Last Updated on October 10, 2011 by
Jesse Beals, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Mattoon; owns 250 acres; was born in Crawford Co., Ind., April 26, 1826; lived with his father until 1836, and then lived with his mother until he married, Dec. 12, 1844, to Mary Ann Horton, who was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 1818; they have had five children, four of whom are now living, viz., Amand M., Emma H., Nevada and Frank W.; deceased-Cary. Mr. Beals was School Director five years, Township Supervisor of this township one term, in 1866, and was elected Justice of the Peace, in 1877, which office he now holds. Mr. Beals is a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and has had charge of the Good Hope Church, in this township, for a number of years; he has had several discussions on questions of theology, and has had one debate with the Rev. Rolly Martin, of Danville, Vermilion Co., Ill., one with Rev. Clark Braden, President of Carbondale University, and several other ministers of considerable note; Mr. Beals’ parents are natives of Pennsylvania.