Kansas History and Heritage Project-Sumner County Biographies

Sumner County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County"
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1890


HENRY J. BEILET. This gentleman is not only one of the substantial citizens of the county, financially speaking, but is one of ^P its educated citizens and a man of enterprise, morality and good citizenship. His natal day was March 9, 1843, and Texas claims him as one of her sons. His father, Joseph Beilet, was born in Germany and came to America when a young man, making his first settlement in Philadelphia, Pa. He became one of the early settlers of Texas, and being a man of more than ordinary intelligence became a prominent citizen, and was the incumbent of several minor official positions. He served as a private in the Mexican War. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion was a member of the Lutheran Church. He was not only influential among his fellowmen, but displayed excellent business ability and at the time of his death was in good financial circumstances.

The gentleman whose name initiates this sketch was the fifth in a family of ten children, and was reared and educated in his native State, finishing his schooling as a student in St. Mary's College. In 1869, he went to Louisville, Ky, and learned the trade of a painter, which he followed but a few years ere he was compelled to abandon it, as he found it was injuring his health. Returning to Texas in 1872, he entered upon the business of stock-raising and has since kept up his interest in stock, his principal business at present consisting of buying and selling good grades. In 1880 he came to this county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Sumner Township, where he now lives; he also owns considerable real estate in Nebraska and altogether is in a condition of prosperity commendable to his prudence and industry and highly satisfactory to any man whose ideas of comfort are not exorbitant.

The family of Mr. Beilet is made up of his wife and three charming daughters � Mary E., Annie L., and Birdie. Mrs. Beilet bore the maiden name of Laura J. Wright and was born in Iowa, April 19, 1858, to Henry and May (Heart) Wright, who were natives of Ohio. The Wrights came to Kansas in 1871, and settled in this county, where the father is still carrying on his occupation of a farmer. The rites of wedlock were celebrated between the daughter and our subject May 27, 1880.



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