Wesley Taylor (Betty) Beatty (1844 - 1924)

Born 1844 in Madison Co., Tennessee

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy Ann (Williford) Beatty — married 25 Apr 1868 in Madison Co,, Tennessee

Husband of Cynthia Ann (Maynard) Beatty — married 11 Nov 1883 in Harrisburg, Poinsett, Arkansas

Husband of Mary Ann (Amis) McEwen — married 10 Jul 1906 in Madison, Tennessee, United States

Died 16 Oct 1924 at about age 80 in Bemis, Madison, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Note: Name spelling is found as either Betty, Beaty, or Beatty.

The life of Wesley Betty has been well documented in the Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas by Goodspeed Publishers, Chicago, 1889 - in the "Names of Early Settlers-Private and Family Records" pages 578. Most of the information it contains appears to be accurate with supporting sources listed below. It has since been found that his father died in 1855 rather than 1854. A transcription of the article follows here:

"W.T. Beatty is a general merchant, postmaster and magistrate at Perkins, Ark., and has been engaged in the first mentioned business since February, 1888. He keeps a full line of groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, and shelf hardware, and, in addition to this manages a steam cotton gin, of which he is owner. His store bulding and residence are in one, and, although he is now living quietly, his life has been rather an eventful one.

He was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1844, and is the seventh of ten children born to John and Martha A. Beatty, who were born in the "Old North State." They moved to Madison County, Tenn., at an early day, and here the father opened up a good farm, on which he resided until his death, in 1854, his excellent wife passing from life in 1865. John Beatty was of English decent, was a Democrat in politics, and a Mason, and held office in this order. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Tarbutton, was a German, and was a soldier in the Mexican War.

W.T. Beatty received his early schooling in Tennessee, and when war was declared, although only sixteen years of age, he enlisted from Madison County, Tenn., in Company E, Sixth Tennessee Infantry, for three years, or during the war, and went into service at Spring Creek, in that State. He was in the battle of Shiloh, but was afterward discharged at Tupelo, Miss., being under age. He remained inactive for about four months, a portion of that time being sick with typhoid fever; but after recovering he enlisted in the State Militia of Mississippi, and was then transferred to the Fifteenth Tennessee Cavalry, under Gen. Forrest, and remained with him until the close of the war.

He returned to Tennessee in 1866, and for some time was engaged in farming and sawmilling, and also followed railroading, being on the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain road from 1874 to 1880, with headquarters at Columbus, Ky. From that time until 1882 he was in the Government employ, working on the Mississippi River, and made his headquarters at Plum Point, Tenn. In the spring of 1883 he came to Marked Tree, Ark., and after following the occupation of sawmilling for one year he went to Harrisburg, and embarked in the hotel and livery business. This enterprise he abandoned in 1885, and removed to Cross County, where he followed milling, but returned in 1886 to Marked Tree. Here he has since been engaged in general merchandising.

He is a Democrat, and since September 1888, he has held the office of magistrate, and since May of the same year has been postmaster at the office called Perkins. He belongs to the school board in District No. 14, and has always taken an interest in matters pertaining to education, being now the president of the Union Debating Society.

He was married in Madison County, Tenn., in 1869, to Miss Nancy Ann Williford, of that State, and her death occurred in Columbus, Ky., October 1, 1880. She left two children: Wyatt Jefferson and Martha Ada (Mrs. Lucas), both of Paragould. In November 1883, Mr. Beatty wedded, in Harrisburg, Miss Cynthia Ann Maynard, a native of Tennessee. She is a member of the Baptist Church."

Name Spelling: One should note that Wesley appears to have changed the spelling of his last name to "Beatty" from this article. This writer will change our records to agree.

Wesley marries for a 3rd time on 10 Jan 1906 to Mary Ann Amis Hunter in Madison County, Tennessee.

1910 - US Census - CD 8, Hardeman, Tennessee - enumerates Wesley T. Beatty (56) and wife Mary A. Beatty (39), Mary's parents, Albert and Mary Amis, are living with them. Couple have been married 4 years. Wesley farms. Mary has bore 5 children and 4 are living in 1910.

1920 - US Census - CD1, Madison, Tennessee - enumerates Wesley (74) and Mary (50). They are living with Ruby Collins family - Mary's daughter. Listed as father and mother-in-law.

Death

Wesley Taylor Beatty died 18 Oct 1924 in Bemis, Madison, Tennessee - as noted in Widows Pension File W8486.

Findagrave has him buried in Hall and Madison Cemetery where his 3rd wife, Mary, is buried. A check of this cemetery in July 2017 could find no marked grave for him.

Sources

• Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas by Goodspeed Publishers, Chicago, 1889 - in the "Names of Early Settlers-Private and Family Records" pages 578. http://archive.org/details/biographicalhist02good/page/578/mode/2up?view=theater
• US Census for 1850, 1870 and 1880
• Arkansas County Marriages Index, 1837-1957, Ancestry.com
• Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002, Ancestry.com
• Tennessee Civil War Confederate Pension Applications Index, Ancestry.com
• Findagrave Memorial - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141757771/wesley-taylor-beatty

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Deborah Kueter for creating Betty-82 on 11 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Deborah and others.