Nathan BEADLES
Pioneer-Tailor-Merchant-Capitalist
Origins
Occupations
- apprenticed as a tailor in Danville, KY
- came to Fulton County, Illinois as early as 1829
- probably first tailor in Fulton Co.
- opened tailor ship in hewn log house on his property in Lewistown
- replaced log home with large brick residence [now the site of the post office]
- 1890 history, "The lawns around (the house) are tastily laid out, and adorned with many beautiful
rose bushes and other shrubbery and flowering plants in profusion"
- probably worked as a tailor until about 1837 when he opened a mercantile business
- 1860 census of Lewistown listed as merchant
claimed $32,600 of real estate and $26,000 of personal property, a sizable sum for the time.
- later termed himself a capitalist
Beadles Block
- In 1876, helped build part of downtown Lewistown business section
- three story brick building reportedly cost $40,000
- "BEADLES block" are inscribed on the building, along with bust of William Shakespeare
- a large auditorium with a stage which was called Beadles Hall
- held law office of Hardin Masters, father of Edgar Lee Masters, author of Spoon River Anthology.
Politics
- supporter of Martin VanBuren's campaign for President
- Democrat
Wives
- marriage in 1835, Lamira SMITH, a native of Barren Co., KY
performed at a camp meeting on the banks of Spoon River, near Bernadotte, IL.
- Lamira died in 1842
- marriage in 1846 in Barren Co., KY, Luan LEEPER
Land Owner
- 1836-1848, bought 851 acres in Lee, Lewistown, Liverpool, and Pleasant Twps, Fulton Co.,
and El Dorado Twp, McDonough Co., IL
- "large" possessions in Chicago in 1890
Aunt Jenny
- had a black "mammy" called "Aunt Jenny" from KY
- her name was Virginia Ketching - she died two years before Nathan
- grave is in Oak Hill Cemetery west of Nathan's
George Proctor describes Nathan
- small, rather sharp featured, gray haired man.
- keen business man - few could take advantage of him in a business deal
Beadles family
- 1837-1841 he signed guardianship papers for his nieces and nephew
- 1880, two of his nieces were living with him
- willed much of his estate to his nieces and nephews
Methodist Church
- joined the Methodist church in 1868.
- built the Methodist Church and parsonage
- willed the church stewards a substantial amount of money
- stained glass windows in the vestibule bears his name
Posterity
- died in 1892 at age 81
- buried in Lewistown's Oak Hill Cemetery
- plot contains the graves of Nathan, two wives, his sister Mary, her husband William RANDALL
- surrounded by a wrought iron fence
- large (about 6 feet tall) white marble arch
- One side depicts a chariot ascending through clouds into Heaven=
- other shows a beautiful wreath of flowers
- basis for Master's sketch Nicholas Bindle in the Spoon River Anthology
References
- Atlas Map of Fulton Co., IL. 1871. Andreas Lyter and Co.
- Fulton Democrat Newspaper, Lewistown, IL
- Illinois Public Land Sales Database
- Marriage Records Fulton Co, IL and Barren Co, KY
- Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton Co., IL. 1890.
- Probate Records, Fulton Co, IL
- Spoon River Anthology. Annotated Edition by John E. Hallwas. 1992.
[Fulton County Home Page - Spoon River Anthology]
[ Beadles Family History Page ]
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