Helena weekly herald., 1889-12-19
From the Daily Herald of December lS.
JOHN BEATTIE.
\ Notable Illinois Pioneer Passes
Away.

The Rockford GIL. Register contains an
extended sketch of John Beattie, recently
deceased, the venerable father Of our towns
men, Ed and George Beattie. The Register
says:
John Beattie was a rich man, but his
riches were thrust upon him. 1t was not a
voluntary act on his part that made him
the owner of the valuable property on West
State street, opposite the court house He
was virtually compelled to become the
owner of it. At the time he came into pos
session of it he had completed some car
penter work on the old court house and this
property was given to him in payment for
his work He did not want it, and at first
refused to take it, but seeing that if he did
not he stood but little show of ever receiv-
ing any pay, he took the property. The
day that he became the posseSsor of the lots
he sat down and wept, feeling that he had
been defrauded.
But Rockford grew and became a city,
an elegant courthouse supplanted the old
one, improvements were made all around
Mr.. Beattie's property until what he
thought was not worth q few hundred dol
lars could be sold for over sixty thousand
dollars.
So with his property on North Main
street, where he lived. He let it stand
year after year without expending money
on it, while modern re 5idences went up and
enhanced its value.
Thus, by the exercise of industry, which
led to his acquiring real estate, and the
nf xuhi oh loA i'm m
retain the property, John Bsattie, carpen-
ter, became wealthy man.
1t is difficult to form an estimate of Mr..
Beattie's financial standing. The West
State street property is probably worth
$4,000, the North Main Street residence
property is estimated by some as worth
$4,000 at least. In addition to this he
owned a number of houses in the city, fine
farming land at Argyle, lot of western
land and was interested with his sons in
mining investments at Helena Mont. His
estate is estimated as worth from 100000
to $350,000.
Mr.. Beattie lived in the house where he
died for fully 40 years. He got that prop
erty about the time he came into possession
of the lots on West State street. These
lots had been assessed to help pay for the
old court house. The owners of them gave
them up rather thar meet the assessment. ).
aud they were then turned over to Mr..
Beattie, much against his will, as has been
stated. The assessment footed up to per-
haps 500.
Mr. Bsattie was born in the north of
Ireland and was of Scotch Irish descent.
He came to America when quite young.
He was very quiet, secretive man, quite
averse to talking of his affairs and very
cautious and slow in business ventures. He
had no ambition beyond his daily life and
environments and was always reserved, !,
never meddling with others business. He
was opposed to change and cared not to
have any alterations in his surroundings.
1t was remarked as q striking departure
from his natural inclinations when he
erected the fine block which makes such a
worthy monument to his memory. He at
tended the Second Congregational church,
but was member of no society or order,
not even the Old Settlers Society. He
leaves wife and two sons, Ed. and George,
both of Helena, Mont, and men of large
means, aud two daughters, most esteemed
Rockford ladies, Misses Mary and Anna.