JOHN S. BEAZELL, a loading merchant of California, is a son of William Beazell, who was born February 22, 1807, in Allegheny county, Penn., a son of Luke Beazell, whose mother was of Irish birth, his father a native of Germany. Luke Beazell was born in 1773, in Westmoreland county, Penn., and was married to Elizabeth English, a native of same county. Ten children were born to this union, of whom one son and three daughters are yet living, namely: William, Catharine (Mrs. Ails), Mary (Mrs. Smith) and Eliza (unmarried). Luke Beazell, who always followed farming, died in 1857. William Beazell learned the shoemaker's trade, which he has followed in connection with farming. On May 6, 1830, he married Susan West, a native of Fallowfield township, this county, and they have had seven sons and three daughters, namely: Leander N. (deceased, who served three years in the army), Elmira, R. West, Luke P., Margaret E., Mary L., William H., John S., R. W. B. (deceased) and Samuel. Mr. Beazell owns ten acres of land located four and a half miles from Monongahela. He has filled almost every public office in Fallowfield township. John S. Beazell was born March 6, 1850, in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn. and there received his early education. About 1873 he removed to California, and there opened a butcher shop in company with his brother Luke P. They followed that business seventeen years, and then John S. purchased a stock of boots and shoes. He sold this out one year later, and bought a half interest in the general merchandise store in California, the firm being now known as Craven & Beazell. On July 25, 1879, John S. Beazell was united in marriage with Dora I., daughter of Jonathan West, who was a grandson of Jonathan West. The latter was born in Ireland, and coming to America when a young man, located permanently on a farm in Washington county, Penn. He was an Old-line Democrat in politics, and in religion one of the founders of the "West" Episcopal Church. His children were as follows: Jonathan, Robert, Thomas, Edward, Mary (wife of Robert Gregg), Ann (Mrs. Morris) and Janie (Mrs. Howden). Thomas West, son of Jonathan, was born and reared in West Pike Run township, where his school days were passed. He was married to Margaret Hopkins who bore him three children, namely: Thomas, Catharine and Jonathan. The father followed agricultural pursuits, and lived but a few years after his marriage. Jonathan West was born in February, 1827, in West Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., and received his education in the neighboring schools. In 1852 he was united in marriage with Melinda, daughter of Edward Gregg; the latter was born and reared in Washington county, and was married to Mary Norton, their children being: Mary J. (wife of James Baker), Stephen, Melinda (wife of Jonathan West), Seth, Maria, John and Maple. Mr. Gregg was a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. He voted with the Whig and Republican parties; he was a member of the Taylor M. E. Church, in which he was elder, class-leader, and Sunday-school superintendent. He and his wife were buried in the Taylor Church cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. West resided on a farm in West Pike Run township until 1861, when they moved to Virginia. Here he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-second O. V. I., which was sent to the army of the Potomac, and he participated in numerous engagements. On July 2, 1863, he was captured at the battle of Gettysburg, and was first confined in Belle Isle, then in Andersonville prison, where he died the following June. His children were as follows: Mary E. (deceased), Margaret E. (wife of D. H. Lewis), Mary J. (married to Emerson Reed), Dora I. (wife of John S. Beazell), Myrtilla (married to Frank Craven) and Kate. To the union of John S. and Dora I. (West) Beazell two children have been born, Pauline and Ivy. Mr. Beazell is a stanch supporter of the Republican party; he has served as burgess and as a member of the council, and is now associated with the school board. He is identified with the M. E. Church.

Text taken from page 1461 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]