Bios: Charles Shearer Beatty, 1843- : Dunbar Twp, Fayette County File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tami Bearden USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Biographical & Portrait Encylclopedia of Fayette County By Gresham. CHARLES SHEARER BEATTY is a native of Dunbar township Fayette county,Pa.; and was born July 27, 1843. He is descended from an Irish family on the paternal, and a German family on the maternal side. His paternal great- grandfather, of New Jersey, served as a soldier in the War of 1812. After the war he removed to Centre county,Pa. He had three sons: Samuel, James and John, who were in the war with him. Samuel engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at New Haven, soon removed to Belleville, Washington county Pa, and there engaged in the merchantile business, which he followed till 1840, when he removed to "Little" Washington, Washington county,Pa., and engaged in the woolen business. For twenty-five years he was considered one of the largest wool dealers in the county. He is still living at Washington. His brother James died at Cool Spring Furnace (this county) in about 1849. John Beatty (paternal grandfather) was born in New Jersey; removed to Centre county,Pa., and settled at Cool Spring Furnace, this county, in about 1820. He was a common laboror, and married Isabella Hyndman. Her father Charles Shearer, was a native of Germany, born in about 1768, and came to Baltimore in about 1790. He engaged in the fish trade and married Elizabeth Gamble. Colonel James Beatty(father) was a son of John and Isabella (Hyndman)Beatty, and was born August 21, 1822, in Fayette county,Pa. He was a farmer,colonel of a regiment of state militia that offered its services in the Mexican War, but was never called out. Colonel Beatty was married to Sarah J Shearer on July 25, 1842. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters: Charles S.,Mary,Isabella,William,John,Alice,Emma,Louisa, and Robert. Charles S. Beatty was educated in the common schools, and is now engaged in farming in Dunbar township. He has lived for twenty years in that township has taught school for sixteen years and has never taught out of Dunbar except one year. He has served continuously from 1876 to 1879 as a school director of Dunbar township, and was secretary of the board. He was secretary of the democratic county committee in 1873-74. In the fall of 1888 Mr.Beatty was elected from Fayette county to the house of representatives of Pennsylvania legislature he has been very earnest in advocating measures in the interest of education. His bill providing for a county uniformity of text books to be determined by a majority vote of the citizens of each county of the State is on that commends itself to the careful consideration of everyone. He is a prominent member in several of the secret societies: Independent Order of Odd Fellows; withdrew in 1873, and became one of the charter members of King David Lodge, No 826, at Dunbar, of which he was the first Noble Grand; has filled all the offices of the subordinate lodge; was Grand Lodge Repre- sentative several times from King David, and has been since 1874 a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, of I.O.O.F. He was a charter member of Dunbar lodge, No 410,K of P.,organized in October, 1873; withdrew March 23, 1889, and organized a lodge at Leisenring, and at present is its Grand Lodge Representative; has filled all the offices of the subordinate lodge of Pennsylvania since 1874. He is a member of the junior O.U.A.M. and has passed the chairs, and was Representative to the State Council at Wilkesbarre,July 1888, and Harrisburg, July, 1889. He was married on August 25, 1865, to Rebekah, daughter of Davis and Mary Woodward, natives of Dunbar township. Mr.Beatty has seven children: Lonella B, Mary F, Davis W, Sarah J, Charles F, James L, and Robert E. Mr Beatty is a Presbyterian, and for four years past had been elder in the Leisenring church. He is clerk of the session, and has been a delegate three years to the Prebytery. He was elected in 1888 by the Redstone Presbytery to the Synod at Erie City,Pa.