HON. I. G. BEAL |
Hon. I. G. Beal (deceased) was a native of Nelson
County, Ky., born about one mile from Bardstown, April 12, 1817. His parents were both
natives of Kentucky. At an early age he commenced attending the St. Joseph College, at
Bardstown, Ky., and at the age of fourteen he came out to Missouri, and there purchased
land onto which his parents and the family moved. He, however, remained at Bardstown, and
finished his education. He commenced the study of law with Hardin or Wyckliffe, probably
the latter, and he was admitted to the bar at Bardstown. He then came to the residence of
his parents in Missouri. His father died in Ralls County, and his mother afterward removed
to Quincy, Ill., but from there she eventually moved to Jefferson County. She died at the
residence of her son, in South St. Louis, and is buried there. Mr. Beal came to Southeast
Missouri about 1845 to seek a desirable location for his practice, and after a short stay
at Perryville he located at Farmington, and commenced practicing his profession. His
talents and natural ability soon made him a name known all over Southeast Missouri, and
perhaps no lawyer in that portion of the State had such an extensive demand for his
services as Mr. Beal. He took an active interest in public affairs, and though he was
averse to political preferment, he was put forward by his friends for the position of
representative in the Missouri Legislature, of 1860, and received the election at the
hands of the citizens of his representative district. His devotion to his profession and
to the interests of his clients was the cause of the premature breaking down of his
physical health and his death. He died January 18, 1868. He was married October 6, 1850 to
Miss Evelin A. Hail, in Farmington, Mo., by Rev. Amos H. Rogers, of the Presbyterian
Church. Her father, Thomas Hail [Haile], was a native of South Carolina, and went with his
parents to Louisiana when a boy, and there grew to manhood. He came from Louisiana to
Missouri, and selected a location on Big River, in St. Francois County. He was married to
Miss Margaret Eads, a native of Kentucky, who came to Missouri in 1805, when thirteen
years of age. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hail lived along the banks of the Big
River, and there reared their family of four sons and two daughters. Mr. Hail was shot
during the late war, while on his farm, where his negroes were working. His wife died
before the war. To Mr. and Mrs. Beal were born four children, viz.: I. G. or Guy as he is
generally known, is now travelling in Colorado; (He was educated at the Christian
Brother's College, at St. Louis, and at Fulton Missouri College). Albert Leonard, or Bert,
is engaged in the printing business at St. Louis; Laura, wife of N. D. Casey, of
Farmington, and Miss Anna. GOODSPEEDS HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, Pages 622 & 623. |