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JAMES A. BEAVER Pennsylvania 1887-1890
"General Beaver is dead" This was the startling announcement made last Saturday afternoon and it seemed almost incredible to the general public, as very few outside of his own family circle knew the gravity of his condition. But starting as the announcement seemed it was only too true, as he breathed his last at 2:40 9'clock that afternoon.
General Beaver made a brave fight and it was only his indomitable will and his unswerving interest in his church and public institutions, ever close his heart, that gave him the lease of life, he enjoyed.
Two years or more ago the General suffered an attack of the grip which resulted in a nervous breakdown which was the beginning of his illness. During the summer of 1912 he spent a few weeks at Atlantic City in care of a specialist when the diagnosis - of his own physician - that he was suffering with degeneration of the heart and arteries, was confirmed. He was advised against violent exercise or emotion and told that his health depended upon proper treatment and care. He followed the doctor's advice closely and his only trip away from home since that time was in March, 1913, when he attended the opening legislative session at Harrisburg. The session was not a long one and he remained until its close, returning home feeling none the worse for the exertion of the trip and court attendance.
Since that time he had not been away from Bellefonte, but he took frequent carriage rides into the country during last summer and this winter, up to the deep snow and inclement weather of a few weeks ago. Since that time he had not been out of the house, but he was up and around and down to dinner every day until Thursday, when he was compelled to keep to his room owing to extreme weakness. From that time he grew steadily weaker but it was not until Saturday when the family fully realized that the collapse had come that could have only one ending, and that death. General Beaver suffered little pain during the last days of his life and his end was calm and peaceful as a child falling asleep. In fact he fell asleep to awake no more on this earth. With him at the last were, his wife and two sons, Gilbert A., of New York, who had been summoned on Thursday, and Thomas, of Bellefonte. Both Mrs. Gilbert Beaver and Mrs. Thomas Beaver were also at his bedside.
James Addams Beaver was of German descent, his ancestors coming to this country from Alsace, Germany, about the year 1740. His great grandfather fought in the Revolutionary war under "Mad Anthony" Wayne, colonel of the Fourth Pennsylvania battalion. James Addams Beaver was the third child of Jacob and Ann Eliza Addams Beaver, and was born at Millerstown, Perry county, on October 21st, 1837, hence at his death was 76 years, 3 months and 10 days old. His father died when he was three years old and he was taken in charge by his maternal grandparents. In 1844 Mrs. Beaver married Rev. S. H. McDonald and with them James went to Belleville, Mifflin county, where he got his first schooling. Not being constitutionally robust he spent three years at home, tutored by his step-father for an academic course. In the latter part of 1852 he entered the Pine Grove Mills Academy where he spent a little over a year, then successfully passed the examination for entry into the Junior class of Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, PA. He graduated from that institution in 1856 and shortly thereafter came to Bellefonte and entered as a student in the law office of H. N. McAlliater, one of the most distinguished lawyers of the State. So apt and readily did he assimilate the intricacies of the law that in January, 1859, he passed a very successful examination and was admitted to practice at the Centre county bar, being then only a few months over twenty-one years of age.
While reading law he joined the Bellefonte Fencibles, a local millitary company commanded by Capt. Andrew G. Curtin. He gave much attention to the study of tactics and an opening occurring he was made second lieutenant. With President Lincoln's first call for troops after the firing on Fort Sumter the Bellefonte Fencibles volunteered for service and left for Washington on April 21st, 1861, Col. Fred S. Stumbaugh commanding. When their term of enlistment expired in July of the same year Lieut. Beaver was largely instrumental in organizing the 45th regiment P. V. I. of which he was made Lieutenant colonel. During the ensuing year the 45th was quite active in the Virginia campaign and in September, 1862, Lieut. Col. Beaver resigned his commission to accept the appointment of colonel of the 148th regiment. With his new command he joined the Second Army Corps where he served almost two years, save when absent recovering from wounds received in battle.
He was engaged in some of the most important campaigns and battles of the Army of the Potomac. At Chancellorsville he gallantly led his command into a hand-to-hand conflict with the Confederates, where be fell, as was then believed, mortally wounded. The ball passed clear through his body, but skillful surgical treatment brought him through and he rejoined his command and was actively engaged at Bristow Station and Mine Run. In the spring of 1864 Colonel Beaver was conspicuous for gallantry at Spottsylvania, North Anna and Tolopotomy. At Spottsylvania he was struck by a minie ball, but was saved from a dangerous wound by a memorandum book. At Cold Harbor he was also struck, but not seriously disabled and he maintained his position on the field at the head of his command.
In the first assault before Petersburg Colonel Beaver was struck by a fragment of a shell and suffered severe internal injuries and a terrible flesh wound in the side. He was again compelled to linger fretfully in the hospital while the last battles for the Union were being fought from day to day.
He left the hospital before he was able to ride his horse, and proceeded in an ambulance to the field, and reached it just as the army was preparing to go into battle at Ream's Station, on August 24th, 1864, and he at once assumed command of his brigade. He was only a short time on the field when he was shot in the right leg close to the hip. He lay on the field of battle an hour or more and finally by waving his hat attracted the attention of Sergt. F. F. who conveyed him to the rear where he was placed in an ambulance and sent to the hospital. (Sergt. Rohm is now a capitol park policeman at Harrisburg and was in Bellefonte for the General's funeral on Tuesday.) His wound was such a serious one that it necessitated the amputation of his leg at the-hip and this ended his military career in the Civil war, he being honorably discharged at his own request on December 22nd, 1864. Previous to his discharge however, he had been brevetted brigadier general "for highly meritorious and distinguished conduct throughout the campaign."
Returning to Bellefonte General Beaver resumed the practice of law with his preceptor and partner, Hon. H. N. McAllister. On the death of the 1atter he formed a partnership with J W. Gephart and later John M. Dale was admitted to the firm, In the practice of his profession Gen. Beaver was a forceful advocate of the law. He was a close student, had a thorough knowledge of Blackstone and always advocated his case in a way that carried conviction to the court and jury.
Gen. Beaver was a staunch Republican and when a young man took a deep interest in politics. This resulted in his election as burgess of Bellefone in 1865. The following year he was given the Republican nomination for the Legislature. At that time the county was formally Democratic by over 1,000 majority but Gen. Beaver was defeated by less than 150 votes. In 1868 he declined to allow his name to be used as a candidate for Congress and in 1869 he declined to be a candidate against Governor Geary for a second term. In 1878 the Republican convention of Centre county endorsed him for Governor but no effort was made to secure him support in other sections of the State. In 1880 he was elected a delegate to the National Republican convention and was made chairman Of the Pennsylvania delegation. He held the delegation solid for Grant, in accordance with their instructions, and when the convention finally nominated James A. Garfleld the Pennay1vania delegation tendered him their support for Vice President. Other delegations North and South did likewise, but he declined to consider it, as he did not want an office in which there was little opportunity for activity. Had he accepted and been the nominee instead of Chester A. Arthur of New York, he would have filled the President's' chair after the assassin's bullet dealt death to President Garfield. In 1881 he was prominently mentioned in connection with the United States Senatorship, but as there was some opposition withdrew and helped to nominate Hon. John J. Mitchell who was elected. His activity in politics at that time made him a logical candidate for Governor in 1882, but owing to the manner of his nomination the independent Republicans nominated John Stewart and in the three cornered fight Beaver was defeated and the Democrats elected Robert E. Pattison and their entire state ticket.
In 1886 Gen. Beaver was again nominated for Governor and was elected by over forty-thousand plufality. He was inaugurated on January 18th, 1887. He served the people most faithfully for four years, and while his administration was not characterized by any very pronounced legislation, it was clean and honest, and a number of measures were advocated by the Governor that have since been enacted into laws and proven the wisdom of his suggestions. It was during Gov. Beaver's administration, on May 31st, 1889, that occurred the Johnstown flood and his able handling of that deplorable situation is still well known by many WATCHMAN readers. Governor Beaver retired from office in January, 1891, and returning to Bellefonte resumed the practice of law. In 1895, during the first year of Governor Hastings' administration the Legislature passed an Act creating the Superior court and Gen. Beaver was one of the seven judges appointed by the Governor on July 1st, 1895. At the November election the same year he was chosen to fill the office for a period of ten years and, was reelected in 1905, holding the office at the time of his death. After his elevation to the Superior court bench he took no active part in politics though then as formerly, he was always loyal to the Republican organization.
Maimed though he was on the field of battle Gen. Beaver never lost his interest in military affairs and in 1872 Governor Geary, in an effort to reorganize the state militia, appointed him a brigadier general, a position he held until he was himself elected Governor and took the office in 1887 when he naturally became the commander-in-chief. He was in command of the second brigade during, the big strike and railroad riots of 1877 and had as much or more to do with suppressing both as any other man. While he was Governor he appeared at the head of the National Guard at the Constitutional Centennial celebration in Philadelphia in 1887, was chief marshall of the inaugural parade of President Benjamin Harrison in Washington on March 4th, 1889, and the same year led the National Guard at the centennial of Washington's inauguration in New York. Although he lost one leg during the Civil war Gen. Beaver was a good horseman and made a splendid appearance in the saddle.
In addition to his professional and political life, Gen. Beaver had also a number of business interests. His unfortunate investment in the Bellefonte nail works is recalled by many people, and when the company failed the General stepped unhesitatingly to the front and made good every obligation. He was also interested in coal operations in Cambria county and for a number of years was president of the Blubaker Coal company.
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