"Beal, Charles William, attorney, editor and publisher of the Custer County Beacon, Broken Bow, Neb., was born in Laddonia, Mo., April 25, 1860, and is a son of W.H. and Jane (Stout) Beal, from Madison, Ind. W.H. Beal served in the militia during the Civil War, which kept Missouri from leaving the Union in 1861.
Charles W. Beal received his education in the college at Hillsdale, Mich., and in the law department of the Nebraska university, class of 1899. In 1899 he was president of the senior law class of the University of Nebraska.
When first arriving in Nebraska he settle near Ansley, Custer County, and taught school for three years. December 1, 1893, he engaged in the newspaper business with his brother, Elgin L. Beal, having purchased the Custer County Beacon which had been started by a stock company in 1890. The Beacon is populist in politics. Mr. Beal was a Republican but is now a strong supporter of the Fusion party. In 1893 he served in the lower house of the legislature and in 1897 was a member of the senate from the 15th district. He was a member of the committee that investigated the state officers' accounts.
During the latter term he introduced a bill abolishing deficiency judgments passed by the legislature in 1897. The law provides that when a decree is given in a real estate mortgage foreclosure, no deficiency judgments against the mortgagor can be secured.
He was active in securing the passage of a bill to reduce the freight rates; also the bill to require land owners to fill up old wells and pitfalls, and the bill authorizing county treasurers to draw from sinking funds to pay warrants against the general funds.
He has served as chairman of the populist central committee for a number of years and on the state committee during several campaigns. He was a delegate to the Omaha nation convention, 1892, and to St. Louis in 1896 as well as to the Cincinnati convention that organized the people's party in 1891.
Mr. Beal engaged in the practice of law in July 1899 forming a partnership with A.P. Smith of Broken Bow, the firm name being Beal & Smith.
He is a member of the Church of Christ. He was married January 1, 1896, to Kate Willis, daughter of John Willis, pioneer of Custer County, and two children have been born to them: Annabel and Franklin.
Mr. Beal was appointed in 1909 a member of the state bar commission for examination of applicants for admission to the bar, and has served one year. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Custer County in 1910 and is serving his second year."
Illustrated History of Nebraska, Vol. 2 by Julius Sterling Morton, Albert Watkins, & George Miller.
-----
"POLITICS DIDN'T PAY
A few of the leaders of the Farmers' Alliance resurrected the Citizen and established the Alliance Motor, with A.J. Evans, of Thedford, as editor. The Motor was not a financial source and soon suspended. In April 1890 the Motor material was gotten together by the stockholders,and the paper was re-established. C.W. Beal, president of the Farmers' Alliance, being elected president and manager. The paper was called the CUSTER COUNTY BEACON.
In 1890 E.M. Webb became associated with Mr. Beal in the publication of this paper. The Beacon was soon recognized as the leading Populist paper of central Nebraska. In the course of three years E.L. Beal, of Ansley, was induced to leave his farm and join his brother, C.W. Beal, in promoting the Alliance doctrine. The Beal brothers eventually purchased a majority of the stock of the other members of the company and assumed full control of the plant.
Except during the year 1898 when C.W. Beal served one term in the stat senate, the two brothers did all the editorial and mechanical work of the office. During C.W. Beal's absence, F.A. Amsberry, of Mason City, was employed as assistant editor.
The Beal brothers continued to published the Beacon until 1907, when Elgin I. Beal retired to the farm, with his family, and left the entire charge of the paper to his brother, Charles W. Beal, who later leased the plant to a man from Ord, Nebraska. The publication of the Beacon was soon afterward discontinued and the material sold."
History of Custer County, Nebraska, A Narrative of the Past by William Levi Gaston.
-----
Newspaper articles, published over the years, too numerous to include all, have helped provide a brief glimpse into his life.
The Kearney Daily Hub (Kearney, NE)
Wednesday, May 23, 1894
BROKEN BOW GETS THE CONVENTION (article in part)
"Another editor was there, C.W. Beal, of the Broken Bow Beacon, a paper that was heard of in this city for the first time yesterday. He waas down here in the interest of its circulation the state of which is causing him great apprehension."
-----
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, July 19, 1900
NEIGHBORLY NEIGHBORS
"Hon. C.W. Beal, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, visited the family of his brother, John Beal, of this city, first of the week. Mrs. Henry Beal of Laddonia, mother of the Beal boys, visited here at the same time."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, February 5, 1903
"C.W. Beal went to Missouri Tuesday on receipt of a telegram that his mother was again dangerously ill. Another telegram came yesterday that she died yesterday. The Republican extends sympathy to this community."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 12, 1903
Hon. C.W. Beal of Nebraska attended the funeral of his mother here last week."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, October 8, 1903
"Mrs. C.W. Beal, Miss Julia Willis and Mrs. Jas. Predmore left Monday morning for Nebraska City to attend the state women's suffrage convention."
-----
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, March 23, 1905
"C.W. Beal was called to Missouri Tuesday by the serious illness of a brother." This would have been his brother, Grant.
-----
Charles's brother, Elgin, died on
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, December 1, 1910
"TWO FORMER AUDRAIN COUNTY BOYS RETURN FOR A VISIT.
On Wednesday night of last week, the writer, in company with Levi Poor, arrived in Mexico from Custer county, Neb., where we had lived for many years. We were desirous of visiting relatives and old friends at and in the neighborhood of Mexico and Laddonia. Our minds had been busy with the question, 'Who will we know, anybody?' and we could think of but few. But on reaching Laddonia on Thursday, we were surprised at finding so many of the oldtimers till there.
We met Dr. C.A. Smith, S. Landrum, Jeff Asher, P.I. Pierce, George and Ed. Summers and their brother. Ed. lives in Hall county, Neb., and Will in Iowa, but they had been called to Laddonia by the serious illness of their mother. We met our old friend, Nick Smith, whom we had not seen for 30 years, but who improves and is better looking now than he was then; G..W. Hampton, Charley Torreyson, Lavel Bruton and Frank Hendricks. We had a pleasant visit with Mr. and Mrs. Field Akridge. We knew Mrs. Akridge 40 years ago as 'Beck' Thomas and a might nice girl she was. We also visited with Mrs. Onie Beal who lives with her little son, Clark, while the older son, Garth, has a lucrative position with the railroad company at Bowling Green. Mrs. Beal has had her share of trouble of life but maintains a sunny disposition and leads a hopeful life.
We visited the old place where the writer first saw the light of day. The old house is burned down, the trees that stood in the yard have been cut down, and nearly every spot sacred to our memory, desecrated, with the view to commercial advantages.
We visited Uncle Frank Morris and family near Wesley Chapel church. Uncle Frank moved to the farm on which he now lives 38 years ago from Kentucky. His good wife died about two years ago which he mentioned as the severest blow of his life. He is now 87 years of age, but his hearing is still good, his eye is bright, he stands and walks erect. His natural forces are all intact and he bids fair to live many years yet and enjoy life. It was indeed a pleasant visit we had with Mr. Morris and his two interesting daughter, Misses Fannie and Ivy.
We also visited Mr. and Mrs. David Price, on West Lick, who still live on the farm where they have lived 30 years. These good people always did appear to enjoy life and are holding their own well.
We also met Mrs. Bessie Beagles whom we knew in her early childhood, afterwards as a bright girl and one of the progressive teachers of Audrain county. We also met Alice Mooman Brown, whose hearty laugh bespeaks still the pleasure she gets out of life.
The friends of yore whom we met wee all so cordial and friendly that we parted reluctantly each time with the wish that our time had not been limited, but the cordial treatment we received added freshness to life and inspired us with greater vigor to meet and overcome the difficulties still in store. C.W. Beal"
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, September 10, 1914
"C.W. Beal, a brother of the editor of the Message, is a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the State senate from Custer county and four adjoining counties in Nebraska."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, April 29, 1915
(Article in part by Charles's brother, John.)
"A VISIT TO 'THE OLD HOME FARM' - CROP CONDITIONS IN AUDRAIN.
The editor of the Message in company with father and daughter and brother, W.W. Beal, of Nebraska, took a hurried auto trip a few days ago across the country northeast from Mexico 17 miles to the old farm where the editor and brother were born and reared.
The farm is composed of 160 acres and was 'entered' by father from the Government at 12 1/2 cents per acre. We walked over the old grounds again. Everything is changed and all the former improvements are gone. The house and bar and all the old trees are no more. We found but one relic, and that was a patent gate, sawed out of oak wood, and put up about 45 years ago, where it still hangs. It was hard to realize that it was the same old grounds we had gambolized over in the years agone. ... ."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, November 16, 1916
"C.W. Beal, attorney-at-law, at Broken Bow, Neb., who is a brother of the editor of the Message, was elected to the State Senate from his district on the Democratic ticket in the election last week. The district is normally Republican, but he won by upwards of over 1,200 plurality. He was given the larges majority ever received by any candidate in the district. It is a triumph Charlie is justly proud of, and it will also rejoice all his old friends in Audrain where he was born and reared."
-----
Charles's beloved father died from an "attack of grippe" at his home of his son, John, on February 12, 1917.
-----
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 22, 1917
"C.W. Beal of Broken Bow, Neb., and Mrs. Onie Beal and two sons, Garth and Clark Beal, of Odessa, Mo., attended the funeral of W.H. Beal in Mexico last week."
Researched & compiled by Virginia Brown
May 2016
Charles W. Beal received his education in the college at Hillsdale, Mich., and in the law department of the Nebraska university, class of 1899. In 1899 he was president of the senior law class of the University of Nebraska.
When first arriving in Nebraska he settle near Ansley, Custer County, and taught school for three years. December 1, 1893, he engaged in the newspaper business with his brother, Elgin L. Beal, having purchased the Custer County Beacon which had been started by a stock company in 1890. The Beacon is populist in politics. Mr. Beal was a Republican but is now a strong supporter of the Fusion party. In 1893 he served in the lower house of the legislature and in 1897 was a member of the senate from the 15th district. He was a member of the committee that investigated the state officers' accounts.
During the latter term he introduced a bill abolishing deficiency judgments passed by the legislature in 1897. The law provides that when a decree is given in a real estate mortgage foreclosure, no deficiency judgments against the mortgagor can be secured.
He was active in securing the passage of a bill to reduce the freight rates; also the bill to require land owners to fill up old wells and pitfalls, and the bill authorizing county treasurers to draw from sinking funds to pay warrants against the general funds.
He has served as chairman of the populist central committee for a number of years and on the state committee during several campaigns. He was a delegate to the Omaha nation convention, 1892, and to St. Louis in 1896 as well as to the Cincinnati convention that organized the people's party in 1891.
Mr. Beal engaged in the practice of law in July 1899 forming a partnership with A.P. Smith of Broken Bow, the firm name being Beal & Smith.
He is a member of the Church of Christ. He was married January 1, 1896, to Kate Willis, daughter of John Willis, pioneer of Custer County, and two children have been born to them: Annabel and Franklin.
Mr. Beal was appointed in 1909 a member of the state bar commission for examination of applicants for admission to the bar, and has served one year. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Custer County in 1910 and is serving his second year."
Illustrated History of Nebraska, Vol. 2 by Julius Sterling Morton, Albert Watkins, & George Miller.
-----
"POLITICS DIDN'T PAY
A few of the leaders of the Farmers' Alliance resurrected the Citizen and established the Alliance Motor, with A.J. Evans, of Thedford, as editor. The Motor was not a financial source and soon suspended. In April 1890 the Motor material was gotten together by the stockholders,and the paper was re-established. C.W. Beal, president of the Farmers' Alliance, being elected president and manager. The paper was called the CUSTER COUNTY BEACON.
In 1890 E.M. Webb became associated with Mr. Beal in the publication of this paper. The Beacon was soon recognized as the leading Populist paper of central Nebraska. In the course of three years E.L. Beal, of Ansley, was induced to leave his farm and join his brother, C.W. Beal, in promoting the Alliance doctrine. The Beal brothers eventually purchased a majority of the stock of the other members of the company and assumed full control of the plant.
Except during the year 1898 when C.W. Beal served one term in the stat senate, the two brothers did all the editorial and mechanical work of the office. During C.W. Beal's absence, F.A. Amsberry, of Mason City, was employed as assistant editor.
The Beal brothers continued to published the Beacon until 1907, when Elgin I. Beal retired to the farm, with his family, and left the entire charge of the paper to his brother, Charles W. Beal, who later leased the plant to a man from Ord, Nebraska. The publication of the Beacon was soon afterward discontinued and the material sold."
History of Custer County, Nebraska, A Narrative of the Past by William Levi Gaston.
-----
Newspaper articles, published over the years, too numerous to include all, have helped provide a brief glimpse into his life.
The Kearney Daily Hub (Kearney, NE)
Wednesday, May 23, 1894
BROKEN BOW GETS THE CONVENTION (article in part)
"Another editor was there, C.W. Beal, of the Broken Bow Beacon, a paper that was heard of in this city for the first time yesterday. He waas down here in the interest of its circulation the state of which is causing him great apprehension."
-----
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, July 19, 1900
NEIGHBORLY NEIGHBORS
"Hon. C.W. Beal, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, visited the family of his brother, John Beal, of this city, first of the week. Mrs. Henry Beal of Laddonia, mother of the Beal boys, visited here at the same time."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, February 5, 1903
"C.W. Beal went to Missouri Tuesday on receipt of a telegram that his mother was again dangerously ill. Another telegram came yesterday that she died yesterday. The Republican extends sympathy to this community."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 12, 1903
Hon. C.W. Beal of Nebraska attended the funeral of his mother here last week."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, October 8, 1903
"Mrs. C.W. Beal, Miss Julia Willis and Mrs. Jas. Predmore left Monday morning for Nebraska City to attend the state women's suffrage convention."
-----
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, March 23, 1905
"C.W. Beal was called to Missouri Tuesday by the serious illness of a brother." This would have been his brother, Grant.
-----
Charles's brother, Elgin, died on
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, December 1, 1910
"TWO FORMER AUDRAIN COUNTY BOYS RETURN FOR A VISIT.
On Wednesday night of last week, the writer, in company with Levi Poor, arrived in Mexico from Custer county, Neb., where we had lived for many years. We were desirous of visiting relatives and old friends at and in the neighborhood of Mexico and Laddonia. Our minds had been busy with the question, 'Who will we know, anybody?' and we could think of but few. But on reaching Laddonia on Thursday, we were surprised at finding so many of the oldtimers till there.
We met Dr. C.A. Smith, S. Landrum, Jeff Asher, P.I. Pierce, George and Ed. Summers and their brother. Ed. lives in Hall county, Neb., and Will in Iowa, but they had been called to Laddonia by the serious illness of their mother. We met our old friend, Nick Smith, whom we had not seen for 30 years, but who improves and is better looking now than he was then; G..W. Hampton, Charley Torreyson, Lavel Bruton and Frank Hendricks. We had a pleasant visit with Mr. and Mrs. Field Akridge. We knew Mrs. Akridge 40 years ago as 'Beck' Thomas and a might nice girl she was. We also visited with Mrs. Onie Beal who lives with her little son, Clark, while the older son, Garth, has a lucrative position with the railroad company at Bowling Green. Mrs. Beal has had her share of trouble of life but maintains a sunny disposition and leads a hopeful life.
We visited the old place where the writer first saw the light of day. The old house is burned down, the trees that stood in the yard have been cut down, and nearly every spot sacred to our memory, desecrated, with the view to commercial advantages.
We visited Uncle Frank Morris and family near Wesley Chapel church. Uncle Frank moved to the farm on which he now lives 38 years ago from Kentucky. His good wife died about two years ago which he mentioned as the severest blow of his life. He is now 87 years of age, but his hearing is still good, his eye is bright, he stands and walks erect. His natural forces are all intact and he bids fair to live many years yet and enjoy life. It was indeed a pleasant visit we had with Mr. Morris and his two interesting daughter, Misses Fannie and Ivy.
We also visited Mr. and Mrs. David Price, on West Lick, who still live on the farm where they have lived 30 years. These good people always did appear to enjoy life and are holding their own well.
We also met Mrs. Bessie Beagles whom we knew in her early childhood, afterwards as a bright girl and one of the progressive teachers of Audrain county. We also met Alice Mooman Brown, whose hearty laugh bespeaks still the pleasure she gets out of life.
The friends of yore whom we met wee all so cordial and friendly that we parted reluctantly each time with the wish that our time had not been limited, but the cordial treatment we received added freshness to life and inspired us with greater vigor to meet and overcome the difficulties still in store. C.W. Beal"
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, September 10, 1914
"C.W. Beal, a brother of the editor of the Message, is a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the State senate from Custer county and four adjoining counties in Nebraska."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, April 29, 1915
(Article in part by Charles's brother, John.)
"A VISIT TO 'THE OLD HOME FARM' - CROP CONDITIONS IN AUDRAIN.
The editor of the Message in company with father and daughter and brother, W.W. Beal, of Nebraska, took a hurried auto trip a few days ago across the country northeast from Mexico 17 miles to the old farm where the editor and brother were born and reared.
The farm is composed of 160 acres and was 'entered' by father from the Government at 12 1/2 cents per acre. We walked over the old grounds again. Everything is changed and all the former improvements are gone. The house and bar and all the old trees are no more. We found but one relic, and that was a patent gate, sawed out of oak wood, and put up about 45 years ago, where it still hangs. It was hard to realize that it was the same old grounds we had gambolized over in the years agone. ... ."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, November 16, 1916
"C.W. Beal, attorney-at-law, at Broken Bow, Neb., who is a brother of the editor of the Message, was elected to the State Senate from his district on the Democratic ticket in the election last week. The district is normally Republican, but he won by upwards of over 1,200 plurality. He was given the larges majority ever received by any candidate in the district. It is a triumph Charlie is justly proud of, and it will also rejoice all his old friends in Audrain where he was born and reared."
-----
Charles's beloved father died from an "attack of grippe" at his home of his son, John, on February 12, 1917.
-----
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 22, 1917
"C.W. Beal of Broken Bow, Neb., and Mrs. Onie Beal and two sons, Garth and Clark Beal, of Odessa, Mo., attended the funeral of W.H. Beal in Mexico last week."
Researched & compiled by Virginia Brown
May 2016
"Beal, Charles William, attorney, editor and publisher of the Custer County Beacon, Broken Bow, Neb., was born in Laddonia, Mo., April 25, 1860, and is a son of W.H. and Jane (Stout) Beal, from Madison, Ind. W.H. Beal served in the militia during the Civil War, which kept Missouri from leaving the Union in 1861.
Charles W. Beal received his education in the college at Hillsdale, Mich., and in the law department of the Nebraska university, class of 1899. In 1899 he was president of the senior law class of the University of Nebraska.
When first arriving in Nebraska he settle near Ansley, Custer County, and taught school for three years. December 1, 1893, he engaged in the newspaper business with his brother, Elgin L. Beal, having purchased the Custer County Beacon which had been started by a stock company in 1890. The Beacon is populist in politics. Mr. Beal was a Republican but is now a strong supporter of the Fusion party. In 1893 he served in the lower house of the legislature and in 1897 was a member of the senate from the 15th district. He was a member of the committee that investigated the state officers' accounts.
During the latter term he introduced a bill abolishing deficiency judgments passed by the legislature in 1897. The law provides that when a decree is given in a real estate mortgage foreclosure, no deficiency judgments against the mortgagor can be secured.
He was active in securing the passage of a bill to reduce the freight rates; also the bill to require land owners to fill up old wells and pitfalls, and the bill authorizing county treasurers to draw from sinking funds to pay warrants against the general funds.
He has served as chairman of the populist central committee for a number of years and on the state committee during several campaigns. He was a delegate to the Omaha nation convention, 1892, and to St. Louis in 1896 as well as to the Cincinnati convention that organized the people's party in 1891.
Mr. Beal engaged in the practice of law in July 1899 forming a partnership with A.P. Smith of Broken Bow, the firm name being Beal & Smith.
He is a member of the Church of Christ. He was married January 1, 1896, to Kate Willis, daughter of John Willis, pioneer of Custer County, and two children have been born to them: Annabel and Franklin.
Mr. Beal was appointed in 1909 a member of the state bar commission for examination of applicants for admission to the bar, and has served one year. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Custer County in 1910 and is serving his second year."
Illustrated History of Nebraska, Vol. 2 by Julius Sterling Morton, Albert Watkins, & George Miller.
-----
"POLITICS DIDN'T PAY
A few of the leaders of the Farmers' Alliance resurrected the Citizen and established the Alliance Motor, with A.J. Evans, of Thedford, as editor. The Motor was not a financial source and soon suspended. In April 1890 the Motor material was gotten together by the stockholders,and the paper was re-established. C.W. Beal, president of the Farmers' Alliance, being elected president and manager. The paper was called the CUSTER COUNTY BEACON.
In 1890 E.M. Webb became associated with Mr. Beal in the publication of this paper. The Beacon was soon recognized as the leading Populist paper of central Nebraska. In the course of three years E.L. Beal, of Ansley, was induced to leave his farm and join his brother, C.W. Beal, in promoting the Alliance doctrine. The Beal brothers eventually purchased a majority of the stock of the other members of the company and assumed full control of the plant.
Except during the year 1898 when C.W. Beal served one term in the stat senate, the two brothers did all the editorial and mechanical work of the office. During C.W. Beal's absence, F.A. Amsberry, of Mason City, was employed as assistant editor.
The Beal brothers continued to published the Beacon until 1907, when Elgin I. Beal retired to the farm, with his family, and left the entire charge of the paper to his brother, Charles W. Beal, who later leased the plant to a man from Ord, Nebraska. The publication of the Beacon was soon afterward discontinued and the material sold."
History of Custer County, Nebraska, A Narrative of the Past by William Levi Gaston.
-----
Newspaper articles, published over the years, too numerous to include all, have helped provide a brief glimpse into his life.
The Kearney Daily Hub (Kearney, NE)
Wednesday, May 23, 1894
BROKEN BOW GETS THE CONVENTION (article in part)
"Another editor was there, C.W. Beal, of the Broken Bow Beacon, a paper that was heard of in this city for the first time yesterday. He waas down here in the interest of its circulation the state of which is causing him great apprehension."
-----
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, July 19, 1900
NEIGHBORLY NEIGHBORS
"Hon. C.W. Beal, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, visited the family of his brother, John Beal, of this city, first of the week. Mrs. Henry Beal of Laddonia, mother of the Beal boys, visited here at the same time."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, February 5, 1903
"C.W. Beal went to Missouri Tuesday on receipt of a telegram that his mother was again dangerously ill. Another telegram came yesterday that she died yesterday. The Republican extends sympathy to this community."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 12, 1903
Hon. C.W. Beal of Nebraska attended the funeral of his mother here last week."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, October 8, 1903
"Mrs. C.W. Beal, Miss Julia Willis and Mrs. Jas. Predmore left Monday morning for Nebraska City to attend the state women's suffrage convention."
-----
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, March 23, 1905
"C.W. Beal was called to Missouri Tuesday by the serious illness of a brother." This would have been his brother, Grant.
-----
Charles's brother, Elgin, died on
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, December 1, 1910
"TWO FORMER AUDRAIN COUNTY BOYS RETURN FOR A VISIT.
On Wednesday night of last week, the writer, in company with Levi Poor, arrived in Mexico from Custer county, Neb., where we had lived for many years. We were desirous of visiting relatives and old friends at and in the neighborhood of Mexico and Laddonia. Our minds had been busy with the question, 'Who will we know, anybody?' and we could think of but few. But on reaching Laddonia on Thursday, we were surprised at finding so many of the oldtimers till there.
We met Dr. C.A. Smith, S. Landrum, Jeff Asher, P.I. Pierce, George and Ed. Summers and their brother. Ed. lives in Hall county, Neb., and Will in Iowa, but they had been called to Laddonia by the serious illness of their mother. We met our old friend, Nick Smith, whom we had not seen for 30 years, but who improves and is better looking now than he was then; G..W. Hampton, Charley Torreyson, Lavel Bruton and Frank Hendricks. We had a pleasant visit with Mr. and Mrs. Field Akridge. We knew Mrs. Akridge 40 years ago as 'Beck' Thomas and a might nice girl she was. We also visited with Mrs. Onie Beal who lives with her little son, Clark, while the older son, Garth, has a lucrative position with the railroad company at Bowling Green. Mrs. Beal has had her share of trouble of life but maintains a sunny disposition and leads a hopeful life.
We visited the old place where the writer first saw the light of day. The old house is burned down, the trees that stood in the yard have been cut down, and nearly every spot sacred to our memory, desecrated, with the view to commercial advantages.
We visited Uncle Frank Morris and family near Wesley Chapel church. Uncle Frank moved to the farm on which he now lives 38 years ago from Kentucky. His good wife died about two years ago which he mentioned as the severest blow of his life. He is now 87 years of age, but his hearing is still good, his eye is bright, he stands and walks erect. His natural forces are all intact and he bids fair to live many years yet and enjoy life. It was indeed a pleasant visit we had with Mr. Morris and his two interesting daughter, Misses Fannie and Ivy.
We also visited Mr. and Mrs. David Price, on West Lick, who still live on the farm where they have lived 30 years. These good people always did appear to enjoy life and are holding their own well.
We also met Mrs. Bessie Beagles whom we knew in her early childhood, afterwards as a bright girl and one of the progressive teachers of Audrain county. We also met Alice Mooman Brown, whose hearty laugh bespeaks still the pleasure she gets out of life.
The friends of yore whom we met wee all so cordial and friendly that we parted reluctantly each time with the wish that our time had not been limited, but the cordial treatment we received added freshness to life and inspired us with greater vigor to meet and overcome the difficulties still in store. C.W. Beal"
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, September 10, 1914
"C.W. Beal, a brother of the editor of the Message, is a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the State senate from Custer county and four adjoining counties in Nebraska."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, April 29, 1915
(Article in part by Charles's brother, John.)
"A VISIT TO 'THE OLD HOME FARM' - CROP CONDITIONS IN AUDRAIN.
The editor of the Message in company with father and daughter and brother, W.W. Beal, of Nebraska, took a hurried auto trip a few days ago across the country northeast from Mexico 17 miles to the old farm where the editor and brother were born and reared.
The farm is composed of 160 acres and was 'entered' by father from the Government at 12 1/2 cents per acre. We walked over the old grounds again. Everything is changed and all the former improvements are gone. The house and bar and all the old trees are no more. We found but one relic, and that was a patent gate, sawed out of oak wood, and put up about 45 years ago, where it still hangs. It was hard to realize that it was the same old grounds we had gambolized over in the years agone. ... ."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, November 16, 1916
"C.W. Beal, attorney-at-law, at Broken Bow, Neb., who is a brother of the editor of the Message, was elected to the State Senate from his district on the Democratic ticket in the election last week. The district is normally Republican, but he won by upwards of over 1,200 plurality. He was given the larges majority ever received by any candidate in the district. It is a triumph Charlie is justly proud of, and it will also rejoice all his old friends in Audrain where he was born and reared."
-----
Charles's beloved father died from an "attack of grippe" at his home of his son, John, on February 12, 1917.
-----
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 22, 1917
"C.W. Beal of Broken Bow, Neb., and Mrs. Onie Beal and two sons, Garth and Clark Beal, of Odessa, Mo., attended the funeral of W.H. Beal in Mexico last week."
Researched & compiled by Virginia Brown
May 2016
Charles W. Beal received his education in the college at Hillsdale, Mich., and in the law department of the Nebraska university, class of 1899. In 1899 he was president of the senior law class of the University of Nebraska.
When first arriving in Nebraska he settle near Ansley, Custer County, and taught school for three years. December 1, 1893, he engaged in the newspaper business with his brother, Elgin L. Beal, having purchased the Custer County Beacon which had been started by a stock company in 1890. The Beacon is populist in politics. Mr. Beal was a Republican but is now a strong supporter of the Fusion party. In 1893 he served in the lower house of the legislature and in 1897 was a member of the senate from the 15th district. He was a member of the committee that investigated the state officers' accounts.
During the latter term he introduced a bill abolishing deficiency judgments passed by the legislature in 1897. The law provides that when a decree is given in a real estate mortgage foreclosure, no deficiency judgments against the mortgagor can be secured.
He was active in securing the passage of a bill to reduce the freight rates; also the bill to require land owners to fill up old wells and pitfalls, and the bill authorizing county treasurers to draw from sinking funds to pay warrants against the general funds.
He has served as chairman of the populist central committee for a number of years and on the state committee during several campaigns. He was a delegate to the Omaha nation convention, 1892, and to St. Louis in 1896 as well as to the Cincinnati convention that organized the people's party in 1891.
Mr. Beal engaged in the practice of law in July 1899 forming a partnership with A.P. Smith of Broken Bow, the firm name being Beal & Smith.
He is a member of the Church of Christ. He was married January 1, 1896, to Kate Willis, daughter of John Willis, pioneer of Custer County, and two children have been born to them: Annabel and Franklin.
Mr. Beal was appointed in 1909 a member of the state bar commission for examination of applicants for admission to the bar, and has served one year. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Custer County in 1910 and is serving his second year."
Illustrated History of Nebraska, Vol. 2 by Julius Sterling Morton, Albert Watkins, & George Miller.
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"POLITICS DIDN'T PAY
A few of the leaders of the Farmers' Alliance resurrected the Citizen and established the Alliance Motor, with A.J. Evans, of Thedford, as editor. The Motor was not a financial source and soon suspended. In April 1890 the Motor material was gotten together by the stockholders,and the paper was re-established. C.W. Beal, president of the Farmers' Alliance, being elected president and manager. The paper was called the CUSTER COUNTY BEACON.
In 1890 E.M. Webb became associated with Mr. Beal in the publication of this paper. The Beacon was soon recognized as the leading Populist paper of central Nebraska. In the course of three years E.L. Beal, of Ansley, was induced to leave his farm and join his brother, C.W. Beal, in promoting the Alliance doctrine. The Beal brothers eventually purchased a majority of the stock of the other members of the company and assumed full control of the plant.
Except during the year 1898 when C.W. Beal served one term in the stat senate, the two brothers did all the editorial and mechanical work of the office. During C.W. Beal's absence, F.A. Amsberry, of Mason City, was employed as assistant editor.
The Beal brothers continued to published the Beacon until 1907, when Elgin I. Beal retired to the farm, with his family, and left the entire charge of the paper to his brother, Charles W. Beal, who later leased the plant to a man from Ord, Nebraska. The publication of the Beacon was soon afterward discontinued and the material sold."
History of Custer County, Nebraska, A Narrative of the Past by William Levi Gaston.
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Newspaper articles, published over the years, too numerous to include all, have helped provide a brief glimpse into his life.
The Kearney Daily Hub (Kearney, NE)
Wednesday, May 23, 1894
BROKEN BOW GETS THE CONVENTION (article in part)
"Another editor was there, C.W. Beal, of the Broken Bow Beacon, a paper that was heard of in this city for the first time yesterday. He waas down here in the interest of its circulation the state of which is causing him great apprehension."
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Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, July 19, 1900
NEIGHBORLY NEIGHBORS
"Hon. C.W. Beal, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, visited the family of his brother, John Beal, of this city, first of the week. Mrs. Henry Beal of Laddonia, mother of the Beal boys, visited here at the same time."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, February 5, 1903
"C.W. Beal went to Missouri Tuesday on receipt of a telegram that his mother was again dangerously ill. Another telegram came yesterday that she died yesterday. The Republican extends sympathy to this community."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 12, 1903
Hon. C.W. Beal of Nebraska attended the funeral of his mother here last week."
Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, October 8, 1903
"Mrs. C.W. Beal, Miss Julia Willis and Mrs. Jas. Predmore left Monday morning for Nebraska City to attend the state women's suffrage convention."
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Custer County Republican (Broken Bow, NE)
Thursday, March 23, 1905
"C.W. Beal was called to Missouri Tuesday by the serious illness of a brother." This would have been his brother, Grant.
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Charles's brother, Elgin, died on
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, December 1, 1910
"TWO FORMER AUDRAIN COUNTY BOYS RETURN FOR A VISIT.
On Wednesday night of last week, the writer, in company with Levi Poor, arrived in Mexico from Custer county, Neb., where we had lived for many years. We were desirous of visiting relatives and old friends at and in the neighborhood of Mexico and Laddonia. Our minds had been busy with the question, 'Who will we know, anybody?' and we could think of but few. But on reaching Laddonia on Thursday, we were surprised at finding so many of the oldtimers till there.
We met Dr. C.A. Smith, S. Landrum, Jeff Asher, P.I. Pierce, George and Ed. Summers and their brother. Ed. lives in Hall county, Neb., and Will in Iowa, but they had been called to Laddonia by the serious illness of their mother. We met our old friend, Nick Smith, whom we had not seen for 30 years, but who improves and is better looking now than he was then; G..W. Hampton, Charley Torreyson, Lavel Bruton and Frank Hendricks. We had a pleasant visit with Mr. and Mrs. Field Akridge. We knew Mrs. Akridge 40 years ago as 'Beck' Thomas and a might nice girl she was. We also visited with Mrs. Onie Beal who lives with her little son, Clark, while the older son, Garth, has a lucrative position with the railroad company at Bowling Green. Mrs. Beal has had her share of trouble of life but maintains a sunny disposition and leads a hopeful life.
We visited the old place where the writer first saw the light of day. The old house is burned down, the trees that stood in the yard have been cut down, and nearly every spot sacred to our memory, desecrated, with the view to commercial advantages.
We visited Uncle Frank Morris and family near Wesley Chapel church. Uncle Frank moved to the farm on which he now lives 38 years ago from Kentucky. His good wife died about two years ago which he mentioned as the severest blow of his life. He is now 87 years of age, but his hearing is still good, his eye is bright, he stands and walks erect. His natural forces are all intact and he bids fair to live many years yet and enjoy life. It was indeed a pleasant visit we had with Mr. Morris and his two interesting daughter, Misses Fannie and Ivy.
We also visited Mr. and Mrs. David Price, on West Lick, who still live on the farm where they have lived 30 years. These good people always did appear to enjoy life and are holding their own well.
We also met Mrs. Bessie Beagles whom we knew in her early childhood, afterwards as a bright girl and one of the progressive teachers of Audrain county. We also met Alice Mooman Brown, whose hearty laugh bespeaks still the pleasure she gets out of life.
The friends of yore whom we met wee all so cordial and friendly that we parted reluctantly each time with the wish that our time had not been limited, but the cordial treatment we received added freshness to life and inspired us with greater vigor to meet and overcome the difficulties still in store. C.W. Beal"
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, September 10, 1914
"C.W. Beal, a brother of the editor of the Message, is a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the State senate from Custer county and four adjoining counties in Nebraska."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, April 29, 1915
(Article in part by Charles's brother, John.)
"A VISIT TO 'THE OLD HOME FARM' - CROP CONDITIONS IN AUDRAIN.
The editor of the Message in company with father and daughter and brother, W.W. Beal, of Nebraska, took a hurried auto trip a few days ago across the country northeast from Mexico 17 miles to the old farm where the editor and brother were born and reared.
The farm is composed of 160 acres and was 'entered' by father from the Government at 12 1/2 cents per acre. We walked over the old grounds again. Everything is changed and all the former improvements are gone. The house and bar and all the old trees are no more. We found but one relic, and that was a patent gate, sawed out of oak wood, and put up about 45 years ago, where it still hangs. It was hard to realize that it was the same old grounds we had gambolized over in the years agone. ... ."
Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, November 16, 1916
"C.W. Beal, attorney-at-law, at Broken Bow, Neb., who is a brother of the editor of the Message, was elected to the State Senate from his district on the Democratic ticket in the election last week. The district is normally Republican, but he won by upwards of over 1,200 plurality. He was given the larges majority ever received by any candidate in the district. It is a triumph Charlie is justly proud of, and it will also rejoice all his old friends in Audrain where he was born and reared."
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Charles's beloved father died from an "attack of grippe" at his home of his son, John, on February 12, 1917.
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Mexico Missouri Message (Mexico, MO)
Thursday, February 22, 1917
"C.W. Beal of Broken Bow, Neb., and Mrs. Onie Beal and two sons, Garth and Clark Beal, of Odessa, Mo., attended the funeral of W.H. Beal in Mexico last week."
Researched & compiled by Virginia Brown
May 2016
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