Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
MAJOR JOHN W. F. BEATIE. Effective management of one's affairs has ceased to be a one-man game. A generation ago farmers and business men could and did carry on their enterprises quite independent of each other. If they could not make a satisfactory deal with one man, there was another at hand with which they could open negotiations. But there has been a gradual breaking down of independent individual action and a growing up of gigantic systems of combination. Small business establishments have been absorbed by the larger ones which have united their interests by working agreements. Farmers now see the necessity of co-operation for cheaper production and less expensive marketing.
One of the farmers of Washington township, Greene county, who is alive to new conditions is John W. F. Beatie, who was born near St. Louis, Missouri, April 9, 1837. He is a son of Robert and Mary Anne (Smith) Beatie. The father was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, July 29, 1811, and was reared on a farm in that state, and when a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade. He remained in his native state until 1837 when he made the overland trip in a wagon to Missouri, Greene county being his destination, and our subject was born en route. The family settled about ten miles southeast of Springfield at a place now called Palmetto. Here the elder Beatie secured a tract of land which he cleared and worked in connection with blacksmithing, keeping a shop on his farm, and was one of the best-known blacksmiths among the pioneer settlers in that part of the county. There he spent the rest of his life, dying on March 22, 1884. His wife was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, and there grew up and received a limited education. She did not live long after coming to Missouri. To these parents ten children were born, namely: Martha Jane, deceased; Lucinda, deceased; John W. F., of this sketch; Sarah Elizabeth lives in Webster county, Missouri; David M. is living in Rogersville, Webster county; Mrs. Frances Gault lives in Rogersville also; William R. makes his home at Rogersville; Anna Eliza, deceased; Lucretia G., deceased; the youngest child died in infancy.
Major Beatie grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked when a boy, and in the winter time he attended the district schools of his community. He has lived in Missouri all his life, and being now past his seventy-seventh birthday he is one of the oldest citizens of this township, which he has seen develop from a wild state to a fine farming community, and he has taken an interested part in the many improvements. When the Civil war began he soon took a stand for the Union and at first joined the Home Guards under Captain Waterson. After the battle of Wilson's Creek he entered the United States service, serving six months in Company D, Phelp's regiment, under Capt. J. W. Lisenby, then joined the Missouri State Militia, and later was a member of the Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry. He saw considerable service, but principally in his home district, and at the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Springfield.
Major Beatie was married in 1872 to Matilda Pickel, who was born in Tennessee, and from that state she removed with her parents at a very early age to Greene county, Missouri, the family locating just across the road from the Beatie family and there she grew to womanhood and received her education in the district schools. She is a daughter of Jacob B. and Malicia (Holt) Pickel, who came to Greene county, Missouri, from Tennessee, and located on a farm in Washington township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beatie five children have been born, namely: Mrs. Mary Alice Davis lives in Greene county; Robert M. is at home; Mrs. Emma Holland lives in Greene county; Mrs. Jennie Isabel Webb lives in Greene county, and Mrs. Bessie F. Painter resides in Springfield.
Major Beatie has always followed general farming, and soon after his marriage he moved to the farm where he is now residing, purchasing one hundred acres, to which he later added twenty-six and one-half acres, one hundred acres being under cultivation, the balance in timber. He has a good farm and a comfortable home and has made an easy living here. He has owned farms in different parts of the state.
Politically, Mr. Beatie is a Republican, and while loyal to his party has never sought leadership or public office.
[1676-1678]
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