Representative Citizens of Seattle and King County (Washington)-1903 pg. 664-666 WILLIAM: BEATTIE. For more than a score of years this sterling citizen and honored business man of Seattle has been a res1dent of this city, and his fortunes have varied with her epochs of prosperity and depression, but his steadfastness of purpose, indomitable energy, stanch integrity and thorough knowledge of the line of enterprise to which he has devoted his attention have proved adequate to enable him to overcome obstacles, recoup losses and win precedence as one of the successful and representative business men of the city. He is the senior member of the wagon manufacturing and general blacksmithing firm of Beattie & Son, whose well equipped establishment is located at Nos. 1612-14-16 Fourth avenue. William Beattie is a native of the state of Michigan, having been born m the town of Dexter, Washtena county, on the 9th of February, 1832, the son of William and Dorothea (Robson) Beattie, the former of whom was born in the highlands of Scotland and the latter in England. William Beattie, Sr., emigrated to America when a young man, about the year 1825, locating in the state of New York. In Ontario county, that state, he married Dorothea Robson, who had come with her parents to America when a child. Soon after their marriage they started for the wilds of Michigan, making the journey by means of team and wagon. He located in Livingston county, where he secured a tract of eighty acres of heavily timbered land, subsequently adding to the same until he was the owner of two hundred acres, which, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared and placed under cultivation. There he passed the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits, his death occurring about the year 1876. His first wife died in 1850, and he subsequently married Charlotte Emmett, who is likewise deceased. The father of our subject was a man of unassuming character, of inflexible integrity and was one of the world's earnest workers, commanding unqualified confidence and esteem. In his political proclivities he was a Democrat. and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. By the first marriage there were six children. of whom four lived to attain years of maturity, and of these three survive. Of the four we may record that Archibald, who was born in New York died in Michigan in 1899, having attained a venerable age; Anna is the wife of Andrew Sharp, of that state; and James also lives in Michigan. William Beattie was reared on the old homestead farm in Livingston county, Michigan, early beginning to contribute his quota to the work of reclaiming and cultivating the same, while his educational privileges were such as were afforded in the district school, two miles distant from his home, his attendance being limited to the short winter months, as was the case with the average farmer boy of the locality and period. He continued to assist in the work of the farm until he had attained the age of eighteen years, when he decided to adopt the vocation of a mechanic, with which object in view he entered a blacksmith shop at Howell, Livingston county, where he served a three years' apprenticeship and then remained for the succeeding four years in the employ of his instructor. Within this period, on the 13th of February, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Jeanette Melvin, who was born in Howell, a daugher of Rodney and Melvina (Sharp) Melvin, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. From Bowen Mr. Beattie removed to Marshall, Michigan, where he was engaged in the work of his trade for three years, then returning to the employ of his old master in Howell for an equal period, thereafter passing three years in Ionia, same state, after which he again removed to Howell, where he purchased the entire business of his former employer, who was then carrying on an excellent business in the manufacturing of carriages and wagons, this having been before the machine work of the later years had displaced the old and reliable hand productions in this line. Mr. Beattie continued to conduct the enterprise successfully, and that his operations were of no inconsiderable scope may be recognized when we revert to the fact that he had in his employ about twenty workmen. In the year 1870 Mr. Beattie met with a most grievous loss and bereavement, his wife being fatally burned by the explosion of a lamp, leaving him ,with four motherless children. He then left the three younger children with their maternal grandparents and, in company with his eldest son, Walter J., started for Sonoma county, California. Upon his arrival he engaged in the work of his trade at Cloverdale and there remained about three years, then taking passage for Portland, Oregon, on the ill-fated steamer Great Republic, which was stranded and burned on the lower Columbia river, our subject and his son, with the other passengers, being rescued from the wreck by a government boat, while several of the crew lost their lives. Mr. Beattie engaged in the work of his trade at Roseburg, Oregon, for a time, and then, in December, 1880, came to Washington, spending one season in the Ruby Stake country and then locating in Seattle, where he opened a blacksmith shop and where he has ever since maintained his home. His first shop was located in Madison street, near Railroad avenue, and there he built up a good business in blacksmithing and general repair work, but he lost all that he had accumulated in the great fire that swept the city in 1889, his loss aggregating about six thousand dollars. Not daunted by this great misfortune, he opened business in another shop, on the site of the present Times building, and his enterprise was conducted with such ability and discretion that its growth has been very gratifying. In 1901 Mr. Beattie erected his present building, which is two stories in height and sixty feet square, and here he is associated with his sons, Walter J. and Frank R., in the conducting of a general blacksmithing and repairing business and also the manufacture of the best grade of delivery wagons and heavy trucks, employment being given to a corps of ten capable workmen. In politics Mr. Beattie gives an unfaltering support to the principles of the Democratic party, in whose ranks he has been an active worker, having been a member of the county central committee and a delegate to various party conventions. He has never sought official preferment in the gift of his party since coming to Washington, but while living in Michigan he held a number of local offices. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows while a resident of Michigan, but has never maintained active affiliation in the west. Of the four children of our subject we enter brief record, as follows: Walter J. is the junior member of the firm of Beattie & Son; Frank is also connected with his father in business; Elbert is an electrician in Seattle; and Minnie is the wife of Grant Bicer, a stockman of Hunter's Hot Springs, Montana. 1840 United States Federal Census about Wm Beatie Name: Wm Beatie Township: Unadilla County: Livingston State: Michigan 2110001-0100001 1850 United States Federal Census about Wm Rater Name: Wm Rater Age: 50 Estimated birth year: abt 1800 Birth Place: Scotland Gender: Male Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Genoa, Livingston, Michigan Wm Batee 50 farm 2500 Scotland Doraca 50 England Archabald 20 NY Anna 17 NY Wm 14 MI Jas 8 MI 1860-Livingston Co MI____________________ Genoa Beattie, Wm 59 m SCOT Charlotte E 26 f ENG James D 18 m MI Sophia 4 f MI Arthur 2 m MI Mary F 1 f MI 1860 United States Federal Census about A Beattie Name: A Beattie Age in 1860: 30 Birth Year: abt 1830 Birthplace: New York Home in 1860: Genoa, Livingston, Michigan Gender: Male Post Office: Genoa Value of real estate: View image Household Members: Name Age Andrew Sharp 33 farm 2500-500 NY Anna Sharp 27 NY Doritha Sharp 5 MI George A Sharp 4 MI William Sharp 1 MI A Beattie 30 farm labor NY(probably Archibald) Albert Patrick 26 farm 150 NY 1860 United States Federal Census about William Beattie Name: William Beattie Age in 1860: 23 Birth Year: abt 1837 Birthplace: Michigan Home in 1860: Howell, Livingston, Michigan Gender: Male Post Office: Howell Value of real estate: View image Household Members: Name Age William R Melvin 36 carriage maker 4500-1000 Mass Lovina Melvin 38 NY Amanda J Melvin 14 MI Fred Melvin 11 MI William Beattie 23 blacksmith MI George Balcom 21 blacksmith MI John Lanore 20 blacksmith MI Cass Chandler 17 apprent blacksmith MI 1870 United States Federal Census about Jannette Beatie Name: Jannette Beatie Estimated birth year: abt 1843 Age in 1870: 27 Birthplace: Michigan Home in 1870: Howell, Livingston, Michigan Family and neighbors: View Results Race: White Gender: Female Value of real estate: View image Post Office: Howell Wm Beatie 38 blacksmith MI Jannette 27 MI Walter 8 MI Frank 5 MI Burt 2 MI Jas Switz 20 appret blacksmith MI Lewis DuChain 23 black smith PA Sophia Beatie 15 MI 1870 United States Federal Census about William Barter Name: William Barter Estimated birth year: abt 1800 Age in 1870: 70 Birthplace: Scotland Home in 1870: Genoa, Livingston, Michigan Family and neighbors: View Results Race: White Gender: Male Value of real estate: View image Post Office: Brighton William Baitie 70 farm 3500-1000 Scot Charlotte 39 Eng Sophia 15 MI Arthur 13 MI Mary 11 MI Albert 9 MI Mila? (m) MI David 4 MI Esther 3 MI next household Archibald Baittie 38 farm 3000-800 NY Mary 31 MI Robert 8 MI May 4 MI 1880: Genoa, Livingston, Michigan Source: FHL Film 1254592 National Archives Film T9-0592 Page 71B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Archibald BEATTIE Self M M W 50 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG Mary BEATTIE Wife F M W 41 MI Occ: Keeping House Fa: NY Mo: NY Robert BEATTIE Son M S W 18 MI Occ: At Home Fa: NY Mo: MI May BEATTIE Dau F S W 14 MI Occ: Att. School Fa: NY Mo: MI Anna BEATTIE Dau F S W 9 MI Occ: Att. School Fa: NY Mo: MI Bertie BEATTIE Nephew M S W 13 MI Occ: At Home Fa: NY Mo: MI 1880: Genoa, Livingston, Michigan Source: FHL Film 1254592 National Archives Film T9-0592 Page 71B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Charlotte BEATTIE Self F W W 49 ENG Fa: ENG Mo: ENG Sophia BEATTIE Dau F S W 25 MI Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG Arthur BEATTIE Son M S W 23 MI Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG Albert BEATTIE Son M S W 18 MI Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG David BEATTIE Son M S W 14 MI Occ: At Home Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG Esther BEATTIE Dau F S W 13 MI Occ: Att. School Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG 1880: Genoa, Livingston, Michigan Source: FHL Film 1254592 National Archives Film T9-0592 Page 73B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace James R. W. BEATTIE Self M M W 37 MI Occ: Farmer Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG Sarah J. BEATTIE Wife F M W 30 MI Occ: Keeping House Fa: NY Mo: NY William E. BEATTIE Son M S W 4 MI Fa: MI Mo: MI Erwin BEATTIE Son M S W 1 MI Fa: MI Mo: MI 1880: Marion, Livingston, Michigan Source: FHL Film 1254592 National Archives Film T9-0592 Page 190D Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace J. M. HOAGLAND Self M M W 45 NY Occ: Farming Fa: NJ Mo: NY Mary HOAGLAND Wife F M W 41 MI Occ: Keeping House Fa: ME Mo: NY Roy HOAGLAND Son M S W 14 MI Fa: NY Mo: MI Grace HOAGLAND Dau F S W 10 MI Fa: NY Mo: MI Hemer GOLLOWAY Other M S W 24 MI Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: NY Mo: MI Edward HECHLER Other M S W 22 MI Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: NY Mo: MI Mary BATY Other F S W 20 MI Occ: Housework Fa: SCO Mo: MI 1880: Genoa, Livingston, Michigan Source: FHL Film 1254592 National Archives Film T9-0592 Page 71B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Lovina MELVIN Self F W W 58 NJ Fa: ME Mo: MA Samuel O. WILLIAMS SonL M M W 23 MI Occ: Farmer Fa: DE Mo: DE Jennie WILLIAMS Dau F M W 19 MI Occ: Keeping House Fa: NY Mo: NY Glen R. WILLIAMS GSon M S W 1 MI Fa: MI Mo: MI Frank BEATTIE GSon M S W 16 MI Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: MI Mo: MI Minnie BEATTIE GDau F S W 7 MI Occ: At Home Fa: MI Mo: MI 1880: Marion, Livingston, Michigan Source: FHL Film 1254592 National Archives Film T9-0592 Page 181A Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace George CRAFT Self M M W 40 NY Occ: Working Farm Fa: NY Mo: NY Laura CRAFT Wife F M W 31 NY Occ: Keeping House Fa: NY Mo: NY Ann HUNN Other F W W 69 NY Occ: Living With Above Fa: NY Mo: NY George H. CRAFT Son M S W 10 MI Fa: NY Mo: NY Hattie CRAFT Dau F S W 6 MI Fa: NY Mo: NY David BEATY Other M S W 14 MI Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SCOT Mo: ENG Donna L-3