James Francis Beals

(24 Dec 1875-4 May 1952)

J. Elgie Beals, 92, a former Emlenton RD 1 resident, died at 10 p.m. Thursday at the home of his daughter, Bertha Chambers of Kossuth.

He had made his home there for some time.

Born on April 24, 1889, in Richland Township, Venango County, he was the son of James F. and Olive Bower Beals.

He married Winnifred Kline on October 12, 1910. She preceded him in death on May 4, 1966.

Mr. Beals was a member of Old Zion Methodist Church of Emlenton RD 1.

Surviving are: two daughters, Mrs. John (Ella) Wilson of Scottsboro, Ala., and Mrs. Wayne (Bertha) Chambers of Kossuth; a son, Robert Beals of Emlenton RD 1; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Beals was preceded in death by: a son, Loy Beals, in 1978; a great-grandson, Donald Beals; two sisters; a half-brother; and a half-sister.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the William N. Rupert Funeral Home in Knox.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with Rev. Wilbert Beck, pastor of Old Zion United Methodist Church, officiating.

Interment will be in Old Zion Cemetery.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions may donate to their favorite charity.

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, 3. 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.

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.

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.

Name: James Beals; Home in 1900: Richland, Venango, Pennsylvania; Age: 52; Birth Date: Jun 1847; Birthplace: Pennsylvania; Race: White; Gender: Male; Relationship to Head of House: Head; Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania; Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania; Marital Status: Widowed; Residence : Richland Township, Venango, Pennsylvania; Occupation: Farmer; Neighbors: View others on page ;

Household Members: Name Age

James Beals 52

Mintie Beals 17

Florence Beals 15

James E Beals 10

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.

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 language is German. James Beals is listed as a farmer. This census is dated 21 Jan 1920.

Name: James Beals; Home in 1930: Salem, Clarion, Pennsylvania; Age: 84; Estimated birth year: abt 1846; Birthplace: Pennsylvania; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouse's name: Lizzie; Race: White

Household Members: Name Age

James Beals 84

Lizzie Beals 75

Robert Mays 19

I, James F. Beals of Salem Township, Clarion County, PA, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, but knowing the uncertainty of life do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner following, hereby revoking and making void any will or wills by me at anytime heretofore made, viz:

First I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as practicable, and among such debts I intent that an obligation given by me to the children of my second wife, Olive E. for the sum of Twenty One Hundred Dollars ($2100.) shall be included, said sum being the amount advenced to me by said second wife for use without interest, during her life when I was to pay the same to her children. She died on the 13th day of March 1895 and interest is to be computed thereon from that date and the pricipal and interest paid to the said children.

Second, My present wife, Elizabeth, has considerable estate and property in her own right and I therefore give and devise to her only the share and interest in my estate to which she may be entitled under the intestate laws of the Commonwealth with added thereto the free use of the homestead upon which we now reside in said Salem Township, she pay the taxes thereon, during the term of her natural life, if she shall so long remain single and unmarried. Should she marry again such estate shall terminate except as to the interest in the property to which she would be entitled had I died intestate.

Third - All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal and mixed I do give, devise and bequeath to all of my children share and share alike.

I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons Chales F. Beals and James E. Beals, Executors of this my last will and testament.

Witness my hand and seal the 12th day of January 1924.

Signed and sealed in the presence of us:

C.E. Furman

Geo. S. Criswell Jr.

James F. Beals (seal)

Transcribed Sept. 1991 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams

BEALS, James F. 1846-1930; Olive C. 1862-1894; Infant Daughter

Transcribed June 2009 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams & Nancy Beals Walls

Lester W. Beals 1897-1940

BEALS Charles F., Aug 10, 1874 - Dec 11, 1941; Blanche C. Dec 24, 1875 - May 4, 1952

Lists four generations of Beals starting with Jacob Beals and Elizabeth Brye. Some of the marriages and dates listed: Jacob Beals 1806 - 1899 married Elizabeth Brye 1808 - 1899. James Beals married (1) Adeline Kribbs. Charles F. Beals 1874 - 1940 married Blanch Criswell. Bernice Beals married Leander Berlin. James Beals married (2) Olive Bower. Arminta Beals married Joseph H. Dittman. Florence Beals married Earl Bell. Elgie Beals married Winnie Kline. James Beals married (3) Elizabeth Rhoades Ashbaugh.

Lists siblings of David Bower 1826-1856; his wife, Caroline Snyder 1881-1909; 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). Note: these records include family history notes as well as burial records. Not all of these children are buried at Salem.

Rev. Darbaker, of Emlenton, performed the ceremony which united Mrs. Elizabeth Ashbaugh in marriage to Mr. James F. Beals, at the bride's home, in Lamartine, Pa., last Wednesday. The ceremony was performed at 11 o'clock in the presence of twenty-eight guests. Mr. and Mrs. Beals took the afternoon train at Emlenton for a trip through Ohio and will also visit the St. Louis exposition. They expect to be gone about two weeks.

A. A. Brinker agrees to sell J. F. Beals a piece of land in Salem Township Clarion Co. PA. described as being 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, considering that J. F. Beals agrees to pay the sum of $1900: $50 on the execution of this agreement and $850.00 dollars on delivery of Deed as above stated and the balance $1000 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.

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."

Originally posted on the James Francis Beals page at Mouser Ancestry.

"MRS. ELIZABETH BEALS

Mrs. Elizabeth Beals, widow of the late James Beals, died at her home near Cross Roads on Tuesday evening, August 5, 1930.

Mrs. Beals was born at Pine Grove, February 3, 1855, the daughter of Earnest and Anna Rhoads. She was united in marriage with Benjamin F. Ashbaugh on March 18, 1874. To this union were born three children: Clarence and Annie, deceased, and Vern, who resides in Richland township. Mr. Ashbaugh passed away in 1903.

Mr. and Mrs. Beals were united in marriage August 17, 1904. They have always resided in this community. Mr. Beals passed away just three months ago, on May 9th, 1930.

Mrs. Beals is survived by one son and three grandchildren; also the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Christ Leavy, of Kossuth; Mrs. Isaac Fye, of Mariasville, and Mrs. William Reath, of Salem; Henry Rhoads, of Kossuth; Solomon, of Waterson; William, of Salem, and Dan, of Knox; Two brothers, Earnest and John, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Beals was a member of the Salem Lutheran church.

Funeral services were held on Friday, August 8, conducted by Rev. J. R. Booth, Rev. J. J. Gilbert and Rev. C. I. Steffey. Interment followed in the Stone church cemetery, near Wentling's Corners."

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.

Originally posted on the James Francis Beals page at Mouser Ancestry.

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

Originally posted on the James Francis Beals page at Mouser Ancestry.

Biography of Christian Kribbs stating that "Adeline, twin of Salina, died in Venango county; married James Beals."

Transcription posted here at Mouser Ancestry.

"Inscription worn to very low relief, only first 3 or 4 letters of "Adeline" decipherable, but "James Beals" is legible, and the dates are still clear. "ADE____(wife of) James Beals born (2)7 Mar 1852 died 29 Sept 1878". This stone is located beside the railing separating the cemetery from the parking area. A Martin obelisk is next to it, and various Kribbs families are buried at St. Marks."

Originally posted on the James Francis Beals page at Mouser Ancestry.