Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/263

 BEARDSLEY.

BEATTY.

Cherry Valley, where he read law, and in 1812 was admitted to the bar in the court of common pleas, soon establishing a good practice. In 1825 he was elected to the state assembly, serving through the session of 1826, and in 1829 was elected to the state senate for four years, acting during the last year as president of that body. In 1834 he was again elected to the senate, in 1839 removed to Oswego, N. Y., and in 1842 went to Columbus, Ohio, returning in 1846 to New Yprk city, where he opened a law office. In 1852 he published a volume of " Reminis- cence.s." He died March 19, 1857.

BEARDSLEY, Samuel, jurist, was born in Hoosic, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1790; brother of Levi Beardsley, jurist. After acquiring an academic education he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1815, and practised for a time at Rome, Oneida coimty, of which he was appointed district-attorney. In 1822 he was elected to the state senate, resigning his seat in that body to accept the office of first judge of Oneida county. From 1828 to 1880 he was U. S. attorney for north- ern New York, receiving his appointment from President Jackson. In 1830 he was elected as a Democratic representative to the 22d Congress, and re-elected to the 23d and 24th congresses, serving from December, 1831, to July, 1836, when he was appointed attorney -general to the state of New York. He was elected a representative to the 28th Congress in 1842, but served less than a year, resigning his seat February, 1844, to become associate justice of the supreme court of the state of New York. From this position he rose to that of chief justice in 1847, succeeding Judge Bronson. He was an able jurist and statesman, and while in Congress made several strong and eloquent speeches. He received the degree of LL.D. from Hamilton college in 1849. The remainder of his life was passed in Utica, where, though declining public offices, he made himself conspicuous in all public movements, social or political. He was a delegate to the national Democratic convention which met in Cincinnati in 1856, and was the controlling factor in the nomination of James Buchanan. He died in Utica, N. Y., May 6, 1860.

BEASLEY, Frederick, educator, was born near Edenton, N. C, in 1777. He was educated at Nassau hall, Princeton, N. J., and was gradu- ated in 1797, serving as tutor in the college until 1800, while pursuing his theological course. He received ordination as a priest of the Episcopal church in 1801, and was rector successively of St. John's, Elizabethtown, N. J. (1803) ; St. Peter's, Albany, N. Y. (1804), and St. Paul's, Baltimore, Md. (1809). He was provo.st of the University of Pennsylvania from 1813 till 1828, and also held the chair of mental and moral philosophy.

He was rector at Trenton, N.J. 1829-35, retiring to Elizabethtown in 1836. He received the degree S.T.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and from Columbia college in 1815. He is tlie author of: " An Examination of the Oxford Divinity," " A Search of Trutli in the Science of the Human Mind," "American Dialogues of the Dead" (1815); "A Vindication of the Argument in Proof of the Being and Attributes of God " (1825); " Review of Brown's Philosophy of the Human Mind" (1825); "A Vindication of the Funda- mental Principles of Truth and Order in the Church of Christ," (1830). He died Nov. 2, 1845.

BEATTIE, James A., educator, was born in Ohio, May 11, 1845, son of Jolm Beattie. He was graduated at Bethany college A.B., 1873, A.M. 1876 ; taught in country schools and at the acad- emy at Savannah, Ohio, subsequently serving as superintendent of the public schools in Ashland, Ohio. He was married Aug". 26, 1873, to Maggie D. Benton, and became a minister of the Chris- tian Disciples church. He was president and professor at Bedford college 1876-81 ; at Oska- loosa college 1881-89, and professor at Cotner university, Lincoln, Neb., 1889-96. He became president of the Nebraska State Normal school in 1896 ; of the eastern state normal school, Oregon, in 1900, and of Hiram college, Hiram, Ohio, in 1901. He received the honorary degree A.M., from Cotner university and LL.D. from Hiram college.

BEATTY, Charles, missionai-y, was born in the north of Ireland, about 1715. He received a clas- sical education in Ireland, immigrated to Amer- ica and became a peddler. He subsequently fitted for the Presbyterian ministrj' at Log col- lege, Bucks county, Pa.; was ordained in 1742, and became pastor at Neshaminy, Pa. Later he left his church to go among the Indians as a missionary. He was appointed by the synod an agent for the widows' fund, established for the families of poor Presbyterian clergymen, in 1761 ; a trustee of the college of New Jersey in 1763, and made a two months' missionary tour of Pennsylvania with George Duffield in 1766. He engaged in collecting funds for the College of New Jersey, and died at Barbadoes Aug. 13. 1772.

BEATTY, John, delegate, was born in Bucks county. Pa., Dec. 10, 1749. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1769 ; studied medi- cine and engaged in practice. He became lieuten- ant-colonel in the Continental army and colonel and commissary general of prisoners May 28, 1778. He resumed practice at Trenton. N. J., in 1780 ; was a delegate to the continental congress 1784- '85 ; a member of the state convention that adopted the constitution and a representative in the 3d congress 1793-'95. He was secretary of New Jersey 1795-1805 and a member of the state legis- lature. He died at Trenton, N.J., May 30, 1826.