John Beals: Bank of Westfield, Indiana

Source: Postoffice Directory of Hamilton County, Indiana; 1893-94; Ledger Book and Job Print, Noblesville, Indiana; page 47.

My maternal 4th-great grandfather, John T. BEALS (1827-1917), was listed as serving on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Westfield in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.  I located this directory in the Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville, Indiana.

I was unaware of his involvement with this bank until this discovery, and will have to do some more research into the nature of his involvement. Previously, I had located articles about his grandson's involvement with a banking scandal in Hamilton County.  

John Beals was a Civil War veteran in Company A, 101st Regt., Indiana Volunteers and a farmer in Hamilton County after the war.  He also was elected in 1892 to serve as Hamilton County Assessor.

John was born June 25, 1827 in Clinton County, Ohio, son of Nathan C. and Elizabeth (CHEW) BEALS.  He married April 19, 1848 in Hamilton County, Indiana to Mary DAVIS, daughter of John W. and Mary (BARKER) DAVIS.  John died September 18, 1917 in Sheridan, Hamilton County, Indiana and is buried in the Summit Lawn Cemetery, Westfield, Indiana.

Obituary Omissions

Sometimes the newspaper makes a mistake, other times perhaps the family is so distraught that incomplete information is given.  


An example is my maternal great-grandmother's obituary in the March 5, 1968 Anderson Herald.

Funeral Services Set For Muriel Wright

ALEXANDRIA - Funeral rites for Mrs. Muriel Wright, 71, wife of Virgil Wright of Rt. 3, have been arranged for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Christian Church.  The Rev. Eugene Lamport will be the minister in charge. Interment will be in the Parkview Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the Karl M. Kyle Funeral Home after 2 p.m. today, and the Eastern Star Chapter will conduct memorial rites there at 8 p.m. today.

Mrs. Wright died Sunday noon at Community Hospital in Anderson after an extended illness.

A lifelong resident here, she was born in Alexandria, Feb. 16, 1897, to William F. and Clara Penniston Pierce.  She was married to Mr. Wright in 1915.  She was a member of the Christian Church, Order of the Eastern Star, Alexandria Chapter 179 and the Rebekah Lodge.

Surviving are the husband; two daughters, Mrs. Clara Ellen High and Mrs. Barbara Webster, both of Alexandria; a sister, Mrs. Nehersta Roberts of Santa Monica, Calif.; five brothers, McClelland, Charles, Eddie, and Bobby Pierce, all of Alexandria, and Jimmy Pierce of Indianapolis; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

For some reason, my grandfather, William Lee WRIGHT, her only son, was not listed at all in the obituary.  Someone who didn't know better might think that he was deceased at the time.

Family Milestones: September 27th

My maternal 5th-great granduncle, Joseph WRIGHT, married on this date in 1818 in Brown County, Ohio to Clarissa GARDNER.  Clarissa's parentage is unknown.  Joseph was the son of John and Sarah (FLEMING) WRIGHT, and the younger brother of my George WRIGHT.  Joseph was born January 26, 1798 in Kentucky.  Clarissa was born circa 1800 in New York.  They had at least one child.  Clarissa died January 29, 1882 in Brown County, Ohio.  Joseph died December 13, 1856 in Brown County, Ohio.


My maternal 6th-great grandparents, Nicholas KIMMER and Sarah FAYLER, were married on this date in 1784 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  Nicholas was born circa 1763.  Sarah's date of birth and death are unknown.  Nicholas served in the Revolutionary War.  They had 11 children.  Nicholas died October 19, 1841 in Fayette County, Indiana.


My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Daisy L. WRIGHT, married on this date in 1890 in Madison County, Indiana to Thomas A. FOX, son of Phillip and Mary Susanna Katherine Jane (RECTOR) FOX.  Daisy was the daughter of Joseph W. and Rebecca (HEATON) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my John W. WRIGHT.  Daisy was born June 1873 in Madison County, Indiana.  Thomas was born September 1869 in Madison County, Indiana.  They had 4 children and lived in Madison County.  Thomas died February 1, 1926 in Madison County, Indiana.  Daisy was still living after the 1930 census.


My maternal 5th-great granduncle, William J. JACOBS, married on this date in 1821 in Brown County, Ohio to Zoa WILKS.  Zoa's parentage and dates of birth and death are unknown.  William was the son of William and Sibell (LITTEL) JACOBS, and the younger brother of my James Thomas JACOBS.  William died June 23, 1879 in Brown County, Ohio.  Nothing further is known at this time.


My paternal 4th-great grandaunt, Barbara SHERRICK, was born on this date in 1785 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Barbara was the daughter of David and Barbara (ERB) SHIRK, and the younger sister of my David SHERRICK.  Barbara died July 13, 1851 in Coles County, Illinois.  Nothing further is known at this time.


My paternal 6th-great grandaunt, Rebecca HAINES, was born on this date in 1744 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Rebecca was the daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (BONNELL) HAINES, and the younger sister of my Robert HAINES.  Rebecca married June 7, 1775 in Burlington County, New Jersey to John WHITE, son of Josiah and Rebecca (FOSTER) WHITE.  John was born September 9, 1747.  They had 6 children.  John died August 21, 1785.  Rebecca died March 22, 1826 in Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.