[p. 940] owner of 128 acres of fine farming land in Big Beaver Township, lying about twelve miles south of New Castle, near the Beaver County line, belongs to an old pioneer family of this section and is of Scotch-Irish extraction. His grandfather, Jonathan Beatty, settled in very early days in Beaver County and reared a family of nine children namely: Jonathan, Robert, James, John, William, Eliza, Eleanor, Mary and Margaret A.
John Beatty was born in Beaver County and remained with his father, finally inheriting the old home farm of 100 acres. He married Hannah Whan, a daughter of John Whan, who was brought by his parents, William Whan and wife, from Ireland to America, when he was three years old. William Whan was one of the earliest settlers in Big Beaver Township. John Whan was reared on this pioneer farm and helped to clear off the native growth of timber and built his home near Wampum. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died in Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Mary Stinson, who lived to be ninety-two years old. John Whan and wife had thirteen children. Both John Beatty and wife died young, the latter aged twenty-five years and the former aged twenty-seven. They had three children: Almatrim, Mary E., deceased, and Robert J., the latter of whom resides in Arkansas.
Almatrim Beatty was born on his father's farm in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1846, and he was six years old when he was left an orphan. The children were brought to the home of Grandfather Whan, in Lawrence County, and Almatrim attended school first in the log and later in the frame school-house. He worked for his grandfather until his marriage, in 1871, when he engaged in farming for himself. His first purchase was 137 acres, from J. Doutthet's heirs, of which he later sold fifty acres to J. R. Patterson and then bought thirty-eight acres, from George Patterson. He moved on his farm in 1873 and has erected all of the buildings now standing, except his residence. In 1888 his barn was struck by lighting, while he was away from home, but it was replaced. He carries on general farming and dairying, keeping fifteen milch cows, and always being able to dispose of his products profitably.
On October 15, 1871, Mr. Beatty was married (first) to Jane Patterson, who died in 1887. They had eight children: Lillian M., who married W. T. Jenkins; Mary E., who married R. S. McKim; Allie J., who married D. S. Cosgrove; Sadie E., who married J. C. McKim; Robert C., who died in childhood; and Harry E., John P. and James who reside at home. On February 21, 1889, Mr. Beatty was married (second) to Elizabeth Humes, who is a daughter of Bartholomew Humes, and they have two children: Ellen and George.
Mr. Beatty is a stanch Republican and is a man of influence in township politics. He has acceptably filled many of the local offices and at present is serving as justice of the peace. For more than twenty years he has been an elder in the United Presbyterian Church. In addition to his farming and dairying interests, Mr. Beatty is a stock-holder of the Dairy Farmers' Company, at Pittsburg, to which point he ships his milk, and is also a stockholder in the Mt. Air Telephone Company.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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