My Genealogy Hound

JOHN H. BEIGHE, Burgess of the Board of the Council of East Mauch Chunk, is prominently connected with the political interests of Carbon County, having taken quite a prominent part in public affairs as a supporter of Republican principles. He was for some years quite active in business circles, but excepting his official duties he is now living retired. He was born in Carbon County on the 8th of October, 1835, and is a son of John Beighe. His father was a native of Northampton County, Pa., and was a boat builder by trade. During the greater part of his life he was engaged in the construction of canalboats, out at length retired, having in a previous year acquired a comfortable competence that enabled him to lay aside business cares.

The gentleman whose name heads this notice was a child of only three years when with his parents he left Mahoning Township and removed to Mauch Chunk. He was the second youngest in a family of seven children, four of whom are yet living. The days of his boyhood and youth were passed in Carbon County in his parents’ home, and the educational privileges which he received were those afforded by the common schools. In that way he acquired a fair English education, and to his knowledge he has greatly added by reading, business experience and observation. With his father he learned the trade of boat building, and also worked at the same with Cornelius Miller. The canalboats which they constructed were used in conveying all sorts of products from Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia and New York. After he had mastered the business Mr. Beighe began business along that line in his own interest, and was thus successfully employed for a period of twenty-one years from 1868 until 1889. He furnished employment to some thirty men, and did an extensive business obtaining thereby a good income.

In 1859 Mr. Beighe was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Nolen, who resided in Tamaqua, Pa. One child was born of their union, Edwin E., who is now employed as a traveling salesman by a grocery house. The family make their home in East Mauch Chunk, whither they came on the retirement of Mr. Beighe from boat building. In 1890 he was elected to his present office for a term of one year, and at each succeeding election he has been chosen his own successor. He is faithful to his duties, and the trust reposed in him is manifested by his re-election. He is a warm advocate of the Republican party, and does all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. Socially he is connected with the Royal Arcanum. He possesses a good business and executive ability, which characterized his father’s career, and whatever he undertakes he carries forward to a successful completion. In this way he has become one of the substantial as well as one of the valued citizens of the community. During his residence in East Mauch Chunk he has become widely known and has gained many warm friends.