and is a son of Jacob Beals, a native of Berks county, of German descent. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Bry, was born in Lehigh county, and was a daughter of Michael Bry. In 1839 the parents took up their residence in Venango county, where the father died at the age of eighty-three years, but the mother is still living at the advanced age of ninety. He was a famer by occupation, a Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in religious belief. The mother is also a consistent member of the Church. Their family numbered eight children, namely: Flora Anna; Samuel; Benjamin; Jacob;, who was a Union soldier during the Rebellion; William; Hiram; Levi; and James. (See complete article).	(click here for complete transcription)
10	Beals Family Tax Assessment, Salem township, Clarion Co. PA, 1858 - 1880 lists Samuel F. Beals, Wm. Beals, Benjamin Beals, Hiram Beals. Indicates land rental arrangements between John Blair and Wm. Beals in 1868, between Benjamin Beals and Filgrove in 1874, and the transfer of 25 acres from B.[Billy or Benjamin?] Beals and Wm. Filgrove in 1875. Participation in militia #50 is indicated in 1863 by Wm. Beals;in 1865 by Benjamin Beals, in 1866 & 1867 by Benjamin Beals, in 1868 by Hirem Beels and Wm Beals,and in 1869 & 1870 by Benjamin Beals.	(click here for tax assessment)
11	History of Clarion County 1887 by A. J. Davis, p.iii, Biographies of Benjamin Beals and of Samuel Beals. Both were residents of Knox p.o. area, Beaver Twp., both born in Lehigh County PA (Benjamin on 15 Feb 1833; Samuel on 5 Sept 1831). Both came to Clarion Co. in 1841 with parents Jacob and Elizabeth (Bry) Beals. Benjamin married in March 1864 to Mary K. Himes, dau. of William Himes; two children living: Edwin J. and Mary E. Beals. Samuel married on 25 Dec 1852 to Catherine C. Marsh; seven children & birth dates listed. Samuel married second on 18 Jan. 1881 to Lizzie Leavy, dau. of Jacob and Lizzie (Mong) Leavy. three children & birth dates listed. Page not recorded: Elizabeth Brye/Brier b. 1 Mar. 1808, daughter of Michael Brey/Brier, farmer, Democrat, Lutheran, arrived Venango County 1839; resided Clarion County 1841. Elizabeth was originally of Lehigh County	(See complete text)
12	Research Manuscript of Ella May Beals (Wilson) researched 1975-1985, including personal knowledge and interviews of her siblings Robert Beals and Bertha Beals Chambers, and of her aunt Mary P. Kline Fillgrove.
13	Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams.	N/A
14	Clarion County Map 1865 by Pomeroy, republished by Hufnagel in Treasure Maps of Clarion County, p.93 Salem Twp. Farms of J. Beals , B. Beals, and N. Biery (Jacob Beals, son Benjamin Beals, daughter Flora Ann Beals & husband Nathan Biery).
15	Clarion County Map 1877 Caldwell Atlas, p. 55 Richland Twp shows farms of J. Beals and Wm Beals. Richland Twp Directory on p. 174 lists Wm Beals with 11 acres, P.O. Knox, no occupation listed; Jacob Beals with 20 acres, P.O. Agnew's Mills, retired farmer; Levi Beals, no acreage listed, P.O. Agnew's Mills, carpenter. Salem Twp map, p. 54, shows farm of N. Biery. Salem Twp Directory, p. 165, lists N. Biery with 9 acres, P.O. Agnew's Mills, laborer. The comparison of these two maps with the 1865 Pomeroy map makes clear that the Jacob Beals family did not move to a location in Richland Twp.; rather the township line was redrawn just north of their homestead. The Biery farm on p. 54 (Salem Twp, 1877) appears to read as Wm Biery; however the directory does not list a Wm Biery, and does list Nathan Biery. The farm is in the location of the Nathan Biery farm (N. Biery on the 1865 Pomeroy map). Nathan Biery had no children; if Wm Biery, identity unknown.
16	Records of Salem Lutheran Church, Salem Twp., Clarion Co. Pa, partial transcription March 1995 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams and Nancy Beals Walls. From handwritten record book dated 20 Feb 1846, alphabetical list of members: Beals, Jacob Sr., Jacob Jr., Benjamin, Elizabeth, William, Wm. Note: With Jacob Beals, Sr. & Elizabeth Brey are 3 of their children (Jacob, Jr., Benjamin, & William); the identity of the second "Wm." is unknown.	Records of Salem Lutheran Church, partial transcription 1995

Source Notes

• All pages of the 1830 census for Berks Co. PA read; no Beals or spelling variant found.
• Note that in the 1850 census, Jacob Beals' family lives next door to the Michael Brae (Brey) family, in Beaver Twp., Clarion Co.
• Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (Source #8) states that the family settled in Venango County PA in 1839. Clarion County was formed in 1840, and the Beals homestead, formerly in Venango, apparently became part of Clarion County. The homestead in Beaver Twp. became part of newly formed Salem Twp. in 1856. The 1865 map(Pomeroy) shows the cluster of Beals/Biery farms in Salem Twp. just north of the township line. By the 1870 census, Jacob & Elizabeth and the 2 youngest sons are in Richland Twp. The homestead location is shown in the 1877 Caldwell Atlas in Richland Twp., just south of the Salem Twp. line. The Biery farm remained in Salem Twp.

• Regarding the lack of an 1860 census record: I have manually reviewed all census entries for Richland, Beaver, Salem, Elk, and Licking Townships, Clarion County, PA, along with Richland Township, Venango County, PA. No sign of the Jacob Beals family was found. The census for Richland Twp. Clarion Co. contains only one Beals residence, that of Jacob's son William Beals and his wife Susana. In Beaver Twp., we find another son, Jacob Beals, Jr. and his wife Clara. In Salem Twp., we find son, Samuel Beal and family, as well as Daniel Beals and his wife Elizabeth. No Beals (or variants) in Elk or Licking Twps.; Richland Twp, Venango Co., has a David Beels & wife Margaret (son of Daniel Beels), as well as an Elizabeth Beels (daughter of Daniel Beels,age 31, working as a "domestic" in the home of a Mr. Coutter.
  The fact Jacob Beals's sons all still reside in the area; that Jacob's wife is not listed in the census as a widow; and that other of their children (especially son James Francis Beals) are also not found in 1860, we surmise that the Jacob Beals home was simply left out of the census for one reason or another.

Conjecture

• In trying to find the parents of Jacob Beals:
  Index to Berks Co. PA Tax List 1770-1789 ("Faust"). This extraction was sent to us Dec 1991 by Thomas H. Beil, Reading PA. Richmond Twp. lies just west of Maxatawny Twp. in Berks Co. Maxatawny Twp. borders on Lehigh Co., and lies just west of Weisenbert and Upper Macungie Twps. in Lehigh Co. Note that our Jacob Beals father-in-law, Michael Brey, owned land in Lower Macungie Twp., Lehigh Co. While we don't know the ages of these men, the names below are all married during the years sufficiently before 1806 (Jacob Beals' birth date) to be possible candidates for being his father.
  
  In the table below the names are separated by spelling variants, township variant, or marital status. However, it would incur no conflict of dates/location if there were only:
  • one Abraham Bill /Biel (a change of Twp after marrying); 1778-1789
  • one Jacob Bihl/Biel/Biehl individual in Maxatawny; 1775-1788
  • one Peter Biel/Biehl individual in Maxatawny; 1774-1789
  • one Peter Beal/Biel/Beil/Bill/Beall/Biehl/Behle/Beihl individual in Richmond Twp. 1770-1789

• Will Abstract for Abraham Biehl of Kutztown, Berks Co. PA, 22 Sept 1815-11 Apr 1818; all personal estate to wife Susanna; Exr: son-in-law John Kutz. Wit: John Dinius and John Paltzgrove. (Paltzgrove is possibly a form of Pfalzgraff, also seen as Fillgrove in Venango/Clarion Co. area where Jacob Beals settled). See will abstracts at http://berks.pa-roots.com/wills/Abstracts1816-1820.html
• In trying to determine if the family of Jacob Beals and Daniel Beels are related:
  It may be significant that a Daniel Biehl died in Lehigh County & is buried in the Fogelsville Union Cemetery. He was born in 1808, so is of the same generation as our Jacob Beals (b.1806). One could imagine this Daniel as possibly having an immigrant father (possibly also named Daniel). This older, conjectural Daniel would have been of the generation as the immigrant David Beels, father of Daniel Beels, and thus could have been his brother or cousin. If this older Daniel immigrated first and settled in the Lehigh area, David Beels (relationship conjectured) could have been trying to follow him to Lehigh County. Daniel immigrated through the port of Baltimore, (rather than Philadelphia which would make more sense if he were trying to reach Lehigh County), but we're told he was a stow-away, and may have taken what opportunity made itself available as to port of entry. David's son, Daniel Beels, could conceivably have been named for this conjectural relative. We have no evidence that David Beels ever resided in Lehigh County. He could have visited there; however our information is that he proceeded on westward, to Center County, then to the Venango/Clarion counties border area.
  
  This leads to another possibility, that Daniel Biehl of Lehigh County (d. 1868) could have been the brother of our Jacob Beals, who is said to have been born in Berks Co., but presumably married in Lehigh County about 1828-29, resided there until between 1833 and 1836, and then migrated to Clarion Co. by at least 1839. If this were the case, (that an older Daniel Biehl were the father of Jacob Beals and the brother of David Beels), then Jacob Beals (b. 1806) and Daniel Beels (b. 1792) would be cousins, and their sons who owned neighboring farms (James Francis Beals and David Beels (1827) (b. 1827) would have been 2nd cousins. By time period and coincidence of locations this is all possible, but at this point, all is HIGHLY conjectural.

See Tombstone Inscriptions, Fogelsville Union Cemetery, Lehigh Co., PA compiled by St. John's Church, at Lehigh County Historical Soc. Library, Allentown.

• Daniel Biehl, b. 19 Oct. 1808, d. 17 Aug. 1868
• Hannah Biehl nee Resch b. 11 Jan. 1809, d. 31 Mar. 1887.

• 1820 United States Federal Census, Richmond Twp.,Berks Co. PA, pg.3. Household of Peter Beel (wife & 7 children). Males: 2 aged 10-16, 3 aged 16-26, 1 aged 45 & over. Females: 1 aged 10-16, 1 aged 16-26, 1 aged 26-45. Note: Jacob Beals would be aged 14 years in 1820; this household has a son of that age. Jacob was said to be from Berks County. Relationship to this Peter Beel is conjectural; at present, no further information links Peter to our direct line. On the same census page are listed families named Disler, Mayer, Fegele, and Philip, John & James Kline.(See Conjecture section elsewhere: 4 Beels or Beals families live in Maxatawny Twp., Berks Co. in 1820, including 2 Jacob Beels, but without sons of the appropriate age to be our Jacob).

• 1830 United States Federal Census,Upper Sacon Twp., Lehigh Co. PA, Ancestry.com pg. 3. Family of Jacob (Biles)? If this family is related to our Jacob Beals, then his father, head of this household, would also be named Jacob, age 40-50 in 1830. Our Jacob, if born in 1806, should be 24, but would have to be the male in the age 15-20 category of this census. Other males: 1 age under 5, 1 age 10-15. Females: 1 age 5-10, 1 age 10-15, 1 age 15-20, 1 age 40-50.
  Given the spelling variant, and the age wobble for the son, it is less likely that this is our family. Jacob Beals did however have children born in Lehigh County.

• 1820 United States Federal Census, Maxatawny Twp.,Berks Co. PA, pg.7 This census page has 4 Beel or Beal households: Abraham age 26-45, Jacob age 16-26, George age 26-45, and Jacob age 26-45. None have a son in the10-16 yr. age bracket, (our Jacob Beals would be 14 in 1820), but it is expected these may be extended family connections.

Research Notes

The material in this section is for research leads only. We do not wish to imply any connection to our family at present, nor suggest its use without additional confirmation.

• DAVID BEELS, IMMIGRANT BEFORE 1806

The homestead of German immigrant David Beels lies adjacent to the farm of James F. Beals. A relationship to this family is expected but not established. In the Beels family records, the spelling "Biehl" is also seen.
(Click here to see research regarding David Beels)

• Jacob Biehl, veteran of Rev. War, buried at Gettysburg, Christ Reformed Cemetery. No known relationship. See photo of memorial:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vstern/christ_reformed/revolutionary_soldiers_memorial.htm

• Jacob Biehl, born 1857 in Rheinprensen, Prussia, immmigrated at age 24 (~1881) to Elizabethton, Lancaster Co., then in 1882 to Pittsburgh where he worked at a brewery. In 1884 her married Mary Lippel. In 1890 they moved to Tyrone, Blair Co. PA where he partnered with Louis Roehl in operating the Bavarian Brewing Company. Member St. Mathews Catholic Church of Tyrone,Blair Co. PA. His parents were Michael Biehl (~1822-1811) & Barbara Singer, lifelong of Rheinprensen. Note: This Jacob Biehl is born too late to be our Jacob Beals, but it is interesting that he apparently new the brewing arts. Our Jacob Beals father-in-law may also have been of a family of brewers, as his name Brey (various spellings) translates "brewer". Our Beals & Brey families were Lutherans, but Michael Brey's wife's affiliation is not known nor her gravesite located; perhaps she was Catholic.

http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/blair/bios/wiley/wiley05.txt

• "Berks County Pennsylvania" by Morton L. Montgomery. Vol. II, Pg. 1069: John E. Biehl family of Reading, biography. His son Isaac Biehl born Kutztown. Vol. I Pg. 538: George W. Biehl b. 5 Feb 1854 in Allentown. George Biehl, his paternal grandfather, was a blacksmith in Kutztown, died 1861, age 48; married Mary Bobst who died 1863, age 48. children were William, John A., Henry, Jane m. thomas henning, & Emeline m. Henry Essen. John A., the father of George W., was b. 17 Nov. 1831 in Kutztown area; married in 1853 to matilda Wetherhold, dau. of George Wetherhold.
• Baptismal Records of Jerusalem Lutheran & Reformed Ch., Berks Co. PA, bu John L. Kistler, Special publication of the National Genealogical Society, No. 23, 1959. (Name of Infant/birthdate/ bapt. date/ parents/ sponsors).
  Johann Jacob Beil/ 20 Jan 1768/8 May/ Jacob Beil & Maria/Seastian Geringer & Dorothea.
  Lidia Lin/8 Aug 1798/ 23 Sept/ Petrus Lin & Catharina/ Abraham Biel & Catharina.
  Catarina Ana Schmits/27 June 1844/1 Sept/ Reuben Schmits & Lydia/Geremias Bahle.
  (These church records include the surname Trexler, also seen in Macungie Twp., Lehigh Co. Otherwise, names are unfamiliar.