John K. Beaty, Corpl. Co "H" 4th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, War with Spain; widow Sirena, (certificate #561663, Guardian W. J. Gaudin, (minor Certificate # 618,509) This is a very long file and a very interesting one. There are a lot of witnesses who state their relationship to John K. Beaty as "second cousin"-is everyone in Fentress County Tennessee related? This is Lineage 2 and I have sent a copy to a member of this lineage. I will only summarize a few of the highlights. On August 25, 1900 John K. Beaty, aged 30, residing near Manson, Fentress County Tennessee applied for an invalid pension. He enlisted on July 7, 1898 in Company "H" of the 4th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Infantry commanded by Captain Cordell Hull in the war with Spain. He was 28 years old when he enlisted, 5 feet 11 inches tall, light complexion, light hair and blue eyes. He states he was disabled by "cold settling in the right lung after being discharged from the Hospital." John states that his wife's name is Sirene Isibelle Beaty, maiden name Hogue, and that they were married February 18, 1890 at Manson, Tennessee by Joel Reagan J. P. He lists his children as Oscar Clifton Beaty born March 3, 1891; Omer Jessey Beaty born April 14, 1893; Oakley May Beaty born December 15, 1895; Olie Ethel Beaty born Dec. 18, 1897; Otto Hardin Beaty born May 27, 1900. On January 1, 1901 David H. Beaty and Homer Collier state "we believe his disease may take a serious turn & result in his death at any time." On February 16, 1901 Sirenee Beaty filed a claim for a widow's pension, with children under the age of 16. She states that John K. Beaty died on January 10, 1901. W. C. Beaty, aged 22, states in 1901 "I knew him intimately before he joined the army & he was a stout man could do any kind of work and never complained of any kind of work. Soon after he got back from the army in 1899 I was hired to him and was working for him and he had a bad cough & seemed to be weak & short winded could not do any kind of hard work just set round & bossed the job. We was rafting logs for him I remember one time he bled at the lungs.He took to his bed some time in fall of 1900 & never got up till he died in Jany 1901. I remember he came to my fathers James Beaty to assist to raise a barn & was not able to do anything. John Beaty was a good honest hard working man & worked as long as he was able to stand up on his feet. John Beaty deceased soldier was my second cousin I think.." Enoch Stayly(?) aged 31 and a resident of Boatland Tennessee states: "he was in the service with Jno K. Beaty from about the 7th day of July 1898 to the 6th day of May 1899 and was with him in the U. S. service in the Island of Cuba at Trinidad and that during said service while in the line of duty that John K. Beaty was attacked with severe coughing at one time he bled profusely at the lungs, that he had this cough in Cuba." On April 7, 1902 James Beaty, aged 50 residing near Manson, Tennessee states "the soldier was a sober industrious man as long as he lived tried to work & make a support for his family-Jno Beaty deceased soldier was my second cousin." A letter from Sirene: Little Crab, Tenn. July 20th, 1903 My Dear Mr. ??/ Your ?? of the 2nd is received. If I have seemed importunate about my pension I beg your pardon. All I had to depend upon was my husband and when he gave his life for his country I felt as though it should support (in part at least) his invalid wife and five little children who never knew what it was to want until he came home form the army sick. He was a very strong man before he enlisted, but never was able to do a days work after he was discharged. Do the best you can for me and in the mean time I will (although we may at times want for bread) be as patient as I can I read of your kind heartedness and feel that you will not neglect me. Sirene Beaty A special Examiner is sent to Fentress County and took deposition from many people. Here is an excerpt from his final report: "Claimant spells her name Sirena but she and all the witnesses pronounce it as if it were Sirenee. Enoch Staley has deserted his wife and his whereabouts is not known. He run off with another woman. David H. Beaty is located at Monterey Putnam Co., Tenn..I found the following Bible record- Oscar Clifton Beaty born March 3, 1891 Omer Jessey Beaty born April 14, 1893 Oakley May Beaty born Dec. 15, 1895 Olie Ethel Beaty born Dec. 18, 1897 Otto Hardin Beaty born May 27, 1900 These records have every appearance of being genuine. I made very extended inquiry as to prior soundness, saw many people from whom I took no deposition, and it seems to be unanimously conceded that the soldier appeared to be a very sound man prior to enlistment." Some of the people who give deposition: Wm H. Owens-in same company as John K. Beaty. States "I saw the blood gushing out of his mouth.He looked like a corpse after he had been home six or eight months." Also "I can't say what kin we are - I don't really know but we are a little kin." Burton Owen-in same company as John K. Beaty. States: "we are about 3rd cousins." Simeon Linder -served in same company as John K. Beaty. States: "We are a little kin. I don't know how much." Dr. J. N. Chism states "I believe his mother died of typhoid fever. I attended her. I do not know the cause of his father's death. I do not think there is any history of consumption in the family-none that I know of." James Beaty states "I am first cousin to John K. Beaty's father.His father got hoarse and died that way above 10 years after the war. He had been in the army. I guess his father's father had consumption as he had a cough. No sir, no other of his relatives-Dr. Hunter of Burksville, Ky waited on his grandfather Dr. Stevens (dead) waited on his father" Valley Jane Staley states "John K. Beaty is my half brother..Some kind of fever killed our mother." Wm. C. Beaty states "I am 2nd cousin to John K. Beaty." Seaborn Choate states "I think he was a perfect specimen of physical manhood before he went into the army.I knew his father & grandfather. His grandfather on his father's side I was always told died of diarrhea. I was present and saw him die & know he had diarrhea. Never knew he had any lung trouble. His father died with some sort of throat trouble. He was about 45 or 50 yrs old I guess...I am not related enough to claim it." Thomas J. Owen states "I knew John K. Beaty all his life-I married his second cousin..I knew his father & grand-father. His Father's father died with bowel complaint. He went for treatment to Dr. Hunter in Burksville Ky. He had been in the army and served 3 years in a Company of his own & lay out & took bowel trouble & that killed him. His father died with a disease he had in his tongue & a hoarseness. He could speak only in a whisper for several years & his tongue cracked open-I don't know what his mother died with, but I think she must have died of old age as she was a very old lady. His people were healthy and lived to be old people. I never heard of one of them having consumption in my life." Flemming Boles gives a very detailed summary of their time in Cuba-"I slept in the same tent with him all the time except about two weeks at Knoxville, Tenn." He states "I am about 2nd cousin to John K. Beaty." On August 30, 1906 W. J. Gaudin, aged 47 and a resident of Jamestown, Tennessee, filed a claim for Pension of children under the age of sixteen. He states that Sirena died July 1st, 1906 and left surviving 5 children: Oscar, Omer, Oakley, Ollie and Otto. And that he is the guardian of those children. Buena V. Smith and Nancy A. Livingston "were present at the residence of Sirena I. Beaty, widow of John K. Beaty, who resided in Jamestown Tenn., during the last days of her life, and know that she died on 1st day of July, 1906; that we were present when she died, and know that she is dead. 1870, Dist 1 Fentress Co, Tn p525 Beaty, James M. 27 E. Jane 24 Mary E. 6 Avy Frances 3 John K. 1 Tucker, July Ann 17 1880, Dist 1, Fentress Co, TN p507A (I'm not sure about this one but it seems to fit) Manson Stephens 28 Ellenor J. Stephens 34 Jane Stephens dau 1 Ava Beaty 14 sdau John Beaty 12 sson David Beaty 9 sson Verna Beaty 6 sdau 1900 1 Dist., Fentress Co. TN page 2 Beaty, John K. Apr. 1869 31 m 10yrs Sirene June 1873 m10yrs 5 children all living Oscar Mch 1891 9 Omar Apr 1893 7 Oakley dau Dec 1895 4 Olley dau Dec 1897 2 ? son May 1900 2/12 1910 3 Dist Fentress County TN p141B Rabino, Henry 40 Bell 28 Ida 17/12 Beaty, Oakley 14 servant Beaty, Omer 17 Hired man 1910 Fentress 3 Dist TN p142b Wright, Nelson 27 Ida 26 Hazel 2 Beaty Olie (?) niece 12 >From SSDI Omer Beaty born 13 Apr. 1893 died Jan. 1868 Crossville, Cumberland, TN (there is some indication that at least one of the minor children died but I either did not copy the portion of the file that had to do with the death or it was not mentioned except on the one card that I copied)