My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT BEATTY, ESQ. The father of this gentleman, William Beatty, of Franklin county, Pa., was among the earliest land-claimants of Patton township. In the border war with the French and Indian allies he commanded a company in Bouquet’s division of Forbes army, and accompanied the troops on the march through this region enroute to Fort Duquesne, in the campaign of 1758. Being pleased with the country, he located a large tract of land in the vicinity of what is now Monroeville, also a similar tract in Westmoreland county. He never settled on the lands, but died in Franklin county at an advanced age, and his sons, Robert, Thomas and Samuel, subsequently removed thereon and there remained permanently.

Robert, the subject of this sketch, was born in Conongochique valley, Franklin county, Pa., in 1769. After receiving a liberal education he adopted the vocation of civil engineer and surveyor. In 1793 he received a commission from Gov. Mifflin to survey unappropriated lands in the state, and was afterward frequently employed in surveying for the state. He finally resolved to enter a commercial life, and accordingly commenced business in Alexandria, Pa. He married Rebeckah, daughter of Eli Coulter, Esq., of Greensburg, Pa., and by her had fourteen children, all of whom attained to years of maturity. After his marriage he opened a general store in Greensburg, where he remained in business some years, when he disposed of it, and was again employed in surveying for the state. In 1804 he was appointed attorney and agent for the Holland Land company, which office he filled for some years. In the meantime he removed his family to Kittanning, Pa., where he invested in real estate, upon which much of the town is now located. At this place he erected a flouring-mill, and engaged in the milling business. In 1808 Gov. McKean appointed him justice of the peace for Kittanning, and commissioned him to survey and establish the boundary-lines of different counties in the state. He was a member of the militia at this time, attaining to the rank of major, and Gov. McKean appointed him an inspector of the militia. He removed to this county in 1812, where he resided permanently during the remainder of his life. President Madison appointed him collector of internal revenue for Allegheny county in 1813; in 1815-16 he was further engaged in surveying for the state. In 1819 Gov. Findlay appointed him justice of the peace for the district now composed of the townships of Patton and Plum, and he was the incumbent of that office until 1838; he was a presiding justice for a long series of years. Surveyor-Gen. Cochran appointed him surveyor of Allegheny county in 1821. In 1827 he was appointed agent for the state board of property, and afterward surveyor for the land department. In the meantime he conducted extensive farming operations for many years on the farm where he resided. Mr. Beatty was possessed of efficient business qualifications, and was a man of culture and literary tastes, and an earnest, sincere Christian. In politics he was an adherent of the principles of the progressive party, and was well known in political circles; in religion he was a Presbyterian. He died in the year 1889, when sixty-nine years of age, while his consort, who survived him, died in 1854, aged seventy-three.