Jasper S. Beal
Jasper S. Beal, former marshal of the city of Yellow Springs and a retired farmer now living in that city, was born on a farm in Beavercreek township, this county, February 9, 1847, son of Thomas and Priscilla (Hopping) Beal, both of whom also were born in this county and whose last days were spent here.
Thomas Beal was born on October 26, 1821, son of Thomas Beal, and on May 27, 1845, married Priscilla Hopping, who was born on August 13, 1825, a daughter of John and Patsy Hopping, also pioneers of Greene county. After his marriage he established his home on a farm in Beavercreek township and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, her death occurring on February 18, 1847, when her son, the subject of this sketch, was nine days old, and less than two years after her marriage. She left also a baby daughter, Martha J. Florence, born on March 3, 1846, who married Martin Harner and died in 1897. Thomas Beal survived his wife but seven years, his death occurring on April 12, 1854, his son Jasper being then but seven years of age.
Thus early bereaved of his parents, Jasper S. Beal was reared by Jane Holland, of Beavercreek township, and received his schooling in the local public schools. In due time he took charge of the farm on which he was born and which he still owns, a place of one hundred and thirty acres, and after his marriage in the spring of 1872 established his home on that farm and there resided practically all the time until his retirement from the farm and removal in 1891 to Yellow Springs, where he has resided ever since, a period of twenty-six years. About 1887 Mr. Beal left the farm for a while and went to Kankakee, Illinois, where he became engaged in the confectionery business, but after two years of that sort of experience returned to the farm. Mr., Beal is a Repulilican and for two terms served as marshal of Yellow Springs.
Mr. Beal has been twice married. On March 27, 1872, he was united in marriage to Martha Jane Watson, who died on June 27, 1879, leaving on April 3, 1884. On October 12, 1881, Mr. Beal married Margaret J. one child, a daughter, Bessie Jane, born on November 1, 1877, and who died Hume, who was born in New York state and who was but an infant when her parents, Robert and Phoebe (Sines) Hume, came to Ohio and located on a farm in Miami township, this county. To this second union one child was born, a son, Jasper L. Beal, born on December 30, 1885, who married Amy Booth, who died in October, 1913, leaving three children. Mary Frances, Jasper A. N. and Robert Leon. Mr. and Mrs. Beal are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Beal is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918