William A. McBeth
William A. McBeth, a prosperous farmer of Shawnee township, was born July 20, 1861, in Placerville, California, to which place his parents had moved during the gold fever before their marriage. He is a son of James and Eliza (Gardner) McBeth, who were the parents of one other son, J. O., who resides in Lima. James McBeth was born in Scotland in 1827, and came to America when he was about 21 years of age. He was a carpenter on a steamboat which plied between Boston and the Carolinas until he went to California. He remained there until about three years after his marriage, when he returned as far East as Ohio, and soon after enlisted in the 55th Ohio Regiment in which he served until the close of the war. He belonged to the Pioneer Corps which went in advance of the main army to build bridges, ect., and was with Sherman in his advance on Atlanta. He married Eliza Gardner, who was a native of West Virginia, but was reared in the vicinity of Mansfield, Ohio. After coming to Allen County, James McBeth became a farmer and purchased a farm of 180 acres. This land had, at one time, been owned by the Indian chief Turkey Foot, who had sold it to one Edwards, from whom Mr. McBeth bought it. The house then on the property had been built by its Indian owner. Later Mr. McBeth purchased the 70 acres upon which our subject resides, and still later he bought the 97 acres known as McBeth Park. He was county commissioner for two terms. He died at the age of 68 years. His wife died in November, 1890.
James McBeth built the beautiful lake which ornaments McBeth Park, and conducted a private park and pleasure resort for about 10 years, when the ground was leased to the Western Ohio Railway Company. It is one of the most delightful spots in Allen County and is a favorite resort of those who wish to while away a few pleasant hours. The lake covers 10 acres of ground and is 14 feet deep in many places, furnishing fine rowing and fishing, as it is stocked with perch, bass, catfish and sunfish. William A. McBeth now owns the lake, having inherited it from his father.
The immediate subject of this sketch was a child of one year when his parents located on the farm about one mile from his present residence in section 3. Here he grew to manhood and received his education, later entering the Lima High School and from this institution going to the Ohio Normal University located at Ada. He followed farming and stock-raising, and lived at home until his marriage, after which he moved to a farm of 35 acres which was born November 18, 1858. They have been some oil found on his land and a few wells sunk, but not in any number.
Mr. McBeth was married February 3, 1886, to Aldulia Reed, daughter of Emanuel and Elizabeth (O' Hara) Reed, and a native of Shawnee township, where she was born November 18, 1858. They have five children, viz: James, a violinist and cornetist of rare ability, who is devoting his time to music and lives at home; Harry Gardner, a student; Dwight C. and Hazel D. (twins) and Quay W. Mr. McBeth is a Democrat and has held a number of township offices. In religion he affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and fraternally he belongs to Lima Lodge, No, 205, F. & A. M.