The BEALL ancestry is traced back to Scotland, County of Fife, from Largo, a seaside resort near Edinburgh, Scotland; originally spelled Beale, now Beall. Ninian BEALL and his relatives were covenanters, whose zeal caused them in some way to become mixed up with the killing of a Bishop MONTGOMERY, in their effort to keep Episcopacy out of Scotland. On this account, Ninian BEALE, with some relatives, in 1655, emigrated from Scotland to Calvert County, Maryland. Ninian BEALE, after coming to Maryland, and he only, wrote his name BEALL, and all BEALLS in America in the present day, are descendants of Ninian BEALL. SCHARF's History of Maryland mentions him as Col. Ninian BEALL. He became commander-in-chief of all the Maryland forces in the war against the Susquehannock Indians. This history also states that Col. Ninian BEALL, about the year 1678, induced Presbyterians to settle upon and around the locality where the cities of Washington and Georgetown, D.C., now are located.

Zephaniah W. BEALL and Eunice (SPINK) BEALL were natives of Pennsylvania and New York State, respectively, and were among the early settlers of Ohio.

The BEALL family resided at West Bethlehem Township of Washington County, Pennsylvania until the town of Beallsville was established.

Beallsville was a town which was laid out by Zephaniah BEALL, Sr. along with George JACKSON, Christian KREIDER, and S. W. BLAKE on April 2, 1810, on the North pike, eight miles from Brownsville and fifteen miles from Washington on the boundary line between Pike Run and East Bethlehem. It had seventy-eight house, two hotels, four stores, two grocery stores, two tailors, a saddle and harness maker, a blacksmith, a wagon-maker, a marble factory, several shoemakers, a Methodist Episcopal church, a Masonic hall, and a schoolhouse. The population was 410 residents.

Beallsville borough was formed on February 16, 1852.

While residing in Washington County, Zephaniah served on a board of directors for the poor, beginning his term in 1830. In this capacity, he was involved in the purchase of the Washington County poor farm.

Zephaniah and Eunice moved with their family to Ringgold County in May of 1859. Eunice died November 12, 1864, at the age of 65 years, 2 months and 5 days. Zephaniah died March 9, 1871, at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 29 days. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Zephaniah and Eunice (SPINK) BEALL were the parents of 5 children:

1) Albert G. BEALL
    born 16 Apr 1822 near Wooster, Wayne Co. OH; died 30 Sep 1893
    Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr
    Ringgold County deputy recorder, treasurer, deputy clerk of court, superintendent of schools
2) Child BEALL
3) Child BEALL
4) C. S, BEALL, died age 48 years, 5 months, 23 days on 07 May 1874, inter: Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
5) Ithamar S. "Ith" BEALL
    born 30 Jun 1828, OH; died 22 Mar 1876, interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
    taught school in Ringgold County, deputy recorder, deputy clerk
    noted Ringgold Co. newspaperman
    Ith and Charlotte (SWAN) BEALL were the parents of four children:
      1) Eunice BEALL
          born 23 Apr 1862, Mount Ayr IA; died 06 Jan 1945, Mount Ayr IA
          married William Wallace MOFFITT (1860-1943)
      2) Randolph Spry BEALL
          born 14 Feb 1864; died 02 Jun 1946;interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
      3) Walter Hamlin BEALL
          born 20 Oct 1871; died 03 May 1944, inter: Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
      4) Delia BEALL
          died at age 4 years, 5 months and 27 days on 16 Jan 1864
          inter: Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA

Washington Reporter
Washington County, Pennsylvania
March 22, 1871

OBITUARY.

Zephaniah W. BEALL, a native of Beallsville, this county, died at Mt. Ayr, Iowa, on March 9th, aged almost seventy-five years. The deceased removed from this locality so long ago as 1820 (sic), was among the first citizens of Mt. Ayr, and up to the time of his death was actively connected with every interest tending to advance the home of his adoption. During the war he was an ardent Union man, and lent all his influence to the support of the Government. His death is lamented by all his neighbors, and the local press of Ringgold county pays warm tribute to his many virtues.

HISTORY OF THE BEALL FAMILY

SOURCES:
Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Vol. 21. p. 401. July - December, 1902 issue.

CREIGH, Dr. Alfred, LL.D. History of Washington County [Pennsylvania]: From Its First Settlement to the Present Time Pp. 25, 239. B. Singerly, Printer. Harrisburg PA. 1871.

East Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, 1852

Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 284, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcriptions and note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

To submit your Ringgold County biographies, contact The County Coordinator.
Please include the word "Ringgold" in the subject line. Thank you.