FRANCIS M. BEALL, occupies no unimportant place among the native born citizens of Peoria County, who are active in advancing its every interest. He is a prominent member of the farming community of Jubilee township, and this place has no citizen of public spirit who takes a more earnest interest in its welfare, or would do more for its good.

Asa Beall, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Kentucky, growing up on a farm, and in early manhood served in the War of 1812. In this county, and for a time was engaged in farming near Mossville, on the Illinois River, where he bout a place. As he was among the early settlers, he found the county but little improved, and the nearest market was Chicago, where he hauled his grain to sell. He did not live in that locality very long on account of malaria and mosquitoes, and considering this region more favorable for carrying on his operations, he removed to near Kickapoo, on what is now section 35, Jubilee Township. At that time he knew every man in the county, and was well-known himself, and he took an active part in its development. He and his son took wheat to Chicago, and on their return brought lumber for the purpose of erecting buildings on his land, he having purchased a quarter-section from the Government. He had but little means, and had to work hard to make his improvements. He carried on that place until 1851, and then sold and bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw land, which is now included in our subject’s farm. He developed and operated about sixty acres of it, and subsequently retired from farming, he having in the meantime acquired land until his farm comprised two hundred and forty acres. At his death in 1876, at the venerable age of eight-one years, Jubilee Township lost an honored pioneer. He was quite a politician in his day, and was identified with the Democratic party. He was a well-read and well-informed man, and was religiously inclined, leaning toward the Methodist faith. The maiden name of his wife, who was born in Maryland, was Mary Coyle. She went thence to Kentucky, where her marriage took place, and subsequently accomplished her family to this place, and here died. She was the mother of eight children, as follows: Susan married James Vanarsdale, and died in Kickapoo Township, Thomas lives in Alma, Neb.; Maria is dead; Harriet, now Mrs. Rogers, lives in Wyoming, Stark County, Ill.; John is deceased; William lives in Essex Township, Stark County; our subject is next in order of birth; Josephine is the wife of William Lawrence, of Jubilee Township. William Beall was a soldier in the late war, a member of the Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry, which was afterward consolidated with the Forty-seventh. He enlisted in 1862, and served three years, and was promoted to the ranks of Corporal.

Francis M. Beall was born in Kickapoo Township, one and one-half miles from Kickapoo, February 18, 1840. He was reared in the place of his birth until he was eleven years old, and laid the foundation of his education in the little log schoolhouse of his district. He was early set to work on the farm, and used to have to haul grain to Peoria. In 1851 he came here, and he helped to break prairie with five yoke of oxen. Wishing to improve his education, he attended school two winters at Wyoming and at this place, and by hard study and under excellent tuition, gained a good fund of knowledge. Mr. Beall remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-one years old. At that age he too charge of the farm, and had the management of the whole thing, and continued to carry on the place until within a short time of his father’s death. In 1868 he bought the one hundred and sixty-five acres comprising the farm, and has since greatly added to its value by the many improvements he has placed upon it. He subsequently purchased forty acres on section 4, and a while after bought eighty acres more in Wyoming. Later he sold that and bought one hundred and eighty acres adjoining his original purchase. This is all under fin cultivation, and is finely improved with the exception of eighty acres used as pasturage. The farm is especially well adapted to stock-raising purposes, as there are ever flowing springs on the place, which is all enclosed, the farm as a whole being as good as any in the county. In 1879 he built a commodious house, and in 1889, a conveniently arranged barn, both of the latest modern style. He rents some of his land, reserving one hundred and sixty acres for his own use, and here he raises stock of a high grade, has thirteen head of find draft horses, and he has three teams in constant use. He has full blooded hogs of the Poland-China breed, and is quite successful in raising them, and ships a number every year. He raises quite a quantity of grain, corn and oats, a good deal of which he feeds to stock.

Mr. Beall was married in Jubilee Township, March 17, 1865, to Miss Mary, daughter of Remembrance Curl, formerly a well-known farmer here. He subsequently removed to Washington, Iowa, in 1885, where he still resides. Mrs. Beall is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and came here with her parents. Her pleasant weeded life with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of seven children: Charles, Josephine, Emma (deceased), Hattie, Olive, Thomas, and Francis, Jr. All are at home and are receiving god educational advantages, Charles and Josephine being students at the Princeville High School.

Mr. Beall was born in this county while it was yet in the hands of the pioneers, and he can remember well the primitive condition of the country during his early life, before the wild animals had fled from the  approaching civilization, and he recollects having seen deer, as many as thirty at a time, and also prairie wolves and other wild animals. He grew with the growth of the county, and has proved to be a good citizen. He is in every sense a steadfast reliable man, one who never betrays a trust, and who is at all times and on all occasions found to be a careful and ready helper by hose needing assistance, and his neighbors who consult him in regard to personal matters, find him a wise and safe counselor, as he is discriminating and just in his judgments, possesses much discernment, and is cool headed. These attributes have made him available for office, and he has been called upon to do his share in the management of public affairs. For fifteen years he acted as Constable until he resigned and would not accept the office again. For fourteen years he was Commissioner of Highways, and for eighteen years was School Director. He is a prominent member of the Detective Thief and Mutual Benefit Association, in which he is Third Lieutenant. In his political views he is a sound Democrat. He has served both in the Grand and Petit Juries.

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