Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/257

BEACH, Moses Yale, publisher, was born at Wallingford, Conn., Jan. 7, 1800. He learned the business of cabinet making, and failed in establishing a manufactory at Northampton, as he did also in his effort at steamboat building at Springfield, Mass. Soon after he made an attempt to propel balloons by gunpowder explosion, and to establish a line of steamers between Springfield and Hartford. He then engaged in the business of paper-making, to which he was able to make a valuable addition by inventing a rag-cutting machine, which was adopted in many paper-mills. After delays in obtaining a patent he realized enough from his invention to enable him to purchase a paper-mill in Ulster county, N.Y., which was not successful. In 1835 he secured an interest in the New York Sun. In the course of a few years he gained complete control of the paper, from which he realized considerable wealth. In 1846 President Polk sent Mr. Beach to Mexico to arrange a treaty of peace, but this commission failed, by reason of a false rumor of the defeat of General Taylor by Santa Anna. In 1857 Mr. Beach retired from active work as publisher of the New York Sun, and returned to Wallingford, where he died July 19, 1868.

BEACH, William Augustus, lawyer, was born at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Dec. 9, 1809. He attended Partridge's military school at Norwich, Vt., and on leaving that institution studied law with his uncle, Judge Warren, and was admitted to the bar in 1853. He soon secured an active and successful practice, and was appointed district-attorney of Saratoga county, acquiring in this office a thorough knowledge of criminal law, as well as a reputation as an orator. In 1851 he removed to Troy, N.Y., where his reputation as a sound lawyer had preceded him. He was the leading counsel for the plaintiff in the celebrated Albany Bridge case, brought to prevent the construction of a bridge across the Hudson river. He defended Canal Commissioner Dorn, who was impeached for malfeasance in office before the court for the trial of impeachment, and secured his acquittal, and in 1867 he was associated with James T. Brady in the defence of General Cole, charged with the murder of L. Harris Hiscock. He later removed to New York city, where his name was associated with some of the most important litigations of the period. He was the leading counsel for the plaintiff in the celebrated Tilton-Beecher trial, appeared also in the Vanderbilt will case, in the defence of Judge Barnard in his trial for impeachment, and in the trial of E.S. Stokes for the murder of James Fisk, Jr. He died in Tarrytown, N.Y., June 28, 1884.

BEADLE, William Henry Harrison, educator, was born at Liberty, Parke county, Ind., Jan. 1, 1838. He was graduated at the University of Michigan in 1861, received the degree of A.M. in 1864, and then completed the law course and received that of LL.B. in 1867. He served in the Union army from 1861 until 1866, receiving regular promotions and three brevets, the last being that of brigadier-general, March 15, 1865. After the civil war he served as private secretary to Governor Howard of Dakota, then as U.S. surveyor-general of the territory, member of the territorial legislature, as the superintendent of public instruction, and as regent or trustee of several educational institutions in the territory. He was an instructor in the Yankton Congregational college, superintendent of the Indian industrial training school at Salem, Oregon, and in 1889 was called to the presidency of the State normal school at Madison, S. Dakota, which institution he placed upon a high grade of thoroughness and excellence. The township system of school organization first advocated by Mr. Beadle was adopted in most counties of Dakota, and he succeeded in creating a sentiment for the protection of the school lands donated to the state by the United States, whereby a great state school fund should be accumulated. He wrote the article upon education in the state constitution, secured a prohibition of the sale of these lands at less than two dollars an acre, which Congress extended to the other five new states in enabling acts, viz.: North Dakota, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. He also advocated the leasing of the lands upon twenty-five or fifty year leases, the rental to be re-appraised every five years.

BEAL, George Lafayette, soldier, was born at Norway, Me., May 21. 1825, son of Ezra F. Beal. He served in the Civil war as captain in the 1st Maine regiment; as colonel of the 1Oth Maine volunteers and later of the 29th Maine volunteers. He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers and given the full rank, Nov. 30, 1864. He was wounded at Antietam and distinguished himself at Red River, Shenandoah and Cedar Creek. He engaged in business in Norway in 1865 and subsequently served four years as adjutant-general of Maine and as state treasurer six years. He died at Norway, Me., Dec. 11, 1896.

BEAL, James Hartley, educator, was born at