The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-04-14
CAPTAIN ]. R. BEATTY, Gallant SOLDIER,
CALLED BY DEATH after LONG ILLNESS
Pioneer Resident of Mankat0
Has Succumbed to His
Ailments
He Served With Great DistinC.
ton Through the War of
Rebellion
From Saturday. Dairy.

From Saturday. Dairy.
With the passing of Captain John
r. Beatty another historic figure Of
Mankato becomes but a memory, and
he is the last veteran of the Civil wal
TO answer the final roll call and APP
pear before the greatest general OF
all, the Supreme General who requires
full report from His earthly soldiers
and before whom all battle shall be
judged. The venerable captain died
at his home in the Security flats last
night about seven O'Clock, death being
caused by a general breakdown in
health, complicated by kidney and
heart trouble. He had been i'll for
about four months, ever since a bad
fall he sustained shortly before the
holidays. Last Thanksgiving Day Cap
tain Beatty and the late ]. Q. A.
Marsh had enjoyed their ThankSgiv-
ing Day dinner together at the home
of, the former, and both had appeared
in excellent health and the beSt of
spirits, no suspicion entering the
minds of anyone present that before
another summer smiled on the land
both men would have passed to the
Great Beyond.
John R. Beatty was born in Loyal
hanna township, Westmoreland coun-
ty, Penn, November 5, 1881, and was
in his eighty-fifth year when he died.
His parents, John G. and Isabella
Walker Beatty, were of Scotch-Iri
ancestry, and he was born on the es-
tate which had been secured by his
grandfather when he came to America
from Ireland, who received the origi-
nal grant of the land from William
Penn, the property still being in pos
session of the family. Mr. Beatty came
TO Minnesota in April, 1857, and To-
Gated in Mankato the latter part Of
the following May. During 1859 and
1860 he conducted a private school,
which was about the first in which
high school studies were taught in this
city.
Was War Veteran.
In June 1861, he enlisted in Com
pany H, Second Minnesota Volunteers,
rand was made first lieutenant On
July s, 1868, he was promoted, being
made captain, and continued to serve
with his company until his resigna-
ton, on March 80, 1865. During his
period of service in the army the cap
tain was for some time Oh the staff Of
Colonel Van Derveer, and at different
times distinguished himself for BRAY
cry while in battles. At one time
while on a diminishing expedition
with party of Minnesota boys, Mr..
Beatty had two horses shot down I'M
der him, but escaped with his life
and received words of praise from
Col. Van Derveer who complImented
each of the men by name. Mr.. Beatty
was in many of the important battles
and was in the midst of the fighting
near Atlanta, Fla, for four months,
serving with distinction throughout
the war
In 1866 Mr.. Beatty engaged in the
stone and lime business. He built
the first patent lime kiln and shipped
the first car load of lime from Man
kato. AS the pioneer of the lime in
dustry he did more than anyone else
in introducing Mankato lime through
the northwest. He also discovered the
Mankato cement stone, and interested
the Standard Cement company in it's
development. In 1S67-6S he served as
superintendent of the Blue Earth
county schools, and in 1895 as the
president of the Mankato Board of
Public Works. He was married to
Miss Laura e. MaXfield on February,
1864, and they were among the prom
inent early day residents of Man
kato, continuing to make this city
their permanent home
Those of the near relatives who
survive to mourn his loss are the
widow, and four children, Mrs. J. f.
Orr Of Payette, Idaho; John g. Beat
ty, ST. Croix Falls, Wis; Mrs. j. w.
Schmitt, city; Miss Isabelle Beatty,
city.
Funeral of Captain Beatty
Funeral services for the late Cap
tain Beatty will be held from the
home in Security flats at $3.50 to-
morrow afternoon, Rev. Ross T. Pa
den, pastor of the Presbyterian church
officiating. Interment will be made in
Glenwood cemetery.