James M. Beale, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Arcola; was born in Mason Co., W. Va., Jan. 1, 1825. He married Miss Jane R. Wylie in the fall of 1852; she was born in Brooke Co., W. Va.; they had six children – three living, viz., Ida M., J. Edwin and Florence; he lived in West Virginia until 1826, when, with his parents, he went to Kentucky, where he lived until 1833, when he went to Virginia, where he lived until 1857, when he came to Illinois and settled on his farm in Humbolt Tp., in Coles Co., where he lived until 1870, when he moved to the village of Humbolt and lived there until 1876, when he moved to Arcola; and, though his residence is in Arcola, he spends the most of his time on his farm in Humbolt. He is no office-seeker, and has taken no part in township affairs, except connected with the schools. He owns 280 acres in Humbolt Tp., which he has earned by his own labor and management; his parents, Richard and Hannah Willson Beale, were natives of Virginia; she died in Kentucky, and he died in Natchez, Miss.
