George F. Beatty, who had spent nearly all his life in Kansas, had been enrolled in the ranks of the lawyers of Salina for the past twelve years, and is now serving as referee in bankruptcy with the United States District Court.
His birth occurred August 17, 1877, at 1001 Olive Street in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents were Dr. George F. and Martha Ann (Posey) Beatty. His mother, who is still living, is a daughter of William Thornton Posey, who was closely related to the family of George Washington. During her girlhood Miss Posey graduated from a seminary at Shelbyville, Kentucky. Dr. George F. Beatty was born at Buffalo, West Virginia, then old Virginia, May 5, 1834. His parents took him in boyhood to Kentucky, and he was connected with the banking and tobacco business in that state and Indiana until he was thirty-six years of age. Taking up the study of medicine, he entered the medical department of the University of Cincinnati, where he completed the four years’ course. His first location for practice was at St. Louis, where he remained until 1879. Having been appointed division surgeon of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, he then moved to Paola, Kansas, though his headquarters were at Wichita. He later practiced at different points in Kansas, and died at Bennington in this state February 14, 1904. He was a very able physician and a man with a great many friends throughout this state. On February 20, 1861, Doctor Beatty married Miss Martha Ann Posey, daughter of William Thornton and Eliza Jane (Dixon) Posey, both of whom were natives of Henderson County, Kentucky. Mrs. Beatty was born March 20, 1840, in a log house on a farm in Henderson County, Kentucky.
The only child of his parents, George F. Beatty came to Kansas with them in 1879. He attended the public schools of Cloud and Ottawa counties until 1895. Since then he had relied upon his own resources for his advancement in the world. In 1901 he went to Washington, District of Columbia, secured a position as a minor employe in the agricultural department, and with the means thus earned paid his way for two years in the law department of Columbian University and later spent one year in the National Law School in the same city.
During his residence at Washington he acquired a familiarity with many phases of life in the national capital and with many men of national distinction that have proved valuable to him in his later career. Being thus well qualified for his chosen vocation, he located at Salina, April 4, 1904, and had since been in active practice there. On July 3, 1908, John C. Pollock, judge of the United States District Court, appointed him referee in bankruptcy, and he had since filled that office with special credit and efficiency.
Mr. Beatty is a member of the Catholic Church, the Sons of the American Revolution, Kansas Society, and of the Knights of Columbus, and is advocate of Salina Council No. 601 of that order. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Ever since reaching manhood he had taken an active interest in republican politics.
On June 14, 1905, at Salina, Mr. Beatty married Miss Isabelle Cormack. Mrs. Beatty was born February 29, 1880, at Paisley, Ontario, Canada, a daughter of William and Jennie (Flemming) Cormack, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Beatty have three children, one daughter and two sons: Martha Mary, born May 28, 1906; George Frederick, born December 25, 1907; and William Addison, born November 6, 1909.