Revision as of 19:23, 18 August 2007

James Francis Beals near an oil well.

James Francis Beals was born in June of 1846. His parents had come west from Lehigh County in 1840 and resided in Venango County for a time, but by 1850 were living in Clarion County. It is presumed that James F. was born in the border area of these two counties. He was the youngest of eight children, the oldest being his only sister. His mother could not read or write, and it is doubtful whether his father could. James F. attended the neighborhood school, helped on the farm, and became familiar with the various other pursuits of his older brothers such as carpentry and butchering.

He was about nineteen years old when the Civil War ended. Three of his older brothers, Jacob, Hiram, and William, had served in the war.

His older brothers and his sister married, and bought farms in the area of Salem township, Clarion County just southeast of Mariasville. The oldest son, Samuel, is believed to have inherited the 540 acre homestead in Beaver township

About 1870 -1871 James F. married Adeline Kribbs.. They had a daughter, Bernice, and then a son Charles who was born in August of 1874. Sometime before their son was nine years old, Ada Kribbs died.

James F. remarried by 1882. His second wife was Olive Samantha Bower, who had been raised as a foster daughter by Jacob Beals, an older brother of James Francis. Olive's father, David Bower, had died shortly after the war ended, but with large debts, and her mother had given the children to be raised by others.

(click here to read the full biography of James Francis Beals)

Ancestry chart segment

 Generation 3            Generation 4              Generation 5
 
                                               +-- Jacob Beals
                                               |   (1806-1890)  
                     +-- James Francis Beals --+
                     |   (1846-1930)           |
 James Elgie Beals --+                         +-- Elizabeth Brey
 (1889-1982)         |                             (1808-1899)
                     +-- Olive Samantha Bower
                         (1862-1895)

Sources: ^{[2] [3] [7] [9] [11] [12] [14][24][25] [26]}

Children

Children with Adeline Kribbs:

Children with Olive Samantha Bower:

Places of Residence

From the 1877 Caldwell Atlas of Clarion County PA, a portion of Salem Twp. In the upper left corner of this image (the northwest corner of Salem Twp. except for a north-extending panhandle) is the farm of D. Beels. This would be the homestead of David Beels, belonging in 1877 to his son Daniel Beels. The high point of the area, Beels Hill, is noted on the map.
The farm of James Francis Beals was immediately west of the Daniel Beels property, on the border of Clarion and Venango Counties. Sometime after 1870, the county line was re-drawn and the James F. Beals farm became part of Venango County.
To view the complete 1877 Caldwell Atlas map of Salem Twp., click here.

Photo Gallery

James Francis Beals

80th birthday party for James Francis Beals, 1926

James Loy Beals, James Elgie Beals, and James Francis Beals

Elizabeth Rhoades (Ashbaugh) and James Francis Beals

Farm owned by James Francis Beals

Gravestone of James F. Beals & Olive Bower, Salem Lutheran Cemetery

Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of original
1	1850 United States Federal Census, Beaver, Clarion Co., PA, Page 33, 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.
2	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, Elizabeth Beals is keeping house, Levi's occupation is Works at Carpentry, and James is a laborer. This census is dated 30 Aug 1870.
3	1880 United States Federal Census, District 253, Richland Twp, Venango Co, PA, pg 10. Census dated 11 June 1880. Lines 32-34 list J. F. Beals, 32, widower, farmer; Cha's. F., 6; and Bernice, 5. All (and all parents) born PA.
4	1900 United States Federal Census, Richland Twp., Venango Co., PA, Enumeration District 162, Page 6, lines 27-30 lists James Beals, 52, born June 1847, and his three children: daughter Mintie Beals, 17, born Mar. 1883; daughter Florence Beals, 15, born July 1884; and son James E. Beals, 10, born Apr. 1890. Everyone and their parents were born in PA. James Beals is a farmer. All of the children attended school within the year. Everyone can read, write, and speak English. This census is dated 13 Jun 1900.
5	1910 United States Federal Census, Richland Twp., Venango Co., PA, Enumeration District 141, Page 5, lines 7-9 lists James Beals, 61, married to Elizabeth Beals, 53. They live with a boarder, Mildred Switzer, 7. James and Elizabeth Beals have been married for 6 years. This is James' third marriage and Elizabeth's second. Elizabeth has given birth to 3 children, one of which is still alive. James Beals and his parents were born in PA. Elizabeth Beals was born in PA, but her parents were born in Ger German. They can both read, write, and speak English. James is a farmer. This census is dated 23-26 Apr 1910.
6	1920 United States Federal Census, Salem Twp., Clarion Co., PA, Enumeration District 81, Page 7, lines 80-81 lists James Beals, 73, living with his wife Elizabeth Beals, 63. They own their home and do not have a mortgage. They can both read, write, and speak English. James and Elizabeth Beals were born in PA. James Beals' parents are listed as having been born in PA. Elizabeth Beals' parents are listed as having been born in East Prussia and their native tounge is German. James Beals is listed as a farmer. This census is dated 21 Jan 1920.
7	1930 United States Federal Census, Salem Twp., Clarion Co., PA, Enumeration District 16-31, Page 6, lines 97-99 lists James Beals, 84, living with his wife Lizzie Beals, 75, and a male servant, Mays[?] Robbet[?], 19. They do not live on a farm. James Beals' age at his first marriage was 21. Lizzie Beals' age at her first marriage was 19. Everyone can read and write English. James and Lizzie Beals were born in PA, but their parents were all born in Germany. Neither of the Beals are employed. This census is dated 12 Apr 1930.
8	Will of James F. Beals, signed 12 Jan 1924. At this time, James F. Beals lived in Salem Twp., Clarion Co., PA. His second wife, named Olive E. Beals, died on 13 Mar 1895. His present wife is named Elizabeth Beals. The executors of his will are named Chales F. Beals[sic] and James E. Beals.
9	Certificate of Appointment of Executor for the will of James F. Beals, signed 9 Aug 1930. The certificate was filed in Clarion Co., PA. James F. Beals died on 9 May 1930. His will was registered on 9 Aug 1930. The executor of the will is James E. Beals.
10	Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion Counties), 1898 by Beers, p. 1408 biography of Hiram Beals. Hiram Beals was a son of Jacob Beals and Elizabeth Bry. In 1839 the parents took up their residence in Venango county. Their family numbered eight children, namely: Flora Anna; Samuel; Benjamin; Jacob;, who was a Union soldier during the Rebellion; William; Hiram; Levi; and James.	(click here for complete transcription)
11	Atlas of Clarion County PA1877 by J. A. Caldwell, ed. Henry Cring, p. 67 Beaver Twp. Farms of S. Beals and J. Beals (Jacob Beals and son, Samuel) are immediately north and east of Beaver City, in NE Beaver Twp.
12	Gravestone at Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Clarion County, PA. Reads: "BEALS, James F. 1846-1930, Olive C. 1862-1894, Infant Daughter"
13	Cemetery Association Record 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.
14	Cemetery Association Record listing the siblings of David Bower, 1826-1856. It also lists his wife, Caroline Snyder, 1881-1909, and their children Paris Bower (m. Maria Rugh), Theresa (Tacy) Bower (m. Peter Sheakley), Olive Bower (m. James Beals), Irvin Bower, and Laura Bower (m. [unknown] Tyler).	transcription
15	Obituary for J. Elgie Beals. Indicates that he died at the age of 92, having been born on 24 Apr 1889 in Richland Township, Venango County, PA. He died at the home of his daughter, Bertha Chambers, in Kossuth, PA, where he had been living for some time. His parents were James F. Beals and Olive Bower Beals. He married Winnifred Kline on 12 Oct 1910. Winnifred Kline died on May 4, 1966. At the time of his death, he had two surviving daughters, Ella Wilson and Bertha Chambers, and one son, Robert Beals. His other son, Loy Beals, died in 1978. J. Elgie Beals will be buried at the Old Zion church. News Herald (Franklin, PA) 13 Feb. 1982.
16	Article of Agreement made 9 July 1910 between A.A. (Brinker ) of Salem Township Clarion and J F Beals of Richland Township Venango Co. A.A. Brinker agrees to sell to J.F. Beals, a piece of land situated in Salem Township Clarion Co. Pa. described (illegible) on the North by lands of Samuel Gardner , on the East by Public Road, on the South by church lot and public road , on the West by John (Hanes?) containing eight and a half acres more or less. In consideration whereof the said J.F. Beals agrees to pay the sum of One thousand nine hundred dollars in manner following to wit: Fifty dollars on the execution of this agreement and Eight hundred and fifty ($850.00) dollars on delivery of Deed as above stated and the balance One thousand dollars on or before the 15th day of October AD 1910. The said A.A. Brinker to have possession and reside on said lot until October 15, 1910.
17	Indenture document dated 25 Feb. 1911 describing an agreement between J. E. Beals and J. F. Beals, in which J. E. Beals is given 118 acres of land in Richland township,Venango Co., to live on and farm until April 1, 1916, in return for a share of the proceeds from the crops.
18	Lease agreement dated 24 Feb 1923. Lessor James F. Beals agrees to lease a 124 acre farm in Richland township, Venango Co., from 1 Apr. 1923 untill 1 Apr. 1925, to A. A. Campbell of Parkers Landing; payment to be 1/3 of crops. Lessor retains oil and gas well rights.
19	Newspaper ad for the estate sale of James Francis Beals as administered by James Elgie Beals.
20	Obituary for Charles F. Beals from the Venango Citizen Press, Franklin, dated 17 Dec 1941, page 5, column 6. The following is an obituary abstract found in the Franklin Public Library: "BEALS, Charles F 67 of 114 Meadville Pike died in Franklin hospital Thu. Son of James F Beals & Adda Kribbs Beals, born in Beaver, Clarion Co. 10 Aug 1874. Married Blanche Criswell in 1894 & moved to Bowling Green OH. In 1898 the family moved to Franklin. Survived by wife, sons Seth L at home & George S, Detroit. Siblings Mrs. Joseph Dittman, Knox; Mrs. Earl C. Bell, Franklin; Elgie, Emlenton."
21	Obituary for Elizabeth Beals, widow of James F. Beals. She died on 5 Aug 1930. She was born in Pine Grove on 3 Feb 1855 to Earnest Rhoades and Anna Rhoades. She was married to Benjamin F. Ashbaugh on 18 Mar 1874. They had three children: Clarance Ashbaugh, Annie Ashbaugh, and Vern Ashbaugh. Vern survives in Richland Township. Benjamin F. Ashbaugh died in 1903. Elizabeth Rhoades Ashbaugh was married to James F. Beals on 17 Aug 1904. James died on 9 May 1930. The funeral for Elizabeth was held on 8 Aug 1930, and she was buried in Stone Church Cemetery. News source presently unknown. See also Venango Citizens Press 13 Aug. 1930, Waterson 11 Aug. 1930 (Abstract in obituary card file, Franklin Public Librayr) : S. P. Rhoades and wife attended the funeral at Lamartine last Friday of his sister, Mrs. J. F. Beals.
22	Index to Registers' and Orphans' Court Records, Clarion County, PA James F. Beals Date of Death 9 May 1930; Date of Letters 9 Aug 1930; Name of Administrator James E. Beals; Register's Docket Book K p.115; Will Book R p.270; General Appraisement Book 7 p. 321
23	Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, p. 555-557, John W. Jordan, ed., Lewis Historical, NY 1913. Biography of the Kribbs family. Christian Kribbs came to this country with his father and siblings.. His first wife was Mary. All children were born to his first wife. Son Jacob born 7 July 1824 in Beaver township, Clarion County PA; married Delilah Martin 19 September 1832. Resided in Ashland Twp. 1845-1880, then in Salem Twp. until his death October 1908. Nine children of Jacob Kribbs include: 4)Adeline, twin of Salina, died in Venango county; married James Beals.	complete transcription Kribbs biography
24	Obituary Elizabeth Rhoades Ashbaugh Beals Widow of the late James Beals died 5 Aug 1930. Born at Pine Grove 3 Feb.1855, dau. of Earnest and Anna Rhoads. Married Benjamin F. Ashbaugh on 18 Mar. 1874; three children: Clarence and Annie, deceased, and Vern of Richland twp. Mr. Ashbaugh died 1903. Married James Beals 17 Aug. 1904; he died 9 May 1930. Names 8 siblings. Member Salem Lutheran; interment at Stone church, Wentling's Corners.
25	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.
26	Nancy E. Beals (Walls) personal knowledge give through oral interviews and accompanying on farm and cemetery visits in Venango & Clarion Counties, PA.
27	Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams, great-granddaughter of James Francis Beals.	N/A

Source Notes

• Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania states that the Jacob Beals/Elizabeth Bryfamily settled in Venango County PA in 1839. Clarion County was formed in 1840, and the Beals homestead is in present day Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. It was there that James Francis Beals was born.
• Regarding the missing 1860 Census, see the source notes and conjecture sections under Jacob Beals.
• No mention of James, either of his wives, or any of his children can be found in the 1880 census for PA. It is likely that the household was skipped for one reason or another.
• Per Margaret Kahle, Lizzie Rhoades Beals was buried at Wentlings corners. She was a daughter of Earnest Rhoads and Anna Dehner. She first married Benjamin R. Ashbaugh on 18 Mar 1874. They had 3 children: Clarence, Annie, and Vern Ashbaugh.

Research Wishlist

• Find source verification for middle name "Francis"; note that James F. Beals' brother Samuel named his first son, born 1853, Francis A. Beals.