BIOGRAPHY: David BEALE, Juniata Co., PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mike Williamson 
  Transcribed by Patty Frank
  
  Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/juniata/
  
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  The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, 
  Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, 
  Pennsylvania.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume II, 
  Pages 980-981.
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    DAVID BEALE, was born April 18, 1829. The Beale family is widely
  known in the county, and gave the name to Beale township. The first
  representative to come here was David Beale (1), grandfather of David
  Beale. He was born in Chester county, Pa., and was of Scotch-Irish
  descent. He came to the Tuscarora valley, when a young man, making
  the journey with team and wagon, cutting a road as he came. His was,
  perhaps, the first that crossed the Tuscarora mountain. Mr. Beale
  took up a large tract of land in what was then Cumberland county, a
  part of which lay in Spruce Hill, and a part in Tuscarora township.
  He cleared the land, built a saw-mill and cut lumber for his
  buildings, and also erected a grist-mill, the first built in that
  county. He carried on the farm and the mills until his death in 1828.
  The Governor of the State appointed him judge of Mifflin county, which
  then included Juniata county. David Beale (1) married Miss McConnell,
  whose family were among the earliest settlers of Tuscarora valley,
  and in her girlhood they were twice driven out by the Indians.
    David Beale (2), was born in Tuscarora township, and received only
  a common school education. When he reached manhood his father gave
  him a good farm of 180 acres in Tuscarora township, on which he spent
  his life. His wife was Mary Beale. Twelve children were born to this
  union.
    David Beale (3) received his education in the public schools of
  Tuscarora township, was reared on the farm, and followed that
  occupation all his life. He was married in 1859 to Martha Crawford.
  Their children are: David B.; Ida, Jennie; John; Howard.
    In 1890, Mr. Beale was elected to the office of county commissioner
  of Juniata county, on the Democratic ticket, having received a
  handsome majority, and during his occupancy of the office the bridge
  at Port Royal and Mexico and many other substantial improvements were
  made. The family are members of the United Presbyterian church.